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German micro-car market growth and safety concerns

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2026-08-25 09:04 UTC → 2026-08-25 10:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The number of micro-cars, or moped-cars, in Germany grew by nearly 80 percent between 2022 and the end of 2025, rising from approximately 26,000 to 46,000 vehicles. Despite their popularity among 15-year-olds with moped licenses, the German Insurance Association (GDV) has raised safety concerns. While the damage frequency of 50 incidents per 1,000 insured vehicles is similar to standard passenger cars, experts warn that these vehicles lack essential safety features like airbags, electronic stability programs, and automatic emergency braking. The GDV notes that a European weight limit of 425 kilograms for these vehicles makes it difficult to integrate advanced safety technology, increasing the risk of serious or fatal injury during collisions. Kirstin Zeidler, head of accident research for insurers, has emphasized that the vehicle structure of a microcar is not comparable to a small passenger car. In 2025, approximately 2,300 liability claims were recorded. To address these risks, the GDV is calling for higher safety standards and more flexibility regarding the 425-kilogram weight limit to facilitate the installation of additional safety technology.

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