ÆMOTION is Building The Tilting EV to Rethink the Urban Commute

The world doesn’t need another big car. It needs something smaller, something that can glide through traffic, fit into tight parking spots, and still keep you dry when it rains.

That’s where ÆMOTION steps in.

This French startup has created a vehicle that doesn’t fit into any usual box. It’s narrower than a car, safer than a scooter, and runs on electric power. Its core design is a four-wheeled tilting microcar, a vehicle that leans like a bike but protects its rider like a car.

It’s just 79 cm wide and weighs about 250 kg. That makes it ideal for crowded streets, busy intersections, and limited urban parking. It has four wheels, a roof, built-in crash protection, seat belts, and a 2 motors (one on each rear wheel) that can reach 115 km/h.

This is a new way to think about personal transport. It’s compact enough for cities, but powerful and safe enough for highways. It’s built for real commuting through tight downtowns, busy arterials, and even daily rides on motorways.

ÆMOTION is building a new kind of city vehicle. One that gives you the freedom of a bike, with the comfort and safety of a cabin. If cities are going to stay livable, this may be exactly what they need.

What is ÆMOTION?

At the core is a small, four-wheeled electric microcar. It leans like a motorcycle, protects like a car, and is narrow enough to fit in a bike rack space. It’s built for places where size and agility matter, and where highway speeds are part of the commute. Unlike typical quadricycles that top out at 90 km/h and even aren’t allowed on motorways in France, ÆMOTION was designed from day one to handle urban streets and freeway flows alike.

Most tiny EVs are either stiff like cars or wobbly like scooters. ÆMOTION’s big idea is a tilting chassis that lets the vehicle lean into turns – up to 35° – while all four wheels stay firmly on the ground. This gives it the fun of a motorcycle but with more comfort and control.

There’s no complex software behind it. The tilt is passive, powered by a simple mechanical system that reacts to how the rider moves.

This vehicle is made for people who love to ride. There’s no steering wheel, touchscreens, or autonomy. Instead, you steer with handlebars, like on a motorcycle, and use manual throttle and brake controls.

ÆMOTION’s microcar is only 79 cm wide and 2.35 m long, but it’s packed with safety features. It has crash structures in the front and back, shock-absorbing interior panels, and four-point seat belts for both riders. It also includes hydraulic disc brakes on all wheels and a fully enclosed cabin to keep you safe from weather and traffic.

Here are the specs.

Specification	Details
Width	79 cm (narrower than a car)
Length	2.35 m
Curb weight	~250 kg (with batteries)
Seats	2 (tandem layout)
Top speed	115 km/h
Motor power	18–45 kW (depending on config)
Lean angle	Up to 35°
Battery options	10 kWh fixed (~200 km range), plus up to 2 swappable modules (~70 km total)
Charging	Plug-in (fixed pack) + quick-swap (modules)
Controls	Manual (handlebars, throttle, hydraulic brakes)
Licensing	Requires standard car license (Permis B) and ~7 hours of rider training
Price estimate	~€20–25k (or ~€200/month lease)

ÆMOTION’s tilting tech blends bike agility with car safety

ÆMOTION completely reinvented the car design. Every part of the vehicle is built around an idea to combine the fun of riding with real safety, keep things simple, and make it fit the city. The result is a machine that rides like a bike, protects like a car, and avoids the digital overload of most modern EVs.

The vehicle feels more like a two-wheeler than a car. You steer using handlebars, not a wheel. You speed up with a twist throttle, and slow down using hand brakes. Best of all, the whole vehicle leans into turns up to 35°, giving you that smooth, exciting lean that four-wheelers normally can’t offer. It’s agile enough to cut through traffic, but still grips the road with all four wheels.

And even though it’s small, ÆMOTION puts safety first. It has front and rear crash zones, shock-absorbing interior panels, and four-point seat belts for both riders. The whole cabin is fully enclosed, so you’re shielded from weather, road debris, and impacts. That kind of protection is rare in a lightweight EV.

Next, power comes in two ways. A 10kWh fixed battery gives up to 200 km of range. You can also add one or two removable battery packs, each 4kWh, for additional 70 km of range. These swappable batteries make it easy to keep going, ideal for commuters or fleets that don’t want to wait around to charge.

There are no sensors, self-driving tech, or LiDAR towers. The tilt system runs on rider input and a clever mechanical linkage. This means fewer things can break, the ride stays light, and it’s always responsive – without needing a software update.

