PRESS INFO
IAA 2013
CONTENTS
DRIVEPLANET
LIGIER
JS 50 / JS50 RC / IXO / VIPA
MICROCAR
F8 C / M.GO / M8
THE No.1 ENGINE
THE AIR CONDITIONING OPTION
DUÉ
FIRST
LIGIER PROFESSIONAL
BE SUN / FLEX L3
A BIT OF HISTORY
LIGIER / MICROCAR / SECURITY / WARRANTY /
THE DRIVEPLANET ECOPROGRAM / THE LICENCEFREE VEHICULE
MARKET: WHO ARE THEY? /THE QUADRICYCLE LEGISLATION
DRIVEPLANET
OUR PASSION
FOR FREEDOM
AND MOBILITY
in 2008. It now includes four individual trade-marks, with the
formation of Due in September 2010 and the launch of
Ligier Professional at the beginning of the year. The group
stands for human, industrial and marketing unity. They now
have 200 distributors and ve subsidiaries in Europe (Italy,
Spain, Portugal, Germany and Austria), and are now the
market leader in the heavy and light weight quadricycle
sector, with 300 employees and two production sites in
Vichy (in the Allier region) and Bouéré (in the Vendée
region). As a group founded on its family capital, Driveplanet
builds on Ligier's sporting experience and Microcar's safety
expertise to design and manufacture quality, innovative, safe
and accessible vehicles. For Driveplanet the license free car
is rst and foremost a car.
The Driveplanet Group
was rst created with
the merger of Automobiles Ligier and Microcar
THE LEADING
MANUFACTURER
OF THE EUROPEAN
MARKET
Driveplanet is the leader of its sector, with a projected turnov er of
91M d fo r 2012, a 3% inc r ease o v er 2011. With the European
market representing 22,566 unit sales (of which 12,688 were
sold in France) at the end of 2011, the group can claim a 39%
hold of the market, thus 8,803 sales (with 4,866 of those in
France). Ligier has cumulated 3,919 (17.8% of the market share)
and Microcar 4,173 (18.5% of the market share).
LIGIER
JS 50: FREEDOM
FROM LICENSE
AND PERMISSION
blished barriers. Straight out of the ultra-mobile generation, this
mini town car (3.15m) with its audacious design symbolises
the latest trends in license free cars. The JS-50 is fashionable
and uninhibited, with its audacious twin-tone colour scheme,
15 inch wheels and spoiler. The interior has a lounge ambience.
Three spoke steering wheel, chrome trim and embroidered JS
initials on the seats give it a cosy feel. Under the hood there
is another jewel: the new Lombardini DCI Revolution Smartdrive Technology engine, the most economical (2.5l/100km)
and silent of its category. This engine gives remarkable driving
pleasure with its controlled turnover rate and generous torque.
The JS 50 can be driven in complete serenity with its four disk
brakes, protection bars in the door panels and a tubular aluminium chassis. This latest production from the Ligier team turns
heads even outside of its intended public with its combination
of innovative style with the latest in high technology, proving
that it has achieved its own true legitimacy.
As the star of the Ligier
stand at the 2012 Paris
Motor Show, the JS 50
breaks down all esta-
TECHNICAL FEATURES
JS 50 DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
2825 mm
1565 mm
1475 mm
600 mm
320 litres under the rear shelf
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC or DCI Révolution
45 km/h
WHY THE JS 50?
competitive racing world, all Ligier's carry the JS initials followed by a code number. In homage to Guy Ligier's close
friend the famous racing driver Jo Schlesser, who died tragically a t the 1968 French Grand P rix. For 30 y ears Automobiles
Ligier continues to respect this tradition. The JS 50 is thus the 50th creation of the company from Vichy.
