City Transformer’s Shape-Shifting Chassis Will Change City Commuting – CEO, Asaf Formoza

The flexibility and agility of a motorcycle combined with the stability and safety of a car. Israeli startup City Transformer has created a vehicle that allows for the best of both worlds. What makes City Transformer special is its shape shifting chassis, which can change its width while driving. But you have to see it to believe it.

“You have everything, but in the right dimension. Everything you need in the right package,” Asaf Formoza, CEO of City Transformer, tells Auto Futures.

Smarter Than Smart

The City Transformer is 1.4m wide when its wheels are out and has a maximum speed of 90km/h; users are encouraged to do most of their driving like this. When its wheels are folded in, the vehicle is 1m wide with a maximum speed of 48km/h. This setting is best for tight traffic and parking.

This innovative technology attracted Johann Tomforde, the ‘spiritual father’ of the Smart car. Formoza and Tomforde met at an event in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2013.

“I gave a pitch, and I met him in the crowd. So straight from the beginning, he fell in love with the idea, and we became partners. From the beginning, he was in charge of ergonomics, the packaging, and the safety,” explains Formoza.

In an interview, Johann Tomforde said: “I was very impressed by the idea of a foldable chassis, the robot chassis, and subsequently never lost interest.”

“He defines the City Transformer as a ‘smarter’ car, than the Smart. And it’s a very nice definition from the spiritual father of the Smart project,” adds Amit Livni, VP of Marketing at City Transformer.

While the vehicle is in fact small, drivers don’t feel confined or cramped, and no luxury was compromised.

Formoza adds: “We have clips of people enjoying riding it, not believing how roomy it is.”

The back of the vehicle can be used as a trunk and even accommodate several full-sized luggage, or it can be used as a seat for a passenger.

The microcar has a 16kw/h battery, meaning a 178km range. Users can safely plug it into a 50 or 100-kilowatt charger safely, which makes for a simpler charging experience.

Sharing is Caring

City Transformer is working with Bosch to create an application that allows for connectedness and sharing among drivers. People can decide whether they want to use the vehicle solely for their own personal use or share it with others who require transportation.

“If you take 10,000 city cars out of the city and put 10,000 City Transformers instead, you save 75 per cent of space. But with shared solution… you will have a much bigger impact because most of the time vehicles are standing still.”

Formoza emphasises the potential of shared solution: “We prefer that if you are using it as a personal mobility solution, that you will have the ability to share it, and of course we will share with you the revenue.”

The company is also working with fleet car owners. One five-seater vehicle takes up the same amount of space as four City Transformers, so replacing some of the existing larger vehicles would allow for more users and subsequently more business.

Meeting The Needs of Many

“It’s a holistic solution,” says Formoza.

In terms of personal mobility, the City Transformer can save drivers time by squeezing through traffic, and it can save time in finding a parking spot. In delivering goods within the city, the City Transformer can weave through traffic like a bicycle or motorcycle but can carry a lot more.

Even first-aid organisations, like United Hatzalah, have already pre-ordered City Transformers. For an emergency vehicle rushing to a person in need, shape-shifting capabilities come in handy.

“You will see them next year in a pilot, in one European city, we’ll need to see where exactly, and also in Tel-Aviv because we got a grant in order to do a pilot over here,” says Formoza.

In late 2024, there will be more vehicles on the production line, but they will be delivered to buyers in early 2025. There are already more than 1,000 pre-orders. Formoza shared that there will be two versions available for purchase, one with regular doors that open outwards, and another with doors that open upwards.

Lacking Backing

The City Transformer falls into the EU’s L7e (heavy quadricycle) category. This refers to four-wheeled microcars; they must adhere to weight, engine, and speed limitations, and they can drive anywhere that a regular car is permitted to drive. However, electric vehicles that fall into this category aren’t subsidised the same way as full-size electric vehicles.

“It is strange that five-seater, two, three-tonne electric vehicles get subsidised in some places, and a small, mini mobility of 450kg that is much more sustainable and contribute to the environment, get much less subsidies,” says Formoza.

Public transportation, walking, and cycling are all great alternatives to driving, but cars will always be more reliable, consistent, and are able to offer more safety and privacy.

“Especially when you have bad weather or when you need to commute more than four, five kilometers, people want the personal solution. The City Transformer is the perfect solution,” he adds.

City Transformer is one of the founding members of the Microcars Coalition, a group of European mini mobility players that advocates for tax and subsidy incentives for microcar drivers. The Microcars Coalition focuses specifically on these L7e vehicles.

“We think that we, and other players, should get subsidies to see more of those small mobility safe solutions in the city… We believe that we will change for the good the way people commute in cities, and also the cities themselves,” concludes Formoza.