Opel, the German car brand owned by Stellantis NV, has revealed the Rocks-e, its first SUM (Sustainable Urban Mobility) vehicle. The tiny EV (electric vehicle) is designed to be an entry-level option for two-wheelers with the added safety from a steel tubular structure and protection from the elements like wind and rain. EU rules taking effect in Germany this year mean that Germans 15 years and older with an AM driving license can drive four-wheeled light motor vehicles not exceeding 6-kW power having two seats or less and a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph).

The small two-seater is Opel’s take on the Citroen My Ami. It is one element of Opel’s electrification strategy, with plans for an electrified variant of each model by 2024, which is part of the PACE plan for the brand to become sustainably profitable, global, and electric.

The Rocks-e expands its electrified model portfolio below the Corsa-e with an entry-level price in Germany and a monthly leasing cost similar to that of local public transportation tickets. The car will be available to order online or directly at select Opel dealers starting this autumn in Germany, with plans for additional markets to follow in 2022.

“Our SUM drives purely on electricity and the price is unbeatable,” said Opel’s head of sales and marketing, Stephen Norman. “The Rocks-e enables smart and functional electric mobility for everyone and will attract a lot of attention.”

The Rocks-e is just 2.41 m (94.9 in) long, 1.39 m (54.7 in) wide (without mirrors), 1.52 m (59.8 in) tall, and weighs only 471 kg (1038 lb) including its traction battery, so it is officially classified as a light motor vehicle. The car offers a range of up to 75 km (47 mi) according to WLTP measurements, and a turning circle of only 7.20 m (23.6 ft). Opel says that this makes it ideal for 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 large parking space at their destination.

The car’s 5.5-kW·h lithium-ion battery pack can be fully recharged in around 3.5 h via a standard German household socket. A 3 m (10 ft) long charging cable can be pulled out of the passenger door when needed, and an adapter is included for public charging stations.

The Rocks-e features the new Opel Vizor brand face with LED headlights and indicators. The doors on both sides are identical, with the passenger door swinging forward and the driver’s door swinging in the opposite direction.

Inside, the two seats are offset, with the passenger seat set for legroom and the driver’s seat adjustable lengthwise. Good all-round visibility is provided by large windows and a standard panoramic glass roof. Despite its compact dimensions, Opel says headroom is ample, even for people more than 1.90 m (6 ft, 2 in) tall, and luggage volume of up to 63 L (2.2 ft³) is available in the passenger footwell.

In fact, Citroen is capitalizing on the platform’s space utilization with its My Ami Cargo version announced in May. Its passenger area is converted into a 260-L (9.2 ft³) storage space that can accommodate a payload of 140 kg (308 lb) by removing the passenger seat and adding a modular protected box made of 7 polypropylene parts. The vertical partition separates the driver and cargo areas. A modular shelf, serving as a cover and able to hold 40 kg (88 lb), can be adapted as a mobile desk. A closed storage box in the rear accommodates items that need to be secure. Overall, My Ami Cargo has a useful volume of over 400 L (14.1 ft³).