Being a traditional car manufacturer Automobiles Ligier does not
make light of naming its models. Since their beginnings in the
LIGIER
JS50 RC: A COUPE
WITH COMPETITIVE
SPIRIT
tor Show. Its dynamic, unique and unashamedly seductive
style is bound to have an eect on everyone, and not just
its potential users. This sports coupé is ready to tear up the
tarmac with its streamlined prole and muscular wings. The
JS50 RC provokes love at rst sight with its 15 inch black
and aluminium wheels, double exhaust and honeycomb
radiator grill with chrome trim. It will turn heads with its
Toledo Red dress and most certainly deserves its place as
the most desirable license free vehicle on the market. The
interior design continues this standard, neatly evoking an
atmosphere that is both sporting and cosy. All typied by a
harmonious layout using
only the highest quality materials. As for its
equipment, these reach
a level never before reached on a license free vehicle:
carbon feel tones, contoured racing seats in black with red
stitching, three-spoke sports steering wheel with chrome
inserts, centralised locking, electric windows... The JS50
RC is all about pleasure, a car to be lived with as much as
driven.
The RC coupé is sure to
get noticed on display
next to the new JS 50
model at the Paris Mo-
TECHNICAL FEATURES
JS 50 RC DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
3030 mm
1505 mm
1465 mm
540 mm
370 litres under the rear shelf
670 litres without the rear shelf
580 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC or DCI Révolution
45 km/h
LIGIER
IXO:
CHARACTER
FOR SALE
sing personality can rst be seen in its audacious radiator
grill design, curved lines and oating roof. Ixo personies the values of the Automobiles Ligier brand, with the
ground-breaking technology of its one-piece aluminium
chassis, coloured thermoplastic bodywork and four large
diameter disc brakes. A small car that can size up to any
of its larger rivals, but still melt into heavy trac thanks
to its compact size, agility and high performance diesel
engine. It is a pleasure to drive and just as pleasant to
live with. Its interior is typied by its quality nishings,
ingenious ttings and clever storage compartments.
Designed to make the best use of its interior volume, Ixo
has a spacious luggage compartment (800 litres) with
a at base and a conveniently low loading level. It is available in four versions (Urban, Club,
Treck and Elégance) and with
two Lombardini engine
options, this is Ligier
Automobiles' best
seller thanks to its
reliability, low maintenance costs and a fuel consumption of less than 3 litres
per 100 km.
In January 2012 the
Ligier Ixo was given
a modern and vibrant
new design. Its surpri-
TECHNICAL FEATURES
IXO DIMENSIONS URBAN, CLUB, TRECK, ELÉGANCE
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
3148 mm
1524 mm
1497mm
600 mm
3
0,77m
640 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC
45 km/h
LIGIER
VIPA:
EMISSION AND
DRIVER FREE
gers for short journeys in enclosed areas (industrial sites,
parks or airports). Powered by an electric motor, it runs
silently and does not emit a single gram of CO2. Above
all, it requires no driver, nor guidance infrastructure thanks
to its location and guidance system that is based on realtime video imaging and algorithm processing. With an
on-board computer and a camera xed to the front of the
vehicle, the VIPA steers itself thanks to its visual memory.
They can function individually or as part of a eet, at
speeds of between 5 and 20 km/h over short distances.
The interior layout can be adapted to the requirements
of users from a "four seated, two
standing up" conguration
to "two seats with space
for a wheelchair".
VIPA (Autonomous
Individual Passenger
Vehicle) is an electric
vehicle for 6 passen-
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Chassis
Energy
Batteries
Average speed
Top speed
Autonomy
Max. slope
Min. acceleration
Deceleration
Max. load
Weight unloaded
Operating temperature
Turning circle
Dimensions
Aluminium
Electric
4 AGM lead gel
10 km/h (2.8 m/s)
20 km/h (5.6 m/s)
100 Km (8h)
18 % at curb weight and 13 % fully loaded
1m/s
> 5.5m/s²
600Kg
1 ton
-20°C / + 60°C
< 4m
3.20m x 1.65m x 2.38m (L x W x H)
(regulatory)
MICROCAR
F8 C:
THE COUPÉ
FOR THE CITY
quely styled city-centre coupé, which will be unveiled at the
Paris Motor Show. It is impossible to not be seduced by its
curvaceous wings, twin chromed exhaust, sensual and uid
prole, LED lamps and headlights, the aired roof prole and
plunging body lines, lateral air inlets and integrated spoiler.
