How many models does DS currently offer?

DS has eight models in its current lineup, split between sedans and SUVs. The brand focuses on premium compact and mid-size vehicles. Their sedan range includes the 3, 4, and 5, while the Crossback variants (3 Crossback, 4 Crossback, 7 Crossback) dominate the SUV segment. They've also got the 9 flagship sedan. It's a focused portfolio designed for European and global markets.

When was DS founded as a luxury brand?

DS launched as a standalone luxury brand in 2009, splitting from Citroën. The name comes from the legendary Citroën DS sedan from 1955—one of the most innovative cars ever built. So DS inherited serious heritage. It took decades for Citroën to spin it off as a premium marque, but when they did, they positioned it as France's answer to premium European rivals. Smart move.

What's DS's signature design or technology?

DS is known for striking design language—geometric shapes, bold grilles, and premium materials throughout the cabin. Their signature tech includes the DS Smart Touch infotainment system and advanced driver assistance features. The brand emphasizes 'French elegance' with meticulous attention to interior details. They also pioneered the Crossback SUV concept within their lineup, blending sedan sophistication with SUV practicality. It's distinctive without being ostentatious.

Does DS make electric vehicles?

Yes, DS is transitioning to electrification. The DS 3 E-Tense and DS 7 Crossback E-Tense are their main electric offerings. DS plans to go fully electric by 2024 across their entire lineup—ambitious timeline. They're serious about competing in the premium EV segment. You can browse their electric models to compare specs and performance metrics.

Which DS model is the most popular?

The DS 3 Crossback is their sales leader globally. It combines compact size, premium positioning, and crossover versatility—exactly what buyers want right now. The DS 4 Crossback runs a close second. Both tap into the booming premium SUV segment. The flagship DS 9 sedan appeals to executives, but volume-wise, it's the Crossbacks driving the business. That's the modern market.

Where is DS headquartered?

DS is headquartered in Paris, France. The brand operates under the Stellantis group alongside Citroën, Peugeot, and others. Paris-based means French design DNA runs through every model. Their design studios and engineering centers operate from France, though manufacturing happens across multiple European facilities. It's distinctly French luxury—emphasis on elegance over aggression.

DS – Technical Specifications 2015–2022

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Acceleration from

Year from

Price from

DS

Founded

2009-06-05

Founder

Citroën (PSA Group)

Country of origin

France

Headquarters

Paris, France

Group

Stellantis

Models in the Catalog

Annual production

~0.5 million vehicles

Citroën created ds to prove a point — luxury didn't need to mean stuffy. Back in 2009, the French marque spun off its premium division as a standalone brand, betting that European elegance could compete with Germans on their own turf. Bold move. The name itself pulls from the legendary DS sedan that revolutionized French design in 1955, that impossibly beautiful car with the hydropneumatic suspension and the swooping lines that still look futuristic decades later. DS Automobiles wasn't just another luxury brand. It was France saying: we remember how to do this, and we're not apologizing for doing it differently.

What separates DS from the Audis and BMWs? Obsession with details that most people never notice. The brand focuses on design as philosophy rather than decoration — think sculptural forms, unexpected material combinations, obsessive craftsmanship in the cabin. DS positions itself as the thinking person's luxury, targeting buyers who'd rather have something genuinely beautiful than something flashy. They've invested heavily in electrification too. By 2023, roughly 40 percent of DS sales came from plug-in hybrids and electric models, a commitment that reflects where European premium brands are heading. Production hovers around 120,000 units annually across their lineup. Small enough to feel exclusive. Big enough to invest in the future.

The current DS family balances sleek sedans like the 3 and 9 with increasingly popular crossover SUVs that include the 3 Crossback, 4 Crossback, and 7 Crossback. The brand's electric transition is real. EV options now anchor the lineup. DS isn't chasing volume. They're chasing relevance.

All DS Models

3 Crossback

4 Crossback

7 Crossback

History

DS arrived in 2009 as Citroën's premium sub-brand. Launched in France. The vision? Create something different — a luxury nameplate that didn't follow German rulebooks or Japanese precision obsession. Instead, DS would chase elegance, avant-garde design, and a distinctly French sensibility. Think of it like haute couture for automobiles. The brand started with the DS 3, a premium take on the Citroën C3 platform. Small but ambitious. Nobody expected it to work, but the French market embraced it immediately.

Those early years? Tricky. DS was building identity from scratch. The DS 4 arrived in 2011 to compete in the compact executive segment. Game changer. Here's what made it different — Citroën applied its obsession with comfort and design to a segment ruled by bland German efficiency. The DS 4 proved the strategy worked. Sales climbed across Europe. Meanwhile, the DS 5 launched in 2011 as the flagship — a mid-size sedan with sculptural lines and technological ambition that rivaled anything from Munich or Stuttgart. Suddenly, DS wasn't a curiosity anymore. It was serious.

The real breakthrough came with design recognition. DS models started winning awards for their distinctive styling language — those floating roofs, the LED light signatures, the obsessive attention to interior detail. Between 2012 and 2015, DS sales nearly tripled. That changed everything. The DS 3 Crossback arrived in 2017 and dominated its segment. Why? Because it looked like nothing else on the road — a premium compact SUV that didn't sacrifice elegance for practicality. The DS 7 Crossback followed as the crown jewel. Not bad for a brand that barely existed a decade earlier.

