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You’ve likely heard the adage “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” While much of it rings true, the same can be said of Americans’ vehicular preferences. Drivers in the United States tend to skew toward trucks and SUVs rather than small, fuel-efficient cars. So, even with numerous benefits, why haven’t microcars caught on in star-spangled cities nationwide?

Microcars never caught on in America, and Americans are to blame

It’s true. Americans prioritize big cars. SUVs and trucks more than anything else, really. Hell, the Ford F-Series pickup truck has dominated the American market for decades. As such, microcars never caught on in the United States.

Still, American automakers produce smaller vehicles for foreign markets. For instance, the Ford Ka, a tiny hatchback I drove in Germany, measured just 11.8 feet. That’s nearly five feet shorter than the now-discontinued Chrysler 300. However, despite the popularity of tiny cars abroad, Americans have prioritized larger vehicles due to preference and cheap gasoline. Today, even with climate-minded consumers, American market EVs are typically larger than their European cousins. 

However, that doesn’t mean that microcars won’t get the opportunity to make their mark on America’s urban environments. For instance, a tiny low-speed vehicle (LSV) from New York-based Wink Motors is available to US buyers and fits the bill of a microcar. Of course, despite qualifying for a license plate, you won’t be traveling at much more than 25 mph. Still, The Big Apple’s speed limit is 25 mph, so the diminutive Wink EV is up to the task.

A microcar next to the canals in Amsterdam.
A microcar in Amsterdam | Erik Sherman, MotorBiscuit

Wink’s electrified offerings aren’t the only ones, either. Club Car, Waev, and the Eli ZERO are among the all-electric microcar options American city-dwellers will be able to buy in the coming years. Therein lies the microcar’s potential state-side renaissance: electrification. Tiny electric cars could revolutionize urban transportation in the United States. 

Still, as you might imagine, American cities aren’t set up for mass quantities of tiny electric cars. A lack of charging architecture, parking accommodations, and existing regulations are standing in the way of cheap, plentiful microcars hitting American streets.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).