The Z 23000 cars were built with identical motors, and were the first generation of modern self-propelled locomotive technology engineered for a future regional metro network, which would not be created until forty years later as the Réseau Express Régional (RER).

These new railcars introduced several new features, including four pairs of doors per side (similar to equipment used on the Paris Métro), allowing for faster passenger boarding at stations, support for high boarding platforms, longer cars without significant gaps at curved platforms, light construction for faster acceleration, and simple, reliable electrical equipment.

Similarly, commercial implementation of the railcars was also rolled out in multiple phases between November 1937 and December 1938 (for the first two series) on the electrified Sceaux Line.

However, the Z 23000, designed for a continuous 1500 V current, had limited functionality on the RER B, as the line was electrified using SNCF's 25 kV AC system north of Gare du Nord (with which the Z 23000 was incompatible).

The cold wave caused technical issues with the MI 79 rolling stock, forcing surviving Z 23000 units to make up for the shortfall.