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Microcar (brand)
Encyclopedia
Microcar is a French
microcar
manufacturer. The company was founded in 1984 as a division of Bénéteau group
, a major sailboat
manufacturer. Production moved to a new custom-built factory
in September 2000. In September 2008, Microcar was acquired by Ligier Automobiles
in a deal backed by the Italian
private equity firm 21 Investimenti Partners. The merger created Europe's second biggest manufacturer of microcars, and largest maker of quadricycles, or "sans permis" (license-exempt) vehicles. The Microcar and Ligier brands are to retain their separate identities and production facilities. Phillipe Ligier, son of company founder Guy Ligier
, serves as CEO of the expanded Ligier Automobiles.
Prior to the M.Go, Microcar was known for their long-running MC Series models, sold in English-speaking markets as the short-wheelbase MC1 and long-wheelbase MC2. The company also sold a small commercial vehicle called the Sherpa, which was a badge-engineered Ligier X-Pro. The Sherpa was discontinued after the Ligier merger, and the MC has been dropped in favor of the new M.Go.
From 2006-2010, the long-wheelbase version of Microcar's MC Series was used as the basis for the ZENN EV assembled in Canada
by ZENN Motor Company
with an electric drivetrain. It was marketed in the U.S. and Canada under the ZENN brand as a "neighborhood electric vehicle
"(NEV), with its top speed governed to 25mph. Microcar began distributing the ZENN in Europe during 2007 under its own brand, as the Microcar ZENN. ZENN Motor purchased engineless, rolling chassis from Microcar and installed their own electric motor and drivetrain. Microcar brought electric vehicle production fully in-house with the M.Go Electric in 2009, and ZENN ceased production of its MC-based vehicle in 2010.
before final electric motor assembly is completed. The ZENNs retailed for $16,900 while actual cost was $65,000. ZENN has stopped producing cars as of 2010.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
microcar
Microcar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
manufacturer. The company was founded in 1984 as a division of Bénéteau group
Beneteau
Beneteau is a French sail and motor boat manufacturer, with production facilities in France and the United States.-History:Shipwright Benjamin Beneteau founded his company in 1884, at Croix-de-Vie, France to build sailing trawlers. In the mid sixties Benjamin's grandchildren Annette Benneteau...
, a major sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
manufacturer. Production moved to a new custom-built factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in September 2000. In September 2008, Microcar was acquired by Ligier Automobiles
Ligier
For the related Formula One team, see Equipe LigierLigier is a French automobile maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier.-History:...
in a deal backed by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
private equity firm 21 Investimenti Partners. The merger created Europe's second biggest manufacturer of microcars, and largest maker of quadricycles, or "sans permis" (license-exempt) vehicles. The Microcar and Ligier brands are to retain their separate identities and production facilities. Phillipe Ligier, son of company founder Guy Ligier
Guy Ligier
Guy Ligier is a French former rugby player and racing driver.He first made his name as a rugby player in the late 1940s when he was working as a butcher's assistant in his home town of Vichy. An orphan, he was determined to build up a successful business and saved all his money in order to buy a...
, serves as CEO of the expanded Ligier Automobiles.
Current models
The current model range consists solely of the M.Go model introduced in 2009. The M.Go is available in conventional, diesel-engined S, S PACK, MICA, SXI, and Sport trim levels, as well as full electric.Prior to the M.Go, Microcar was known for their long-running MC Series models, sold in English-speaking markets as the short-wheelbase MC1 and long-wheelbase MC2. The company also sold a small commercial vehicle called the Sherpa, which was a badge-engineered Ligier X-Pro. The Sherpa was discontinued after the Ligier merger, and the MC has been dropped in favor of the new M.Go.
From 2006-2010, the long-wheelbase version of Microcar's MC Series was used as the basis for the ZENN EV assembled in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by ZENN Motor Company
ZENN Motor Company
ZENN Motor Company , ZENN is an acronym for Zero Emissions No Noise, is a Canadian-based company that previously developed small lead-acid electric vehicles that were suitable for the neighborhood electric vehicle market...
with an electric drivetrain. It was marketed in the U.S. and Canada under the ZENN brand as a "neighborhood electric vehicle
Neighborhood electric vehicle
A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is a U.S. denomination for battery electric vehicles that are legally limited to roads with posted speed limits as high as depending on the particular laws of the state, usually are built to have a top speed of , and have a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lbs...
"(NEV), with its top speed governed to 25mph. Microcar began distributing the ZENN in Europe during 2007 under its own brand, as the Microcar ZENN. ZENN Motor purchased engineless, rolling chassis from Microcar and installed their own electric motor and drivetrain. Microcar brought electric vehicle production fully in-house with the M.Go Electric in 2009, and ZENN ceased production of its MC-based vehicle in 2010.
Former models
- Microcar Family Luxe
- Microcar NewStreet
- Microcar Pratic Luxe
- Microcar Virgo
- Microcar Virgo 2
- Microcar Virgo 3
- Microcar Virgo Luxe
Electric vehicles
Engineless units were formerly bought from French automaker Microcar by Ontario's ZENN Motor CompanyZENN Motor Company
ZENN Motor Company , ZENN is an acronym for Zero Emissions No Noise, is a Canadian-based company that previously developed small lead-acid electric vehicles that were suitable for the neighborhood electric vehicle market...
before final electric motor assembly is completed. The ZENNs retailed for $16,900 while actual cost was $65,000. ZENN has stopped producing cars as of 2010.