London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

Forget SUVs. These auto makers think tiny electric cars are the next big thing

Forget SUVs. These auto makers think tiny electric cars are the next big thing

Americans have long had a love affair with big SUVs that can carry more people and stuff than they usually need to transport and go much further than most of us drive in a day. But now there's a number of start ups that are betting they can sell car shoppers on vehicles that offer the exact opposite.

These companies are unveiling tiny electric cars that will carry just one or two people and, in many cases, go relatively short distances on a single charge.

It's a trend-bucking idea that's been tried — and failed — before. But better technology, allowing ranges of more than 100 miles with small battery packs, is making it possible.

One hurdle, though, might be the price tag: These car companies are asking consumers to consider their small size and cute designs to be benefits worth paying nearly as much as a larger car. Sometimes it has worked, as with the Mini Cooper, but it's a tough trick to pull off.

"It's like buying a [Porsche] 911. It's going to make you stand out. It's kind of cool," said Eric Ibarra of Kelley Blue Book. "I can see that people would be attracted to these, but in very special circumstances."

Still, it will be a tough sell, he said. Car shoppers tend to have a fairly simple way of assessing a car's value: When we pay more, we expect to get more.
Here are just a few of the tiny electric cars these start ups are offering.

Nobe's GT100


Nobe was founded in Estonia, a small country near Finland, in 2017.

"It's a tough little country," said founder Roman Muljar.

But Muljar wanted to find an even tougher market to start selling his tiny three-wheeled car, the GT100. So he's planning to start manufacturing with a not-yet-announced partner in the United States, one of the most competitive vehicle markets in the world. He said he hopes to begin production early next year.

The small and light Nobe GT100 will mark a return to the "Golden Age of motoring," the company's founder said.


The charmingly retro GT100 looks like a cross between a sporty post-World War II Italian sedan and a steam iron. There's a hint of Alfa Romeo in the three-part grille and a bit of Black+Decker Classic around the taillights. The little whitewall tires fit the mid-20th-century theme. The interior features a thin-rimmed steering wheel with a chrome horn button.

The GT100 seats two people, with room for luggage, according to the company, and is expected to have a driving range of 180 miles and a top speed of 80 miles an hour. Muljar boasts that the simple and lightweight car is fun to drive.

"You are back in the Golden Age of motoring," he said.

The cars will sell for $24,000 for the hard-top version, Muljar said, and $29,000 for a planned convertible. And while a Tesla Model 3 might seat five and go more than a 100 miles more on a charge, it also sells for over $10,000 more than the Nobe.

Nobe, which is pronounced like "no bay," is already planning its next product, a small four-wheeled pickup truck. That truck, which looks like a miniature 1950s American pickup, doesn't have a name yet.

Microlino


The Microlino is most clearly inspired by the classic BMW Isetta and similar "bubble cars" that were produced in Europe in the years following World War II.

Those tiny gas-powered cars were designed for countries with wrecked economies and little access to gasoline,

Like the classic Isetta, the Microlino is entered through the front. The whole face of the vehicle is its door. Seating just two, the Microlino is small enough to park nose-to-curb across a parallel parking space. Weighing just 513 kilograms, or 1,131 pounds, the Mircolino weighs less than just the batteries of a Tesla Model S, company founder Oliver Ouboter boasts.

The Microlino is modeled on post-World War II European "bubble cars."


There are currently no plans to sell the Mircolino in the United States where, as a four-wheeled car, it would have to meet the US's strict automobile safety standards. Three-wheeled cars, which are considered motorcycles in most parts of the US, have less stringent standards to deal with. (All these companies claim their cars are safe, though.)

Back in the 1950s, BMW made a three-wheeled Isetta to get around that sort of problem. Mircolino is, instead, considering a low-speed version that would also get around the more stringent regulations, Ouboter said.

For now, this tiny car will only be offered in Europe for about €10,000, the equivalent of $12,000, excluding taxes.

ElectraMeccanica Solo


The ElectraMeccanica Solo's name derives from the simple fact that you will be in it alone. It's a single seat car intended as the ultimate minimalist transportation for that daily trip to the train station or supermarket by yourself

The company has bigger plans than just selling to individuals interested in minimal-impact driving, though.

"We think that the fleet side of the business can be huge for us," said Paul Rivera, CEO of the Vancouver-based company. "We think that it may actually be bigger than the direct-to-consumer approach."

The ElectraMeccanica Solo will be offered in versions designed for delivery work.


Future versions of the Solo with a cargo box in back could be ideal mini-trucks for urban deliveries, he said. ElectraMeccanica is already creating a fleet sales department.

"When you think about grocery stores, market, fresh pizza delivery, fast food franchise, security companies that go around a shopping mall at night, the tech companies that come out and service small businesses and copier companies," Rivera said, "there are so many fleets that are in that realm."

That's a plan that Ibara thinks will succeed because businesses will pay for a vehicle specifically suited to their needs.

But for now, the company is starting out small. It will sell its cars only on the West coast before offering them in other parts of the US and other countries.

ElectraMeccannica recently started producing the cars, which start at $18,500, in China. The company is opening a factory in Arizona later this year.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×