With its wheels set in the four corners this seductive city car by
Microcar seems designed for the catwalk. Its driving precision
and comfortable suspension are also key strengths. As for the
engine, the excellent dCi Revolution Smartdrive Technology
unit also plays a key role. To all of these great qualities the
F8-C can also add its exclusive interior design (black seats
with white trim, with the black
colour carried over onto the
interior door panels, sporting
steering wheel, roof interior
in imitation carbon and black lacquer nish dashboard)
and an unexpectedly high level of equipment ttings (with
options for remote controlled central door locking, headlight
reminder alarm, chrome pack, air conditioning and driver's
side airbag).
When license free
vehicles enter the world
of elegance, this gives
us the F8-C, a uni-
TECHNICAL FEATURES
F8 C DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
3003 mm
1505 mm
1465mm
540 mm
370 litres under the rear shelf
670 litres without the rear shelf
580 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC or DCI Révolution
45 km/h
MICROCAR
M.GO:
SAFETY
FIRST
license free vehicles. With its exclusive safety system the M.Go
is remarkable for its classical style, driver's side airbag, LED
daylights and an optical sensor which automatically switches
on the headlights when necessary. This magnificently elegant
Microcar has a double chassis, third brake-light, four disk brakes
and repeated indicator lights; it also switches its warning lights on
automatically at the first signs of emergency braking. It also has
unequalled soundproofing capacities for its category, allowing
for the full use of the benefits of its dCi Common Rail twin cylinder
engine. The M.Go is safe and easy to handle and looks good,
as can be seen in its cosy and modern interior. The dashboard
trim matches with the door interior panels and has a
functional central console that fits perfectly into the instrument panel,
and the classy upholstery
adds a refined touch to
the overall effect.
The precursor in Microcar's work developing
advanced active and
passive safety systems for
TECHNICAL FEATURES
M.GO INITIAL ; EXPRESSION ; HIGHLAND ; PARIS DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
3030 mm
1505 mm
1550 mm
540 mm
370 litres under the rear shelf
670 litres without the rear shelf
580 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC or DCI Révolution
45 km/h
MICROCAR
M8:
CLASSICAL
CHIC
It is true object of desire, with star quality that can be
seen in its aluminium wheels, overtinted windows and
bodywork kit that adds an irresistible touch of aggression. In keeping with its standing its interior has black
and white seats, imitation carbon interior roof and a
three spoke, chrome-trimmed sports steering wheel. Its
quality ttings include electric windows, remote controlled central locking, back-lit heating controls and stowage
compartments that are both practical and discreet. The
M-8 has a basic DCI engine and is available in three
versions, with or without air conditioning. This top model from
Microcar aims at a wholly new public with its urban chic style
not making any concessions to basic necessities such as
comfort, driving pleasure and safe road handling.
With the new M-8,
Microcar breaks down
the stylistic codes of
license free vehicles.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
M8 SELECT ; DYNAMIC ; PREMIUM DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
2930 mm
1500 mm
1515 mm
540 mm
370 litres under the rear shelf
670 litres without the rear shelf
580 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
or DCI TRONIC or DCI Révolution
45 km/h
THE NEW ENGINE
GENERATION
Consumption
2.5 litres per 100 km
Class A
65 g/km of CO2
emitted
A MODERN ENGINE
FOR INCREASED
DRIVINGPLEASURE
The new DCI Common Rail Revolution
engine is exclusive to
the Driveplanet group
and will be available with the Ligier range as of January
2013. With a fuel consumption of only 2.5 litres of diesel
for 100km, this Lombardini manufactured engine stands
out for its austerity, but also stands out with its exibility
at low revs, its lack of acceleration jumps and low noise
emissions. Economical in maintenance, discreet in use,
this new diesel engine also has the "Easy Parking" technology which avoids jump starts during parking manoeuvres
or when engaging the "Drive" position of the continuously
variable transmission.
