The K1 from KATE, everyday electric micromobility, in the countryside or in the city, eco-responsible and affordable.

Daily electric micromobility in France presents some major challenges:

1. Reducing transport costs:?Electric micromobility with small electric vehicles offers an affordable alternative to traditional modes of transport.?It enables people to travel short distances economically, reducing fuel and parking costs.

2. Reducing urban congestion:?Electric micromobility helps to reduce congestion in urban areas by offering more compact and agile means of transport.?This can have a positive economic impact by improving travel efficiency and reducing journey times.

3. The transition to a green economy: Promoting electric micromobility is part of an overall transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.

4. Tourism and the attractiveness of cities: The presence of infrastructure conducive to electric micromobility can make French towns and cities more attractive to tourists and visitors. Tourists can discover touristic sites and historical districts in a practical and environmentally friendly way.

The development of affordable electric micro-cars is therefore one of the keys to the ecological transition.

KATE: Micro-cars for everyday needs

KATE was founded in December 2022 by Matthias Goldenberg (CEO and co-founder), Pierre Escrieut (CTO and co-founder) and Thibaud Elziere Elzière (co-founder). They are acquiring NOSMOKE Engineering and Industrialization: How did NOSMOKE invent an electric leisure vehicle? | LinkedIn which gives them a very specific and differentiating positioning compared with other European neo-constructors of electric mobility.?

1. First, with this acquisition, KATE is making a quantum leap of around ten years by acquiring an industrial tool and expertise in this booming sector.
2. From April 2023, KATE will relaunch the updated version of the NOSMOKE_2: the ORIGINAL, with a vintage look inspired by the 60s and cutting-edge technology. This vehicle is produced and marketed in series, with 600 units planned for 2023. KATE is committed to reviewing the sourcing of its components and its supply chain in order to increase the proportion of its added value produced in France and Europe from 45% to 88%. The styling will remain unchanged, but the interior will undergo radical changes: battery, electric motor, electronic cards and bodywork.
3. Thanks to this vehicle in series production, the business model of the young company KATE already resembles that of an SME, economically viable, cash positive, concerned with the quality of its products, the satisfaction of its customers and its industrial performance.?
4. Thanks to this source of income, Matthias and Pierre can use it to support the development of K1, which is firmly in start-up mode, with a €7m fund-raising round to speed up the studies and presentation of the concept from the 3rd quarter of 2023.
5. For Matthias and Pierre, the K1 has to be eco-responsible, with a very low ecological impact, but that doesn't sell cars. It also needs to be cheap to buy so that it's accessible and virtually free to use, which means it has to be sober and reliable.

Kate's strategy is simple but highly effective. You have to be ambitious, but above all you have to be realistic about the economic stakes and risks involved when you want to industrialise and?produce 40,000 vehicles?a year, a volume that must guarantee a competitive purchase price.

KATE's managers therefore want to remain modest from the outset, consolidating the existing base and then developing it further by validating all conversions and enhancements before marketing them, in order to consolidate their image as a reliable, quality manufacturer.?The Kaisen spirit, so to speak.?

A light, four-wheeled vehicle, suitable for transporting people and loads, to meet the energy and environmental challenges of everyday life.

At present, the electrification of vehicles and European and government directives are raising questions and generating controversy when we consider the carbon footprint over the entire life of a vehicle, from its manufacture to its disposal at the end of its life.

Electric cars and SUVs, which account for 40% of sales, are far too heavy for city driving and are not aerodynamic enough (SUVs) to be fuel-efficient on long journeys. As a result, they are expensive and not very accessible to consumers, despite the subsidies in place.

So Kate came up with the idea of light four-wheeled vehicles, suitable for transporting people and loads, to meet the energy and environmental challenges of everyday life. Kate's founders drew their inspiration from the Japanese "Kei Car", micro-cars developed in the 1950s that are still much sought-after today for their practicality and affordable price.?

"We are firmly convinced that two-tonne SUVs, whether internal combustion or even electric, are not the future of everyday mobility.?The car of the future, the car for everyday journeys, will be light, clean and fuel-efficient, and will protect its driver and passenger as much as other road users. It's a solution to the decarbonisation of the automotive industry, but what will make it a success is first and foremost that it will be cheaper to buy, produce, use and maintain than a traditional car." explains Matthias Goldenberg, Kate's CEO and co-founder.

The K1, a micro electric vehicle with many advantages

Affordable, with a target price of less than €15,000.?

The Kate K1 is spacious, versatile and environmentally friendly. It is made in France, in the Deux-Sèvres region, supporting the local and European ecosystem.?The battery and engine are guaranteed for 3 years, with unlimited mileage and up to 5,000 charging cycles, which is a guarantee of quality and reliability.

Designed to be an everyday vehicle for short journeys of less than 90km (with a range of up to 200km)

This vehicle is suitable for frequent journeys in both rural and urban areas, for everyone.?It is a heavy quadricycle for 4 people. It falls into the L7 category, aimed at replacing vehicles in the M1 segment,?

Locally-based retailing

Distribution and marketing of the K1 will be based on a network of garages and agents, with 2 to 4 points of sale per ‘département’. Deliveries will be made direct to customers from the manufacturing site in Deux-Sèvres or, if customisation is required, from a local 'Pick & Collect' agent.

To conclude

In addition to the vision of its managers, the concept of course, and the innovative ideas to differentiate the company, success is never the fruit of chance and comes from the teams and partners who are committed to it and work on it.

Some of them provide complete solutions, from engineering to prototypes, certification and pre-production manufacturing, in the fields of mechanics, electrification, LED lighting, batteries, electronics and software.

These trusted partners guarantee efficiency, optimised lead times and lower investment costs, with tailor-made or existing solutions that can be adapted to the product. This avoids the need to use a multitude of suppliers, with a dilution of responsibilities, which would be time-consuming and generally unsuitable for start-up structures.

Christophe Dominé

Thank you?to Mr Matthias Goldenberg , CEO and co-founder of KATE, for the precious time he gave me during our interview.

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