Sales of small, no-licence, cars are booming in rural France

Sales of small electric cars that do not require a licence to drive and can be driven from age 14 are booming in rural France, with the Citroën Ami model doing particularly well.

The cars have a speed limit of 45 km/h, and people must take a test drive and complete a five-hour training session at a driving school in order to drive one (but no full driving licence is required).

The Citroën Ami - one of the vehicle type’s most recognisable models, often affectionately nicknamed the “yoghurt pot” due to its squat shape - has sold more than 50,000 units since its launch in 2020, the company says. 

When the cars were launched, Citroën mainly aimed them at adults without a driving licence, but the popularity among teenagers is evident.

Read also: Explainer: what are the rules on licence-free cars in France? 

Student success

The vehicles have become especially popular with lycée (high school) students in rural areas of France, who would otherwise be reliant on scarce public transport or their parents to get around.

One lycée in Loire-Atlantique has even built a car park dedicated to the vehicles, after more than 50 students began using them to commute to school.

“At first, there weren't many Amis, we just parked outside the school,” said one student, Arthur, to Actu.fr. “But then there were more and more, and it became a problem.” Arthur shares the car with his brother. “It gives us a lot of freedom, and our parents don’t have to come and pick us up,” he said.

Other lycées, including the Lycée André Maurois in Deauville, and another in Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados), have also seen more students buying the vehicles, with a line of the cars parked in front of the building in a neat row, reports local news page Le Pays d'Auge.

Another student - Pénélope, 16 - said that she used to have a scooter, but found it unsafe in winter. “With the Ami, there is less risk of an accident,” she said to Actu.fr.

“Today, we can see that the Ami - in Deauville, as in other places in France - meets a transport need among teenagers whose parents have the means,” said Victor Mary, marketing director of the Mary Automobile group.

Considerable cost

The Ami is not cheap; it costs around €8,000, or €20 per month on finance, with an initial payment of €3,000 euros. Insurance can also be considerable, given the young age and inexperience of the drivers. 

Read also: Does France’s electric car grant apply to the Citroën Ami? 

The cars are basic, and do not have airbags, extra gadgets, or headlights. “They are not made for driving at night," said Brigitte, a mother of a student who has an Ami.

However, they can be economical to run, and can reach a full charge, using a normal electric plug, in around 3.5 hours.

They are also popular among elderly people who do not want or need a full-sized, powerful car but who still like to be able to undertake occasional journeys for shopping or similar errands.