Performance
when accelerating
Low noise emissions
and reduced vibration
“Easy Parking”
technology
Automotive-type
engine harmonics
TECHNICAL FEATURES
ENGINE
Type
Engine block
Displacement
Bore x stroke
Cooling
Max. power
Max. torque
Max. engine speed
Power supply
Batterie
Alternator
Fuel
TRANSMISSION
Gearbox
4 stroke twin cylinder diesel engine
Aluminium engine block, overhead camshaft
480 cc
69 mm x 64 mm
Liquid
4 kW at 3200 rpm
26 Nm at 1400 rpm
3200 rpm
Electronically controlled (common rail) direct injection
12 volts - 40 Ah - 320 A
55 A - 480 w
Diesel
Automatic variable speed transmission
with electronic clutch
Gear lever
ANTIPOLLUTION STANDARDS
Consumption
2 (g/km)
CO
*Measured according to the cycle dened in directive 97/24CE, modied 2006/120/EC.
Dual Drive, Forward and reverse drive
2,5 litres* per 100 km
Class A: 65 g/km*
AIR CONDITIONING OPTION
All Driveplanet models with the DCI twin-cylinder direct
and common rail fuel-injected engines can be tted with
air conditioning. This computer controlled diesel engine
from Lombardini can power air conditioning without
loss of power during acceleration and hill climbing.
The air-conditioning system and its manual controls can
be tted without altering the style of
the interior. Hot and cold air is
produced rapidly thanks to an
additional cooling element
before the air heating element.
DUE
FIRST:
THE SMART
BUY
Aimed at young rst-time buyers it is both economical and
practical. The Dué has great driving comfort and safety
and whilst small in stature (2.83m) its ttings are everything
but minor. This city run-around has a diesel Lombardini
Progress engine, specially developed for the Driveplanet
group, tted to an aluminium chassis covered with a polycarbonate layer, the perfect exible memory form material.
The 505cc liquid cooled twin cylinder
engine has an overhead camshaft and high pressure fuel
injection pump, giving
it a high level of
driving comfort with
reduced vibration.
The First has a roomy interior with plenty
of space for two people and an accessible and spacious
luggage compartment. Available in white for only 8,500 €.
With the First, the
Driveplanet group
provides a license free
vehicle for everyone.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
DUÉ FIRST ; ZÉNITH DIMENSIONS
Overall length
Overall width
Height
Seat height
Boot capacity
Loading height
Engine types
2 SEATS
Top speed
2834 mm
1500 mm
1465mm
600 mm
230 litres under the rear shelf
500 litres without the rear shelf
570 mm
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
45 km/h
DUE ZENITH: EXTRA
input, rear luggage shelf, hubcaps, electric windows and luggage hider) and is a vailable in
a range of six colours. In its black version with white stripes on the hood and tailgate,
the Zenith shows off its bad boy side. This exclusive version costs only 8,990 €.
In its basic version the Zenith has a number of comfort orientated options (central locking, auto-radio with CD player and MP3
LIGIER PROFESSIONAL
A NOTER
Ligier Professional is one of
two manufacturers selected,
after a Europe-wide tender, by
the French Post Office f or the
supply of urban electric quadricycles (Quadeos). 750 Be Suns
have been delivered in less
than three years. Tested and
approved by the Fr ench Post
Office, Ligier Professional continues to build on its credibility
with its heavy and lightweight
utility vehicle clients.
BE SUN:
AN ENVIRON
MENTALLY CLEAN
VEHICLE FOR
PROFESSIONALS
has a centrally mounted, maintenance free battery pack
that provides 50 kilometres of autonomy. The Be Sun seats
two persons and is available in long (2.90m) and short
(2.60m) versions, it benets from all of the advantages
of its minimal volume and the light weight (675 kg) of its
aluminium structure and ABS bodywork. It has the safest
possible road handling thanks to its four disk brakes,
double wishbone rear axle and disassociated hydraulic
suspension that limit rolling. The interior can be adapted
to all possible delivery types and loads.
