Mia To Attend EcoVelocity!

In the world of motoring, it can sometimes feel like tectonic plates move faster than the latest model developments. But in just two years – less time than it might take some large scale manufacturers to muster up a model's midlife facelift – Mia Electric has gone from not even existing to creating its first model and churning out over 1,000 vehicles. Thanks to ambitious planning, good management, a motivated workforce and a single-minded product, the company has achieved what many in the embattled car industry would view as impossible.

Based in the wild western French town of Cerizay – a land where the strength of the morning coffee is only matched by the farmers' Gauloises – the 1,000th Mia rolled out of the high-tech factory that once crafted Peugeot 206CCs and Opel Tigras. Buoyed by its early success the company has this year expanded its sales network in France to 40 independent dealers, selected for their specialist expertise in electric mobility.

So what is the Mia? Given one of its first public airings at EcoVelocity 2011, this forward-thinking car was arguably one of the stars of the show. In a world of austerity customers don't want to cover their cars in more bling than BA Baracus's jewellery box, and the Mia reflects this. It has a subtle style, says head of design studio David Wilkie, formerly design director at Italian styling house Bertone, without the need for go-faster add-ons or nonsense glitter. The exterior has been designed to be functional and the aesthetic comes from a practical approach, says Wilkie, who is a self-confessed fan of the Bauhaus design movement. 'We have a relaxed thought process at Mia, it has to be something we enjoy and we can't lose the fun,' says Wilkie, a Glaswegian who has spent much of his life in Italy. 'The Mia was not designed to look swoopy and fast, it has to look practical and charming – a likeable object that has been designed not styled.'

The result is a car that echoes the chic, utilitarian lines of the Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi or original 1950s Fiat Multipla. The chunky styling hides a diminutive footprint. It comes in three flavours, the short wheelbase standard version, the extended mia L and the panel-van like commercial vehicle. The basic car is less than 20cm longer than a Smart ForTwo and the long wheelbase version adds just another foot to the length. Recently added to the range is the miaParis, which features a black metallic ABS body, unique grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, leather-covered dashboard and steering wheel, left and right interior tray tables, multimedia radio, programmable heating, tinted 1/4 windows and rear window.

A 110 to 130km range 12 kWh battery pack is standard in all models. The batteries can be charged in five hours from a standard socket. However because there is no memory effect for lithium iron phosphate batteries, you have the option of quick, partial recharges at any time. One 10-minute recharge provides a range of 8 km. The batteries in the Mia carry a five-year or 65,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first).

EcoVelocity is a trailblazing event and one day 'all motor shows will be like this,' says Wilkie. The Mia will stand out because it has been designed with cities like London firmly in mind, he adds. 'A lot of cars are derivatives of mainstream cars but this is all new, very special and perfect for big cities. Soon it will become harder and maybe even illegal to drive petrol cars in downtown city areas, making way for electric cars like the Mia. This is an electric car with a unique design and perfect packaging.'

Open the useful sliding door and you instantly appreciate the Tardis-like interior. The short Mia has three seats and the L has four but, thanks to a central driving position a la the McLaren F1, the two main rear passengers have Black Cab-rivalling leg room. The sculpted, sporty seats are incredibly comfortable and the innovative 'floating' dashboard is finished in an aluminium look and an MP3 radio and powerful heater are fitted. Behind the rear seats is a generous loading area of 200L in the standard car and 420L in the 'L', going up to 998L with the seats folded. The van has a cavernous 1500L capacity.

The company has also just signed a contract with the leading Internet sales site, Aramisauto.com (www.aramisauto.com). With an eye on ramping up sales to 10,000 vehicles a year, the firm has pushed on with a number of strategic partnerships in Europe during the last few months. The Mia has been available in Germany since February through one specialist electric mobility as well as
being rolled out in Holland, Canada and the Czech Republic. The company is currently extending its reach to the UK, Italy and Norway, followed by Brazil through local partnerships. 'Mia is thrilled to have passed the 1000 car milestone in early 2012,' says Richard Deslandes, head of the company's UK sales. 'Production continues apace to satisfy orders from around the world including China , USA and virtually the whole of Europe.'

Not content to rest on its laurels Mia is now forging ahead with a new model. The company has been working with Magnum, a German research company for hydrogen fuel cells, since 2011 and a prototype car has been running since mid-March, we can reveal. This model is expected to be in production by early 2014. It may be a youngster but it looks like this level headed car company is here to stay.