Lino Banfi: Italy’s Grandfather’s Revolutionary Car

Lino Banfi, the beloved Italian actor known nationwide as “il nonno d’Italia,” has become an unexpected pioneer in sustainable mobility through his long-standing choice of an electric vehicle.

His decision to drive a Citroën C-Zero, made well before electric cars entered mainstream consciousness, reflects a quiet but significant commitment to environmental responsibility that aligns with his enduring public persona.

Banfi first opted for the Citroën C-Zero in 2012, a choice highlighted in multiple verified reports as an early adoption of electric vehicle technology in Italy.

At the time, the C-Zero represented one of the first mass-produced electric city cars available in Europe, born from a collaboration between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Mitsubishi Motors.

The vehicle’s compact design, tailored for urban environments, offered Banfi a practical solution that matched both his lifestyle and his emerging advocacy for greener transportation.

The Citroën C-Zero is a five-door, four-seater electric car with rear-wheel drive and a 67 horsepower electric motor.

It offers an immediate torque delivery characteristic of electric vehicles, though its official range of approximately 150 kilometers per charge presented limitations for longer journeys.