While many vehicles integrate big screens and smart tech, ÆMOTION goes the other way. It focuses on riding, safety, and simplicity and does them all exceptionally well.

ÆMOTION offers €200/month subscription model

You don’t need to buy the vehicle outright. ÆMOTION is focused on long-term leasing instead of sales. In France, the lease is expected to cost around €200 per month, about the same as a midrange scooter subscription. That monthly price covers everything – the vehicle itself, the battery, basic support, and light maintenance. It’s a model designed for commuters and companies aiming for compact transport without big upfront costs.

So, what’s in the “box”?

Each ÆMOTION vehicle comes fully built and road-ready. You get:

• A two-seat enclosed microcar, with optional doors
• Safety features like crash zones, full lighting, and seat belts
• A 6.1 kWh fixed battery (range up to 200 km)
• Optional slots for one or two removable battery packs (about 70 km in total)
• Handlebar-style controls (throttle, brakes, and steering like a motorcycle)
• A simple digital dashboard

There are no trim levels or tech packages. What you see is what you get – simple, safe, and made for city travel.

Also, there’s no driver-assist features, apps, or smart assistants here. Instead, the onboard system handles:

• Battery and power management
• Throttle and motor control
• Dash display and speed readout

It’s clean, reliable, and easy to maintain with no extra features to break or distract.

While many microcars are limited to urban streets by law or performance, ÆMOTION was built with a broader use case in mind. Its top speed of 115 km/h and motorcycle-style lane-splitting capability make it fully legal and functional on French highways. And that’s a rare feat for this size class.

In fact, the vehicle’s ideal user isn’t just a city-dweller, but a suburban commuter who needs to hop on the motorway, glide through traffic, and park easily at the destination.

Right now, ÆMOTION offers just one vehicle. There are no fleet versions, cargo models, or modular options. At least not yet. But with its small size and swappable batteries, the platform could evolve in the future. It’s easy to picture delivery or shuttle variants down the line.

ÆMOTION’s place in the urban mobility lineup

Picture the full range of city vehicles:

E-scooter → E-bike → Motorcycle → ÆMOTION → Compact car

ÆMOTION sits right in the middle:

• More stable and safe than bikes or scooters
• Smaller, lighter, and easier to park than cars

It’s the sweet spot for modern commuting. Agile enough for city streets, but fast and stable enough for motorways.

Meet the team building the world’s narrowest electric vehicle

ÆMOTION is designed and built by a small group of French engineers with a mission to create a better way to get around crowded cities.

The idea started with one frustrated commuter in Paris traffic. Alexandre Lagrange, an industrial engineer with over 10 years at energy giant ENGIE, just wanted something smaller, safer, and more fun to drive.

In 2015, he sketched the first version of the ÆMOTION vehicle. By 2018, he had launched the company (EV4 France, S.A.S.) and started assembling a core team.

As of 2025, ÆMOTION has only five full-time employees and about 20 collaborators including contractors and partners. What brings them together is deep mechanical know-how in chassis design, tilting mechanics, crash protection, and drivetrain systems.

So far, they’ve created and tested seven working prototypes, refining everything from tilt angles to battery-swapping features. The latest version is on track for public launch in 2026.

There’s no autonomy, cloud AI, or flashy screens. It’s a product company, focused on delivering a manually driven, tilt-capable electric vehicle that solves urban mobility problems.

It’s simple, focused, and it’s being built by people who know how to bring clever hardware to life.

How ÆMOTION is scaling with public funding

ÆMOTION is building the business the traditional way. Through persistence, public support, and a focus on solving urban mobility problems we all feel.

As of 2025, ÆMOTION remains an early-stage, privately owned startup. Instead of outside investors, it has relied on help from major French institutions:

• Bpifrance, the national public investment bank
• ADEME, France’s energy and environment agency
• The Rhône-Alpes regional government, which supports local tech and mobility projects
• European Commission

These partners have provided grants and support to help the company build prototypes, refine its design, and get ready for production, all without giving up equity or chasing high valuations.