By 2020, DS was genuinely competitive. The DS 9 launched as an all-new executive sedan — their statement that DS belonged in conversations with established luxury brands. Citroën invested heavily in electrification too. The DS 4 Crossback got electric variants. The DS 8 arrived as another crossover option. DS wasn't just following market trends — it was defining its own path in a crowded SUV-obsessed era.

Today, DS is fully committed to electrification and premium positioning. The brand's lineup spans from the compact DS 3 to the executive DS 9, with multiple crossovers in between. Check out their electric lineup to see where they're heading. Sixteen years in, DS has evolved from experimental curiosity to legitimate premium player. Not bad for a brand that didn't exist during the recession.

The DS Formula

DS took the luxury playbook and tore it up — eight models built on a simple belief that French elegance deserves technology that actually works. They're not trying to out-German the Germans or out-Japanese the Japanese. Different approach entirely. Look at their SUV lineup — premium without the pretense. Then factor in their growing electric options — because luxury in 2024 means clean, not loud. Want proof they're serious? They keep innovating while others rehash the same formula. That's the DS difference.

Ds Model Categories

Sedans & Sportbacks

From compact 9 – elegant design with cutting-edge technology.

View all sedans →

SUVs & Crossovers

Versatile SUV family: 3, 4 Crossback, 7 Crossback. All with optional all-wheel drive.

View all SUVs →

Electric Vehicles

Future of mobility: 3 Crossback, 8 with up to 600 km range.

View all electric cars →

Technical overview of Ds models

Segment	Models	Performance	Drive	Features
Segment Cabrio	Models 3	Performance 82 - 165 PS	Drive FWD	Features DS Active LED Vision, DS Connect Nav, DS Drive Assist
Segment Mini 3 doors	Models 3	Performance 82 - 165 PS	Drive FWD	Features DS Active LED Vision, DS Connect Nav, DS Drive Assist
Segment Suv 5 doors	Models 3, 3 Crossback, 4 Crossback, 7 Crossback	Performance 100 - 360 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4	Features DS Active Scan Suspension, DS Matrix LED Vision, Advanced Traction Control, DS Night Vision
Segment Hatchback 5 door	Models 4, 5	Performance 115 - 225 PS	Drive FWD	Features DS Connect Nav, DS Active LED Vision, DS Drive Assist, e-Toggle
Segment Liftback	Models 8	Performance 230 - 350 PS	Drive 4x4, FWD	Features DS Active Scan Suspension, DS Matrix LED Vision, DS Connect Nav, DS Drive Assist
Segment Sedan	Models 9	Performance 225 - 360 PS	Drive FWD, 4x4	Features DS Active Scan Suspension, DS Matrix LED Vision, DS Night Vision, DS Connect Nav

Frequently asked questions about Ds

DS has eight models in its current lineup. That's a focused strategy. The brand splits between traditional sedans like the 3, 5, and flagship 9, plus a growing SUV portfolio with the Crossback family. Quality over quantity.

DS became independent in 2009, born from Citroën's legendary nameplate. Here's the thing—the original DS concept traces back to 1955. That Citroën DS? Revolutionary. Hydropneumatic suspension, monocoque design, aerodynamics nobody else was thinking about. So when Citroën finally spun off the luxury division in 2009, they weren't starting from zero. They were leveraging one of automotive history's most innovative nameplates. That heritage matters. Still does.

DS obsesses over design. Geometric precision. Premium materials everywhere. The DS 3 proves it—that's not just a hatchback. It's a statement. Their signature move? The Crossback concept. They took sedan DNA, added SUV height, and created something that shouldn't work but does. The DS 4 Crossback and DS 7 Crossback are proof. Technology-wise, they emphasize driver-focused interfaces and advanced safety systems. Not flashy. Thoughtful.

DS is going electric. Seriously. The brand committed to full electrification—no more traditional engines. Their electric lineup includes the DS 3 E-Tense and DS 7 Crossback E-Tense. Both pack respectable range and performance. Not just greenwashing—real investment in battery tech and charging infrastructure. That's conviction.

The DS 3 Crossback owns the sales charts. Why? Perfect size. Premium feel. Crossover practicality. It's the sweet spot. The DS 4 Crossback runs close behind—slightly larger, more space, still nimble. Together they represent where the market's heading. The DS 9 flagship is beautiful. Genuinely impressive. But it's niche. The Crossbacks? They're the volume play. Smart business.

DS calls Paris home. That matters. French design philosophy permeates everything—the DS 5, the DS 9, all of it. Part of Stellantis now, but the Parisian headquarters keeps design independent. You feel it immediately. No Germanic aggression. No Italian flamboyance. Pure French elegance—restrained, refined, intelligent. That's the brand's DNA.

Last updated

2026-02-20

Source

DS Automobiles (official), Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation de l'Environnement et du Travail, Wikipedia, Fédération Française de l'Automobile, Musée de l'Automobile de Mulhouse

All technical data is taken from official manufacturer specifications and is regularly updated.