The large rear compartment
can take loads of up to 200
kg and has a lockable
roll blind. In keeping with new
mobility criteria,
this unique utility vehicle is also
available with a diesel engine (45 km/h).
This uniquely styled
micro utility vehicle is
the ideal partner for
companies and local
authorities, this urban
electric quadricycle
TECHNICAL FEATURES
BE SUN L1
Length
Width
Height
BE SUN L3 ELECTRIC VERSION
Length
Width
Height
Engine type
Rated power
Transmission
Type of batteries
Number of batteries
Voltage
Power source
2 seater
Top speed
Autonomy
2600 mm
1460 mm
1790 mm
3360 mm
1460 mm
1790 mm
Asynchronous motor
4 kW
Automatic
Sealed AGM lead, Maintenance-free
4
48
Domestic mains power (230V – 16A)
45 km/h
50 km
COMBUSTION VERSION
Engine type
2 seater
Top speed
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
45 km/h
LIGIER PROFESSIONAL
FLEX L3: THE ULTIMATE
IN FLEXIBLE
UTILITY VEHICLES
its incredible exibility of use. The Flex L3 adapts to everyone's needs either as a pick-up or as a xed or tipping
at-bed, with stowage, tautliner or tool compartment or with
wire mesh sides. The ideal machine for transporting loads in
urban or near-urban zones; it simplies life and guarantees
enormous savings. The Flex L3 is available in three colours
(white, red or grey) with a single chassis length (2.90m),
and can carry loads from 200 to 600 kg. It is powered by
a (diesel 45 km/h) combustion or (50 km autonomy) electric
engine in licensed or license free versions with a wide range
of options for the improvement of the daily working conditions
of its users.
As its name implies,
this closed cab vehicle for professionals is
notable above all for
TECHNICAL FEATURES
FLEX L3 ELECTRIC VERSION
Length
Width
Height
Engine type
Rated power
Transmission
Type of batteries
Number of batteries
Voltage
Power source
2 seater
Top speed
Autonomy
COMBUSTION VERSION
Engine type
2 seater
Top speed
3360 mm
1460 mm
1790 mm
Asynchronous motor
4 kW
Automatic
Sealed AGM lead, Maintenance-free
4
48
Domestic mains power (230V – 16A)
45 km/h
50 km
Lombardini diesel Progress ACT
45 km/h
A BIT OF HISTORY
LIGIER:
AN IMAGE BUILT ON
THE RACETRACK
dited for a large part to Guy Ligier and his numerous racing
successes as both racing driver and team manager. Guy Ligier
started his career astride a motor-bike with which he won two
French Championships (in 1959 and 1960) before turning
to motor car racing. In 1966 he was the only French driver
in Formula 1 racing. In 1968 he formed his own Formula 2
team with his long time friend Jo Schlesser, before entering the
Le Mans 24 hours, two years later, behind the wheel of the
Ligier JS 1. In 1974 the Ligier JS2 won the Tour de France
just before the team made its entry into Formula 1 at the 1976
Brazil Grand Prix. The Formula 1 adventure lasted twenty
years and a total of 326 Grand Prix races with 9 victories,
50 podium nishes and a second place in the 1980 World
Constructors Championship; Olivier Panis was behind the
competitive experience Automobiles Ligier now designs and
builds ranges of innovative license free vehicles using highly
advanced manufacturing techniques.
If Driveplant group is
now the reference in
the world of license free
vehicles, this can be cre-
wheel for Ligier's last Formula 1 Grand Prix victory
in Monaco 1996. Overall twenty Formula 1 cars
were built over this period.
Building on this fabulous
A BIT OF HISTORY
MICROCAR:
THREE DECADES
OF AUTOMOBILE
PROGRESS
in 1995 before merging with Ligier in 2008. The company
from the Vendée region has continually made safety and
quality its key ambitions; they were the rst company to build
license free cars that were tted with safety belts (in 1985).
