Get Ready for the Micro Car

While car dealers and consumers in the US are busy pondering the usefulness, marketability and profitability of the Smart Car, the MICRO car in Italy and elsewhere in Europe is turning heads and may just give the Smart Car a run for its money.

Also known as the Minicar and Citycar, the Micro Car was a big hit in Italy about 5 years back when it debuted: the Micro car didn't go faster than about 30 miles per hour -- which is really all you needed for inner-city driving, the micro car got great gas mileage, they were pretty cheap at the time -- going for about 6 grand and the big clincher: you didn't need a driver's permit to operate the Micro. Meaning that anyone 14 years of age and older could hop right in and drive a Micro car off the dealers lot.

The Micro sold like hot cakes. But upon closer inspection it was easy to see that the Micro was really nothing more than a motor scooter with a car body stuck on it. But who cares -- the Micro was quick to threaten the scooter and moped industry. Funny thing, you can injure or kill a person when you're driving 30 miles an hour just like you can at high speeds. And sure enough, a spate of fatal accidents in big cities like Rome and Milan seemed to spell the end of the Micro Car.

So here we are in 2008, and a new marketing campaign has put the spot light back on the Micro. The Micro is becoming popular again, but the "drive-a-car-at-14" pitch isn't the big selling point anymore. Now it's all about gas mileage. The Micro -- officially called the venturette -- is making a comeback in Italy's big cities and is already exceeding expectations elsewhere in Europe (it's a huge seller in France and England).

The Micro is currently being produced by Aixam motors. Other companies jumping on the band wagon include Bellier, Chatenet and Ligier.

Some fast facts: according to www.microcar.it, the Micro car has a 500cc engine, doesn't weigh more than 350 kg, has an automatic shift, a driver's side airbag, runs on diesel and comes in a variety of models. Unfortunately the price went up. The median sticker price these days is between 9,000 - 14,000 Euro ($13,000 - $20,000 dollars), which makes the purchase of a Micro car a serious investment for a vehicle that only seats 2 people and maybe a hamster if your lucky.

On the plus side, if demand continues to go up, prices will surely go down. According to www.kwmotori.kataweb.it, currently only abut 700 vehicles are being sold annually, but some dealers have found a niche business in Micro rentals rather than sales. In Rome for example -- you can rent a Micro for about 40 Euro a day.

On the minus side: the applicable driving laws changed in Italy at the end of last year. Now regardless of age, an individual must have at least completed a basic driver's instruction class and received a Type-A permit - which is basically a restricted permit that a 14-year old would get after completing driver's education. Further more, the Micro cannot be purchased by anyone who had their license revoked.

Consumer reaction is still up for grabs. A late January article in the Italian daily La Repubblica (www.repubblica.it) echoed many of my own observations: namely the price and potential safety issues.

I've driven a Micro and it is a comfortable car. But for the money their asking, I can buy a 5-seater for almost half the price or better yet -- I can walk.

Will the Micro be a part of your future? Probably not anytime soon unless your living or traveling in Europe! But you know what? It wasn't that long ago when car dealers were saying the same thing about the Smart car!