Brussels, October 2025 — When a leading industry outlet asks whether Europe should “return to its automotive roots” with ultra-compact electric cars, it signals more than a media trend; it reflects a policy mood that’s shifting. As Automobile Propre reports, the European Commission is exploring a new category of small, efficient electric cars — inspired by Japan’s kei-car philosophy — to make urban mobility cleaner, cheaper, and truly right-sized for European cities. For the Microcar Coalition, this is welcome news: recognition is growing that smaller can be smarter.
A European Idea, Reborn
From the Fiat 500 and R4 to the early Twingo, Europe built its cities around compact vehicles. The article highlights a simple reality: most daily trips are short, streets are crowded, and running two-tonne SUVs for school runs and errands is wasteful. A modern small-EV class — light, efficient, affordable, and locally built — would align mobility with the way Europeans actually move.
What Brussels Is Signaling
In recent speeches and dialogues around the IAA and the Industrial Action Plan, the Commission has floated the concept of an “E-car” that is environmental, efficient, economical — and European. Automobile Propre notes that work could focus on a city-scale specification: capped dimensions, moderate power and speed (~90 km/h), ~150 km real-world range, and a target price below €15,000. The aim isn’t to create a “second-class car,” but a first-choice city vehicle.
How This Complements L7e (Microcars)
Microcars (L-category, especially L7e) already deliver this ethos today:
- Low energy use with small batteries and fewer critical materials.
- Space efficiency: easier parking and less congestion.
- European manufacturing with short supply chains and strong circularity potential.
A new small-EV class would work alongside L7e — not replace it. Think of it as a spectrum: L7e for ultra-efficient urban trips, plus a small-EV class for slightly broader use cases. Both share the same north star: right-sized mobility that reduces energy, materials, and emissions.
What the Market Needs to Make It Real
Automobile Propre points out a key barrier: today’s regulatory stack (e.g., GSR2 feature sets) can make tiny cars heavy and costly. The Commission’s exploration suggests a fit-for-purpose safety rulebook that keeps core protections while avoiding over-specification that drives up mass and price. Pair that with consistent incentives and clear product categories, and the segment can scale quickly — with European brands in the lead.
Our Take: A Genuine European Advantage
This is a success story in the making: European policy, industry, and citizens converging on a practical, affordable path to decarbonize cities. If the EU refines categories and incentives to reward efficiency (not size), Europe can:
- Cut urban emissions and energy demand now, not just post-2030.
- Strengthen European production and supply-chain resilience.
- Make clean mobility financially accessible to households and SMEs.
L7e microcars have shown what’s possible. A complementary small-EV class can widen the bridge from today’s niche to tomorrow’s mainstream.
Policy Priorities We Support
To turn this momentum into outcomes, the Microcar Coalition recommends that the EU and Member States:
- Recognize and reward smallness — link incentives to energy use, weight, and footprint.
- Modernize categories — keep L7e strong and define a clear, affordable small-EV class.
- Fit-for-purpose safety — robust protections without oversized, cost-inflating feature mandates.
- Local value chains — prioritize European design, cells/components, and assembly.
- Fleet pull-through — enable corporate/municipal adoption where short urban trips dominate.
The Bottom Line
Europe is re-embracing what it invented: clever, compact cars for vibrant, dense cities. The conversation highlighted by Automobile Propre shows minds are changing. Let’s make sure policies change too — so that microcars and their small-EV cousins can deliver cleaner air, quieter streets, and a mobility transition that’s affordable, efficient, and unmistakably European.
