Who makes Citroën C1 engines?
The engines in the Citroën C1 are supplied and built by Toyota, derived from Toyota’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine family as part of the PSA–Toyota joint venture.
The Citroën C1 shares its platform with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108, a collaboration that dates back to a joint venture between Toyota and PSA. The main petrol unit used in the C1 is Toyota’s compact 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, known for its efficiency in city-car applications. This engine is part of the 1KR-FE family, a staple of Toyota’s small-car powertrains.
Engine origins and shared platform
The Citroën C1’s powertrain comes from Toyota under the umbrella of the PSA–Toyota collaboration. The following points summarize the engine’s provenance and usage across the trio of city cars.
- 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol (Toyota 1KR-FE family) — the primary engine used across the C1, Aygo, and 108; designed for compact packaging and fuel efficiency.
- No diesel option was offered for the C1 during its production life; petrol powertrains were the standard choice.
- Engine development and most of the core production are led by Toyota, with the units shared across the three brands under the joint venture.
In short, Toyota is the maker of the C1’s engines, with the 1KR-FE family powering the car and the joint venture coordinating cross-brand use and production.
Manufacturing and plant details
Engine production and final assembly for the joint-venture models took place at the TPCA plant in Kolín, Czech Republic. TPCA (Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech) is a 50/50 joint venture between Toyota and PSA that historically produced Aygo, 108, and C1 models on a shared line and powertrain.
- TPCA plant in Kolín, Czech Republic — the site where the shared production program for the three city cars was executed.
- Joint venture structure — TPCA stands for Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech, with equal ownership by Toyota and PSA.
- Powertrain sourcing — the C1’s 1.0-litre engine blocks and assemblies are supplied by Toyota and integrated into TPCA-produced vehicles.
These manufacturing arrangements reflect the cross-brand collaboration that defined the C1 program, ensuring consistent engine technology across the trio.
Summary
The Citroën C1’s engines are made by Toyota as part of the PSA–Toyota joint venture, centered on the 1.0-litre three-cylinder 1KR-FE engine family. The car shares its engine and platform with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108, with production historically anchored at the TPCA plant in Kolín, Czech Republic.
