Back in 2014, French e-mobility company AEMotion set out to "combine the agility of a motorcycle with the safety profile of a four-wheeled vehicle." After much prototyping, its two-person tilting creation is up for pre-order ahead of production next year.
The "microcar" doesn't yet have a dedicated name, but will roll on four wheels sporting tilting technology that allows the vehicle to lean into corners like a motorcycle.
We've seen plenty of examples of this sort of thing over the years – on three-wheelers and four, with weather protection for riders and without, and with motor only and pedal action. This latest creation adopts a motor-only approach for a top speed of 115 km/h (71.5 mph), has a maximum lean angle of 35 degrees and is steered using a handlebar rather than a wheel.
The specs reveal a fixed battery that's reckoned good for up to 200 km (124 miles) per charge, plus swappable battery units that come in at 70 km (43.5 miles) each. The driver sits in front of the passenger – motorcycle style – and will need a Permis B car license in France to get on the road. A few hours training may also be required.
Both seats feature four-point safety belts, and prototypes have been developed using "automotive-grade crash test simulations." The vehicle benefits from EPP bumpers as well as structural elements known as crash boxes, while the EPP interior also "allows lightness and energy absorption, comparable to a passive airbag system, ready to cushion the impact in the event of a collision." Effective stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes.
With a width of just 79 cm (31 in), the vehicle should be able to zip through congested city streets with relative ease, and should also be a fairly easy park – standing upright without a kickstand. Both occupants are shielded from inclement weather by the outer shell and doors with windows – though the lower halves of the doors do leave the driver's legs exposed for some reason. The small storage area in back can be expanded by pushing the passenger seat forward.
Following its global debut late last year, AEMotion has been showing off its vehicle on the trade show circuit – most recently at the Viva Technology expo in Paris last week. Folks interested in learning more can contact the company via its pre-order/registrations page, though the company is initially targeting long-tern leasers at around the €200 per month mark rather than outright buyers. We've no word on whether it will be available outside of France. A pre-series "pioneer" batch should be ready later this year, followed by regular deliveries penciled in for late 2026, early 2027. Larger-scale production is due to begin after 2028.
Product page: AEMotion
