EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS: DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE AND GENERAL DE GAULLE’S DS 21 PALLAS TOGETHER IN THE ÉLYSÉE PALACE’S MAIN COURTYARD

• For the 43^rd European Heritage Days, on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, two emblematic DS models will be on show in the Élysée Palace’s Main Courtyard (Cour d'Honneur), illustrating the longstanding relationship between DS and the Presidency of the French Republic.
• Joining the President’s fleet for the parade on 14 July 2026, DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE will be shown alongside the DS 21 PALLAS used by General de Gaulle between 1965 and 1967.
• This exhibition comes at a key moment in the DS N°7’s official launch, coinciding with its arrival across all DS STORES in France.

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, the Élysée Palace will open its doors to the public for the 43^rd European Heritage Days. The route will allow visitors to explore the President of the Republic’s office, the ballroom, the Main Courtyard and the Palace park. Several vehicles used by Presidents of the French Republic will also be on display in the Main Courtyard.

In this incredible setting, alongside a DS 21 PALLAS used by General de Gaulle, DS Automobiles will show DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE. Brought together in the heart of the Palace, these two cars illustrate more than sixty years of a special relationship between the DS, then DS Automobiles, and the President of the French Republic. They also bear witness to the continuity of a unique French automotive expertise combining innovation, comfort and excellence.

“Bringing together DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE and General de Gaulle’s DS 21 PALLAS in the Elysée Palace’s Main Courtyard is particularly strong symbolically. These two models, separated by more than sixty years of history, embody the same vision of French excellence expertise. A vision that we at DS Automobiles are responsible for contuinuing and DS N°7, DS N°7, our latest creation, is today the demonstration of this.”

Xavier Chardon, DS Automobiles CEO

DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE: a new chapter in presidential history

Joining the President of the French Republic’s fleet for the 14 July 2026 parade, DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE is the Presidency’s first 100% electric official car.

Designed as a completely secure mobile office, this exclusive design meets the requirements of the presidential role. Based on DS N°7 AWD Long Range, it features full armour, a wheelbase extended by 25 centimetres compared to the production model and specially developed hydro-pneumatic suspension to offer a high level of comfort and handling.

Its completely redesigned rear layout, its safety equipment and its side windows with adjustable tint allow the Head of State to work and move around in the best conditions.

DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE features the exclusive Liberty Blue colour. Its illuminated DS LUMINASCREEN grille comes to life in the colours of the French Republic, which is also reflected on the bonnet badge, the boot lid trim and the wheel centre caps.

Inside, the Eternal Blue Nappa and Alcantara® leather upholstery, the seats’ watchstrap finish, the Light Gold pearl stitching and the embossed trim highlight the expertise of DS Automobiles’ craftspeople. The dashboard has ash wood laser-engraved trim with a motif representing Marianne.

Fitted with a 100% electric 350 horsepower E-TENSE drivetrain, powered by a 97.2 kWh battery and combined with all-wheel drive, DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE is also a showcase for the French industrial sector. Its development engages skills located in Brittany, Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est, Occitanie and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

General de Gaulle’s DS 21 PALLAS: a witness to history

Shown alongside DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE, the DS 21 PALLAS used by General de Gaulle recalls the origins of the special relationship between this symbolic model and the Presidency of the Republic.

Leaving the Javel factory on 29 September 1965 and put on the road on 2 October 1965 with the registration plate 1737 RX 75, this special car featured unique fittings for its official uses: side sun visors in the rear seats, flag holders integrated into the front bumper plus rosette and document holders on the dashboard.

It was mainly used for General de Gaulle’s trips between the Élysée Palace and his residence in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Sold in November 1967 to the manager of the Colombey-les-Deux-Églises dairy cooperative, it remained in his family until 2021.

After changing ownership and then being sold at auction in October 2023, this DS 21 PALLAS has undergone a complete restoration carried out respecting its authenticity. Its presence in the Élysée Palace’s main courtyard thereby provides a direct link between French automotive heritage and carrying out the presidential role under the Fifth Republic.

A presidential tradition carried on for more than sixty years

Since the beginning of the Fifth Republic, the DS and SM have been there for defining moments in French history. From General de Gaulle’s DS 19 to the large ceremonial cars made by coachbuilder Henri Chapron, this relationship has continued over the decades.

More recently, President François Hollande chose an open-top DS 5 for his inauguration in May 2012. In 2017, the DS 7 CROSSBACK PRESIDENTIAL was unveiled for President Emmanuel Macron’s inauguration. DS 7 CROSSBACK ÉLYSÉE, then DS 7 ÉLYSÉE, since became part of the President’s car fleet.

In 2025, DS N°8 PRESIDENTIAL, a 100% electric parade model, accompanied the President of the Republic during commemorations for the 80^th anniversary of the 8 May 1945 armistice. Since 14 July 2026, DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE, fully electric version, has continued this story as the President of the French Republic’s official vehicle.

DS N°7 is in DS STORES

The first official outing of DS N°7 ÉLYSÉE, last 14 July, preceded DS N°7 going on sale by a few weeks.

DS Automobiles’ new compact SUV, DS N°7 embodies a modern take on the French Art of Travel. Its statuesque design, its meticulously crafted aerodynamics and its extended comfort make it the new ambassador for driving serenity and the brand’s refinement. Inside, the generous space, the silent operation and its concentration of technology transform every trip into a First-Class journey.

Since last weekend, DS N°7 has been available for test drives in all DS STORES in France. Whether in a 100% electric E-TENSE version, with a range of up to 740 km, or with a HYBRID powertrain, DS N°7 meets all the needs of customers looking for a stand-out model.

This arrival in the network is a major step in DS N°7’s sales launch, before its presentation at the Paris Motor Show from 13 to 18 October.

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