In 1991 they signed a protocol with the French Road Safety
Oce to oer clients ve hours of free driving school lessons.
In 2005 they started tting their vehicles with driver's side
airbags, another rst for the category. At the same time they
achieved fame with the launch of the Newstreet (1995), a
mini roadster for young drivers and the Virgo (1997), the
rst license free mini van. With the new M.Go, launched in
2010, Microcar reached a new level in terms of road safety
(airbag, LED daylights), manoeuvrability (reduced turning
circle) and soundproong comfort from technological inno-
they received ISO 9001 certication for their production
quality - another rst in the world of license free vehicles
- and then ISO 14001 certication in 2008 for its commitment to environmental protection.
Founded in 1981 by
the Jeanneau Company to support its activity
in the leisure sector, Microcar became a part
of the Bénéteau group
vations such as composite
oor materials, aluminium
structure and an entirely
new engine compartment
design. Finally in 2006
THE LATEST
INDUSTRIAL
TECHNOLOGY
Since 2010, Driveplanet Groups has invested 18 million Euro in its industrial
machinery with the aim of developing the highest performing manufacturing
processes of the sector. They have a R&D office, design and modelling studio,
a thermoforming plant and fully automated assembly lines at their V ichy and
Boufféré plants. T hese two factories produ ce around th irty vehicles per day .
NO CONCESSIONS
TO SAFETY
ISSUES
of its new generations of products using CAD and CAM.
These processes involved the construction of specic assembly lines requiring the most modern available industrial
technology: bonding/body-in-white assembly line, welding
robots, thermoforming lines... For each vehicle the single
piece chassis and structural reinforcements form a solid survival space. The high resistance oors add to the overall
solidity and the seatbelt attachments have a resistance of
nearly a ton. With the benet of all the experience of Ligier
and Microcar, the sector's two market leaders, the ranges
have also integrated driver's side airbags, LED daylights,
third brake-lights, optical sensor, automatic door unlocking
and the automatic engagement of warning lights in response to emergency braking.
Driveplanet group is
highly vigilant as regards the safety of their
vehicles, designing all
GUARANTEE
A GROUP THAT
LISTENS TO
ITS CLIENTS
lity manufacturer's warranty and 24 hour
breakdown cover. Today all Driveplanet
vehicles are sold with a two-year manufacturer's warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion
guarantee. This strong commitment bears
witness to the group's confidence in the quality of their products,
and their respect for their clients. The experience acquired by Ligier at the highest
level of motor racing competition and the
ceaseless progress of Microcar over the
last thirty years means that all Driveplanet
vehicles achieve the highest possible level of reliability. The after
sales service that catalogues 25,000 permanently available parts
is another keystone of the operation. Allowing delivery anywhere
in France within 24 hours of receiving an order (48 hours for other
European countries). Over 5,000 parts are express shipped each
week throughout Europe.
In 2006, Automobiles
Ligier was the first manufacturer of licence-free
cars to offer a qua-
THE DRIVEPLANET
ECOPROGRAM
A COMMITMENT
TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS
region, conditions are perfect for the Driveplanet engineers
who are designing and building the vehicle of tomorrow.
A vehicle that will full new consumer expectations, answering their concerns about the environment and preservation
of the planet. The group thus develops
ranges of compact vehicles that are 95
% recyclable and compliant with European anti-pollution standards. These results are possible thanks to the Lombardini DCI Common Rail engine, which is
exclusive to Driveplanet license free vehicles. In its new
Smartdrive Technology conguration the aluminium alloy
engine block consumes only 2.5 litres for an average
100 km, emitting only 65 g of CO2 per km. It has a
two valve per cylinder distribution which is controlled by
an overhead timing-belt driven camshaft, with roller rocker
arms and hydraulic valve lifters, electronically controlled
(common rail) direct injection, pilot injection for smoke reduction and pre-injection to reduce combustion noise. This
440 cc twin cylinder liquid cooled diesel engine has been
designed for maximum comfort in use, minimum noise level
and reduced vibrations.
