Aixam

Aixam motors

Industry	Automotive microcars
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Aix-les-Bains, Savoie , France
Products	Automobile
Website	Official site

Aixam 400

City Sporty

Aixam Crossline

Aixam - Mega is a French automobile manufacturer based in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie. It was founded in 1983 to make microcars in the old Arola factory after that company failed.

In 1992 they started making a range of standard sized cars under the Mega brand, but by 2002 this brand was just being applied to a diesel and electric range of microvans and light utility vehicles.

The company currently produces the Aixam A.7XX series (powered by Kubota diesel engines), a microcar comparable with the Smart. A notable difference is that some of the smaller models are restricted to 45 km/h (30 mph) and can be driven without a driver's licence in some European countries (including France, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia, but not the UK).

In Britain they are classified as a quadricycle (quad bike) because of their weight and power output. This requires either a full car licence or a full unlimited capacity motorcycle licence to legally drive them.

They can be thought of as a sort of modern "2CV", not fast (about 100 km/h or 60 mph), but economical (often over 90 mpg or under 2.6 L/100km ), and with a roomy body made from a strong alloy frame covered with plastic panels (no rust). The low-emissions Kubota engines plus the automatic CVT transmission make them exceptionally "green" vehicles; and it is now possible to get various electric car versions. In 2006 Mega launched the Electric Mega City at the British International Motor Show

With a production of approximately 13.000 vehicles per annum and a distribution network of more than 110 distributors in France, Aixam confirms, with 42,7 % of shares of market in 2004, the place of leader whom the mark occupies since 1987 on the market of the Conveyence without licence.

Aixam-Mega is currently (2006) Europe's largest producer of microcars and its products are available in the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Aixam-Mega vehicles

Mega MultiTruck

• Aixam Crossline/A-series (berlina quadricycle): crossline (diesel or gasoline, top speed 45 or 93 km/h), A-721 (diesel, 45 km/h), A-741 (diesel, 95 km/h), A-751 (diesel, 78 km/h).
• Aixam Scouty/Scouty-R (convertible) (diesel or gasoline, 45 or 93 km/h).
• Aixam Crossline (SUV-style) (diesel or gasoline): top speed 45 or 93 km/h.
• Mega City (electric), top speed 64 km/h, in collaboration with NICE
• Mega Moskito Micro Pick-up
• Mega MultiTruck (diesel or electric)

Former vehicles

• Aixam MAC
• Aixam Berlines
• Aixam Minivan
• Aixam Pick-up
• Aixam Microcar
• Mega Concept
• Méga Monte Carlo
• Mega Track (sports car) - 1992

External links

• AIXAM Website
• Mega Website
• [http://www.micromaniacsclub.co.uk The UK's largest Microcar and bubblecar Club