Stellantis-owned Opel has presented its version of the Citroen Ami microcar. The entry-level electric vehicle can already be driven in Germany by young people from 15 years of age with the AM driving licence.
Opel says the entry-level price for the new Opel Rocks-e in Germany will be less than for a small car and the monthly leasing cost will be similar to that of a ticket for local public transportation. The Rocks-e will be available to order online or directly at selected Opel dealers from autumn onwards in Germany – additional markets are planned to follow in 2022.
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“Our new Opel Rocks-e is uncompromising in every respect. The design is bold and pure, the dimensions are extremely compact. Our SUM drives purely on electricity and the price is unbeatable. The Rocks-e enables smart and functional electric mobility for everyone and will attract a lot of attention,” says Opel’s head of sales and marketing, Stephen Norman. “Opel is simply ‘menschlich’ and approachable – the Rocks‑e delivers further proof.”
Rocks-e is just 2.41 metres long, 1.39 m wide (without exterior mirrors) and weighs only 471 kilograms (including traction battery), which means it is officially classified as a light motor vehicle. Opel says Rocks-e supports the mobility needs of young people, especially for the way to school or place of study.
Opel’s entry-ticket to electric mobility offers a range of up to 75 kilometres according to WLTP, which can be covered at up to 45 km/h. This, Opel claims, makes it ideal for everyday city traffic – not only for young drivers, but also for those who want to commute emissions-free and don’t want to spend a long time looking for a parking space at their destination.
It says the 14-inch wheels and turning circle of only 7.20 m make the Rocks-e ideal for the city, mastering tight corners and fitting into small parking spaces.
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By GlobalDataThe 5.5 kWh battery of the Opel Rocks-e can be fully recharged in around 3.5 hours via any standard household socket. The accompanying three-metre-long charging cable is permanently housed in the SUM and simply pulled out of the passenger door when needed. Opel offers an adapter for charging at a public charging station.
The Rocks-e features the new Opel Vizor brand face, including LED headlights and indicators. The doors on both sides are identical (clever cost saver). The passenger door swings forward as usual, while the driver’s door swings backwards in the opposite direction. The front and rear body panels are also similar.
Inside, the two seats are offset to each other so that the front passenger has comfortable legroom and the driver can move their seat lengthwise.
Cost considerations make it highly unlikely that a RHD version of the Opel Rocks-e (or its sister car Citroen Ami) will be engineered for the UK (would be sold as a Vauxhall) and Irish (Opel brand) markets.