With a production
facility situated by the
side of a lake in a 27
hectare park in the
Auvergne, and a
second in the Vendée
THE LICENCEFREE VEHICLE
MARKET: WHO ARE THEY?
60% OF THEM ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD
These are mainly men, with or without driving licences,
living in rural or suburban areas, who for various reasons
do not or no longer wish to drive a conventional vehicle, while retaining a need for mobility due to their isolation. This category of customers is continually growing
in numbers because of the depletion of local businesses
and local services and is getting more and more female
oriented, for demographic reasons.
25% ARE ACTIVE AND AGED BETWEEN 25 AND
50 YEARS who do not have the time or the means to
take the driving test but who need to get about for work
purposes. In urban areas this category also includes
young executives for whom the use of a small vehicle is
a direct response to circulation and parking issues. Not
forgetting that in town a license free vehicle is just as fast
as a conventional car whilst being far less polluting and
safer than a motorbike or moped.
10% ARE YOUNG TOWN DWELLERS without a
driving licence and often from wealthy backgrounds, and
whose parents think that the licence-free car, being safer
than a moped, is a good way of helping them to be autonomous while familiarising them with driving.
5% OF USERS ONLY ARE DRIVERS WITH
CONVICTIONS for road oences resulting in the loss of
all 12 points on their license. The dealers have noticed in this
respect that three quarters of drivers keep their license free
vehicle after the end of the rental period, implying that they
are satised with their experience with licence-free cars.
QUADRICYCLE
LEGISLATION
LICENCEFREE VEHICLES DEFINITION
Legislation defines it as "a light quadricycle the weight of which
is limited to 350 kg by law, equipped with a 4 KW (5.6 bhp)
engine and the speed of which is less than 45 km/h". It is assimilated to the moped category and may be driven with or without
a driving licence according to the age of the driver.
WITH OR WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE?
In France you must be at least 16 years of age to drive a
license free vehicle. Depending on the date of birth there
are two possible cases. Driving is open to anyone born
before the 1st of January 1998. Whereas for anyone
born after this date, they must have a Road safety certicate with the "lightweight quadricycle" option or a driving license (car or motorbike).
FREEDOM TO BE EXPERIENCED TOGETHER
License free vehicles can carry two people. Therefore
there can be only one passenger; this may also be a child
under ten years.
WEARING SAFETY BELTS IS.... MANDATORY
While driving, any driver or passenger of a motor vehicle
must wear an approved safety belt if the seat he/she is
sitting in is equipped with one. This of course also applies
to license free vehicles.
QUADRICYCLE
LEGISLATION
THE RIGHT TO DRIVE...
BUT NOT JUST ANYWHERE
Driving licence-free vehicles is forbidden on motorways
and on dual carriageways indicated (in France) by a blue
sign with a white border and outline of a car. In theory,
they are described as roads with two lanes for each circulation direction separated by a central reservation and
with slip-road access. One must therefore be very careful
since most GPS systems, for example, do not take these
restrictions into account. Driving on a lane that is forbidden is a punishable as a fth category oense (1,500 e).
Equally, parking oences may be punished with immobilisation or towing away.
MANDATORY INSURANCE
As a motorised land vehicle, all license free vehicles must
be insured for civil liability.
ALCOHOL IS FORBIDDEN WHILE DRIVING
The law of June the 12th 2003 bolstering the ght against
road trac violence allows the prohibition to drive pronounced by a court of law to be applied to any kind of
vehicle (including licence-free cars). A criminal court may
therefore ban any person convicted of a motoring oence
(drink-driving, excessive speeding, etc.) from driving a
vehicle of that type.
Quadricycle certication
(2002/24/EC Directive on manufacturing and
European certication of quadricycles)
CONTACT
Driveplanet Group
105, route d’Hauterive 03 200 Abrest
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 70 58 83 83
Fax: +33 (0) 4 70 32 27 97
Press contact
Camille LIGIER
Mobile: +33 (0)6 32 19 71 18
cligier@driveplanet.eu
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