The Citroën 2CV (French: "deux chevaux" i.e. "deux chevaux-vapeur [fiscaux]", literally "two tax horsepower") was an economy car produced by the French car manufacturer Citroën between 1948 and 1990. The index mark in the name designates engine rating (French CV, chevaux vapeur) estimated by its capacity, imposed by a tax on (French chevaux fiscaux, cheval fiscal — a transport tax, literally a horse taxг) cars in the then France, while the real power of the original variant is 9 hp.
The automobile played the same role in France as Ford T in the USA or Volkswagen Beetle in Germany: “to make the nation drive”. Many original and progressive decisions are realized in its construction, for example, the front drive, which was unusual for the cars of the prewar design.

The car had an easy-to-maintain engine, adjusting torsion suspension and a relatively large clearance. The detachable fabric top made possible to transport an oversize cargo. Similar to the Beetle the 2CV was produce in many countries and for not one decade. From 1948 through 1990 3, 872, 583 2CV itself were produced plus 1, 246, 306 small trucks on its base, plus several millions of later modifications (Diana, Mehari and others) — the total production amounted to 8, 756, 688 items. The major manufacture of the original 2VC was removed from France to Portugal in 1988.