Tilting French Thingamajig That Promises to Solve Traffic
Image Credit: AEMotion.
In my years of writing about things with wheels and wings, I've seen some truly creative attempts at reinventing the wheel. Literally. I've seen cars that thought they were boats, motorcycles with identity crises, and airplanes that looked like they were designed by a committee that had never actually seen a bird. Case in point - a French creation that's neither a motorcycle nor a scooter. It's a bit of both.
Meet the latest transport solution from a French e-mobility company called AEMotion. It doesn't have a name yet, which I find endlessly charming. It's like a pet you haven't quite figured out. Is it a "Sparky"? A "Jean-Pierre"? For now, it's just "that tilting four-wheeled thingy." Their goal, back in 2014, was to blend the zippy agility of a motorcycle with the cozy safety of a car. Eleven years later, the result is this: a tandem two-seater microcar that leans into corners. Oh, yes. It leans.
Image Credit: AEMotion.
Essentially? A sleek, enclosed pod on four wheels, and incredibly narrow - just 31 inches wide, to be precise. You could probably fit two of these in a standard parking space, which is brilliant. Instead of a steering wheel, you get a handlebar, and you sit in it like you're on a bike, with your passenger tucked in right behind you. It's all very "let's ride off into the sunset," but with a roof.
The real party trick is its ability to tilt up to 35 degrees when you take a corner. If you've ever wanted to feel like a MotoGP racer on your way to pick up groceries, this might just be your golden ticket. It's a sensation we've seen toyed with before, but AEMotion seems determined to make it a practical reality for city dwellers.
Swappable battery in AEMotion Tilting Electric Microcar. Image Credit: AEMotion.
You bet it does. This little contraption is fully electric and surprisingly nippy. It boasts a top speed of a smidgen over 71 miles per hour, which is more than enough to get you into and out of trouble on city expressways. It won't be winning any drag races against supercars, but that's not the point, is it? The point is to be clever.
Now, let's talk range, because I know that's the question burning in your mind. AEMotion offers two battery solutions. There's a fixed battery that they reckon will get you up to 124 miles on a single charge - perfectly respectable for a week of commuting. But they also have a swappable battery system, where each little pack gives you about 43 miles of range. It's an emergency energy bar for your car. I love that.
Image Credit: AEMotion.
Ah, safety. The age-old question when looking at something that's smaller than most American refrigerators. AEMotion has clearly thought about this. Both the driver and passenger get four-point safety harnesses, which sounds very serious and race-car-like. They've also used automotive-grade crash test simulations, which is somewhat reassuring.
The whole thing is built with EPP foam bumpers and structural "crash boxes." The interior is also lined with this EPP stuff, which AEMotion says acts like a "passive airbag system." It's designed to be light and absorb energy in a collision. You're essentially cocooned in a high-tech, impact-absorbing helmet. And for stopping power, you get proper hydraulic disc brakes. See? It's sensible!
Image Credit: AEMotion.
Every vehicle I love has its quirks, and this one has a doozy. It has doors with windows to protect you from the elements. Fantastic. However, the bottom half of the door is just not there. Your legs are out, exposed to the world. I've been staring at the pictures, trying to understand the logic. Is it for ventilation? To make it easier to kick at those annoying scooters? Or maybe it's so you can still get that "wind in your shins" feeling? I don't have an answer, but it makes me giggle.
On the more practical side, it stands up all on its own without a kickstand, so parking is a breeze. And for storage, you can slide the passenger seat forward to create a surprisingly generous little cargo area in the back. It's a vehicle that's clearly been designed by people who've actually had to live and park in a crowded European city.
Image Credit: AEMotion.
If you are lucky enough to be in France, then yes, you can have it. How much? Well, that's a €200-a-month question. AEMotion is initially targeting the French market with a long-term lease model - outright buying isn't on the table just yet. To drive one in France, you'll need a standard car license.
Don't rush to pack your bags for Paris, though. A small "pioneer" batch is expected later this year, but regular deliveries will start late in 2026 or early in 2027, with a larger production ramp-up after 2028. It's a slow burn, but good things often are.
This was an unusual encounter… It's unnamed, it's unconventional, and it leaves your calves to fend for themselves. But it's also clever, potentially brilliant for traffic, and full of that wonderful, slightly mad innovation that I adore. Is it the definitive future of urban transport? No chance. But it's a fun chapter in the story.
