Opel Rocks-e – The Citroën Ami’s German Twin
By Edward A. Sanchez – Aug. 30, 2021
You may remember our post on the Citroën Ami, the quirky French brand’s even quirkier take on an urban runabout. Oddly, that post is one of the perennial favorites with our readers. Taken within its relative context, the Ami made perfect sense for an urban runabout, with its modest specifications and top speed even making it eligible for “Quadricycle” qualification in much of Europe, allowing operation by drivers as young as age 14.
Well, evidently the readers of this site aren’t the only ones fascinated by the tiny runabout, as the Ami got the attention of some other brands within the Stellantis empire, notably Opel. Although the press release on the Opel Rocks-e doesn’t mention the Ami once, just one look at it makes it clear where its origins lie.
Due to slight differences between French and German law, the Rocks-e is only legal to operate in Germany by drivers 15 years or older. Other than that, it offers the same carefree short-range mobility as the Ami, with a claimed WLTP range of 75 km (47 miles), and the ability to be charged with a standard household outlet (however, remember France and Germany are both 230V/50Hz, allowing for roughly double the charging speed as in the U.S. in a standard 120V outlet).
Since it seems every vehicle category now has to be assigned an acronym, Opel took the initiative and assigned one to the Rocks-e: SUM, or Sustainable Urban Mobility. Although Vauxhall’s lineup typically mirrors that of Opel, parent company Stellantis has not yet announced the Rocks-e or anything like it for the U.K.
The Ami has already joined the Free2Move car-sharing stable in Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, and reportedly soon in Washington DC and Portland. Free2Move as a brand only exists as a rental car company in Germany, but the car-sharing service could soon expand there, and the Rocks-e could be a big part of it.
The electric Opel Rocks-e is cute and small and has a short range – and there’s a market for that. Just maybe not in North America.
The Ami and Rocks-e certainly won’t give the Tesla Model S Plaid or Rimac Nevera a run for their money from a speed or power standpoint. But as we’ve seen with the Wuling Hong Guang Mini, and the popularity of Tata’s modestly priced EV models in India, there is healthy demand for lower-cost, lower-speed models by those who simply need basic transportation within a relatively small area.
The Rocks-e will be available in Germany starting in fall 2021, with “additional markets to follow in 2022.” Also, expect it to be a big part of Opel’s exhibit at IAA Munich this year.
(Images courtesy Opel)
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