After building and testing seven working prototypes, ÆMOTION is preparing to take its vehicle to real users. The next steps are:

• Late 2026 – Small-batch production for early pilots and testing with real-world riders
• 2027 – First commercial leases to customers and fleet partners across France
• After 2027 – Scaled manufacturing and possible expansion into other cities or markets (based on funding and demand)

ÆMOTION stands out from its competitors

ÆMOTION isn’t trying to beat Tesla or replace your scooter. It’s doing something different and something no one else has done yet. In a crowded market full of folding cars, three-wheeled oddities, and small electric city vehicles, ÆMOTION brings something unique – a four-wheeled, fully enclosed EV that leans like a motorcycle.

vs. City Transformer

The City Transformer CT-2 shrinks from 1.4 m to 1 m to fit into tight parking spots. But it doesn’t tilt. It still drives like a small car. ÆMOTION doesn’t fold. Instead, it leans into corners up to 35°, giving riders a true motorcycle feel while staying even slimmer than some larger motorbikes.

vs. Renault Twizy and Microlino

Both the Twizy and Microlino are well-known small EVs for city driving. But they’re heavy (around 450–500 kg), don’t tilt, and handle more like regular cars. ÆMOTION weighs about half as much, offers true lean-in turns, and wraps it all in a fully enclosed body, giving better agility and weather protection.

vs. Carver, Trinova, and Toyota i-Road

Carver’s leaning trike, Trinova’s electric three-wheeler, and Toyota’s i-Road concept also offered tilting designs, but with three wheels, not four. That made them harder to balance at speed and less stable overall. ÆMOTION gives you the same leaning fun, but with the added safety and control of a four-wheel setup – and it’s actually going into production.

vs. Arcimoto and Aptera

These U.S. startups take bold design paths: Arcimoto uses an open-air trike; Aptera focuses on long-range and solar charging. But again – three wheels, no tilt, and not built for dense city life.

ÆMOTION sits in a class of its own

No other vehicle on the market combines all of this:

• 4 wheels
• Active tilt (up to 35°)
• Fully enclosed crash-safe cabin
• Only 79 cm wide
• Electric drive with swappable batteries

It’s something new. A clean-sheet design for tight city spaces, built for people who want bike-like freedom with car-like safety. In a world full of similar scooters and copycat EVs, ÆMOTION dares to lean into the gap. Literally and strategically.

5 real challenges that could slow it’s urban rollout

ÆMOTION has a bold idea, but turning that idea into reality won’t be easy. Here are the key challenges that could slow things down:

1) Design is complex and it’s tough to build

The tilting chassis is ÆMOTION’s standout feature, but also its hardest to manufacture. Unlike simple scooters or small EVs, this system uses precise mechanics and safety-critical parts. Mass-producing it will take more than just money. It will require strong partners and serious industrial know-how.

2) Small scale means higher costs

Early on, each unit will be expensive to build. Without large-scale production, it’s hard to keep prices low. That puts ÆMOTION in a tough spot. Costing more than a moped, but less than a car. Holding lease prices near €200/month could be key to staying competitive.

3) No AI or sensors?

There’s no self-driving, autopilot, or fancy sensors. That’s refreshing, but it could make it harder to attract tech-focused investors or big media coverage. ÆMOTION must win people over with the ride itself, rather than bold headlines.

4) Rules vary from city to city

ÆMOTION isn’t a highway car. It’s a city-first vehicle. But that means navigating local rules, permits, and insurance, one city at a time. Each rollout will take time, and Europe’s urban regulations can be tricky. Expansion won’t be plug-and-play.

5) How will drivers adapt?

ÆMOTION handles like a motorcycle but feels like a car. That mix of handlebars instead of a wheel and leaning through corners may surprise new users. Some drivers might hesitate. To win them over, ÆMOTION will need test rides, training, and clear messaging to show that this new kind of ride is easy and fun.

Rethinking the car for city life

The number of cars on European roads is rising by the minute, and parking spaces have never been so limited. With this in mind, ÆMOTION set out not to reinvent the car, but totally replace it for city life.

And they’re not doing it by adding high-tech features or self-driving tools, but by shrinking the size, simplifying the experience, and using the natural feel of movement to its advantage.

This is a clear message that urban travel doesn’t have to be big, noisy, or gas-powered (even though we don’t have anything against gas-powered vehicles and we love them).

ÆMOTION won’t carry six people or cruise across countries, but for daily city commutes, it offers a smart alternative that’s enclosed, electric, and agile enough to make everyday travel fun again.

It’s not mainstream yet, but as cities grow tighter and people search for better ways to move, ÆMOTION could be the vehicle that changes how we think about driving small and dreaming big.