Similarities to its exterior design can be spotted in the Danish Kewet and the later Norwegian Buddy electric car.

Accounting for all CitiCar variants, a total of 4,444 units were produced up to 1979, the most since 1945 for an electric car assembled in North America until surpassed in 2011 by the Nissan Leaf.

Company founder and President Robert G. Beaumont,[2] working with designer Jim Muir, came up with the CitiCar after this earlier EV Coupe was not an immediate success.

Early versions had no extra features and can be considered an experiment in minimalist automotive design; it was as basic a people mover as could be bought at the time.

Production of this upgraded version began in 1979 and Commuter Vehicles, Inc. produced an estimated 2,144 Comuta-Cars and Vans.

During the last years of production, the third model variant of the Citicar, sometimes referred to as a Transitional CitiCar or 1976 1/2 model, had an improved drive train with a 6 hp (4.5 kW) motor, and the body was changed slightly to incorporate heater inlet vents on the side of the vehicle and some had the improved door style with better latches and permanently installed sliding windows.

The later Comuta-Car, produced by Commuter Vehicles, Inc., retained all of the Transitional CitiCar changes including the larger 6 HP motor and drive train arrangement, but moved the batteries from under the seat to battery boxes behind the bumpers, making the vehicle about 16 inches (410 mm) longer than the 8-foot (2.4 m) long CitiCar.

These were all right-hand-drive vehicles, initially built as a government contract with the United States Postal Service by Commuter Vehicles, Inc.. To make a Comuta-Van to meet government standards, the overall length was increased to 142 in (3,607 mm), as well as a 12 hp (8.9 kW) motor, 72V battery pack, and 3-speed transmission, among other additions.

All vehicles were built with space frames made from welded aircraft grade aluminum tube and ABS plastic bodies.

The second model of the CitiCar (SV-48): The top speed of any particular C-Car will vary somewhat depending on many factors, including: tire pressure, vehicle weight, alignment, brake drag, windows open/closed, transaxle oil viscosity, temperature, chemistry, age, condition of the batteries, force of possible headwinds/tailwinds, etc.

All CitiCars made after this vehicle were produced as 48 volt models with the newer 3.5 hp GE series motor.

There was an optional 'hilly' Dana/Spicer axle with a higher 6.83:1[3] ratio also available for these cars which allowed better hill climbing performance, but at the cost of a slightly lower top speed.

It is believed that these also may have been unsold earlier dealer stock, that was upgraded to the 1976 1/2 Transitional Model standards (Dana axle, heater vents, sliding windows, etc.)

This vehicle was sold without a serial number and only lacked windshield wipers and directional signals to meet DOT road worthiness.