Opel offers cheap urban mobility with the Rocks-e

Opel is aiming its Rocks-e at commuters in cities and at young drivers.

The two-seat full-electric microcar will go on sale in Germany in the autumn. Other markets will follow later, Opel said in a statement.

The Rocks-e is based on the Ami sold by Stellantis sister brand Citroen.

It car will be positioned below the Corsa small hatchback and will be priced at a level that nearly any driver can afford, from young beginners to urban commuters, Opel said.

The entry-level price for the Rocks-e will be siginificantly less than for a small car and the monthly leasing cost will be similar to that of a ticket for local public transportation, the brand said.

Opel did not disclose pricing. The basic version of the Ami costs 6,990 euros ($8,221) in France.

The Rocks-e is classed as a quadricycle because of its small size and low speed, so it can be driven from the age of 15 in Germany with a light motor vehicle licence and some other European countries.

Opel says the Rocks-e closes the gap between scooters and passenger cars, offering electric mobility with protection from wind and rain.

Like the Ami, the Rocks-e is only 2410 mm long. It's 1390 mm wide, excludiing the exterior mirrors.

The vehicle weighs just 471 kg, about the same as a battery pack fitted in a conventional full-electric car.

The car's range will be about 75 km (47 miles) on a full charge, which can be achieved in 3.5 hours on a household electric socket, Opel says. The Rocks-e is powered by a 5.5-kilowatt-hour battery and has a top speed of 45 kph (32 mph).

Opel will include an adapter cable for public charging, but the car will not be able to use fast-charging stations.

The Rocks-e's 14-inch wheels and turning circle of just 720 mm means the car can fit into very small parking spaces.