Automobiles Chatenet

What Automobiles Chatenet does

Automobiles Chatenet is a French automobile manufacturer founded in 1984 and headquartered in Pierre-Buffière, France. The company designs and assembles light quadricycles, marketed in France as voitures sans permis (VSP) — vehicles legally drivable from age 14 with a permit AM (or without a permit for those born before 1 January 1988) and capped at 45 km/h. The current product range centers on the CH46 platform, offered in two powertrain families: a thermal line (CH46 K Series, CH46 K SL, CH46 K Sportline RR) powered by a Kubota bicylinder diesel engine compliant with Euro 5+ emission standards, and an electric line (CH46e SL, CH46e Sportline RR) using a Valeo 48V-6kW motor with a 9.4 kWh LiFePO4 battery delivering a 120 km WLTC range.

Vehicles share an aluminum cage chassis built with automated robot welding, a deformable aluminum front arch, four-wheel disc brakes, independent rear suspension with aluminum cast arms, and LED daytime lighting. The CH30 model is the only vehicle in the French VSP category to have received a 2-star Euro NCAP crash test rating (2016), positioning safety as the primary technical differentiator. All vehicles are homologated under European directive 2002/24/CE.

The commercial model is exclusively indirect: Automobiles Chatenet does not sell directly to consumers. Revenue is generated through one-time vehicle sales to end customers via an authorized distributor network — 110 dealers and 55 agents in metropolitan France, plus 16 importers feeding 90 distributors across Europe and French overseas territories (New Caledonia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Target end users are individuals without a traditional driver's license (young drivers aged 14+, urban commuters, and drivers unable to obtain a standard license), and the company positions itself as the premium tier of the VSP category. The company is privately held, with no evidence of external institutional investment, no parent entity, and no disclosed management team in the input data.

Name

Automobiles Chatenet

Legal name

Automobiles Chatenet

Website

https://automobiles-chatenet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Automobiles Chatenet is a French manufacturer founded in 1984 that designs and distributes premium license-free light quadricycles (voitures sans permis) through a network of 110+ French dealers and 16 international importers, serving drivers aged 14+ and urban commuters who lack a traditional driver's license.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pierre-buffière

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Sales: Direct sales of new quadricycles (voitures sans permis) to end customers through authorized distributor network. Vehicles include both thermal (Kubota diesel) and electric (CH46e) variants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Automobiles Chatenet designs, manufactures and distributes premium license-free quadricycles (voitures sans permis) under the CH46 thermal range (Kubota Euro 5+ diesel) and CH46e electric range (Valeo 48V motor). Vehicles are homologated as light quadricycles under European directive 2002/24/CE and are sold exclusively through an authorized distributor network (110 distributors and 55 agents in France, plus international importers). Construction features an aluminum cage chassis built with automated robot welding, four disc brakes and Euro NCAP-validated safety architecture.

Product overview

Automobiles Chatenet manufactures premium permit-free cars (voitures sans permis/VSP) in France since 1984. The product portfolio centers on the CH46 platform, offered in two powertrain variants: thermal (combustion engine) versions powered by Kubota diesel engines meeting Euro 5+ standards, and electric versions (CH46e) with Valeo motors and lithium batteries. The CH46e offers 120km range with 9.4 kWh battery, while thermal models achieve 4.3L/100km fuel consumption and 350km+ autonomy. Vehicle styles range from urban city cars to the Sportline RR sports variant. All vehicles feature aluminum cage chassis, disc brakes, and LED daytime lights, with the CH30 earning 2 stars in crash testing—the highest rating in the permit-free car category.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CH46 K Series Thermal (diesel) variant of the CH46 permit-free quadricycle family, equipped with a Kubota Euro 5+ bicylinder diesel engine. Designed for individual buyers aged 14+ (permit AM) needing practical urban or short-distance transportation in France and European markets.
• CH46 K SL Well-equipped thermal trim of the CH46 platform combining the diesel powertrain with the SL equipment specification. Intended for individual buyers wanting modern amenities on a permit-free quadricycle for city and commuting use.
• CH46 K Sportline RR Sport-styled trim in the CH46 thermal range, powered by a Kubota Z482 bicylinder diesel engine (480 cm3, 6 kW). Marketed as the racier/ sporty option for individual buyers in the permit-free category.
• CH46e SL – Électrique Well-equipped electric city-car variant of the CH46e, offering a Valeo 48V-6kW electric powertrain and lithium-ion battery for sustainable urban mobility. Targeted at individual consumers wanting zero local-emission permit-free driving.
• CH46e Sportline RR – Électrique Electric sports trim of the CH46e with a 120 km WMTC-certified range, a 9.4 kWh lithium-ion LiFePO4 battery (4-year warranty), a Valeo 48V-6kW motor, T2 charging port and an approximate 4h30 charging time. Aimed at individual buyers seeking the sportiest zero-local-emission permit-free vehicle in the catalog.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18x reduction in particle emissions compared to previous generation engine
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KubotacoreTechnology or Integration · 7 May 2025Japanese engine manufacturer Kubota partnered with Automobiles Chatenet to develop the new bicylinder diesel engine for the CH46 range. The engine meets Euro 5+ emission standards with Common Rail injection, oxidation catalyst, and EGR valve technology. This partnership enables significant environmental improvements with 18x reduction in particle emissions and 84% reduction in nitrogen oxides.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Grecav: Grecav is an Italian manufacturer of compact quadricycles and microcars, directly comparable to Chatenet as a small-scale European VSP constructor targeting urban and youth drivers.
• Estrima Birò: Estrima Birò is an Italian electric micro-quadricycle producer with comparable size, niche urban positioning, and small-team operating model to Chatenet's CH46e electric lineup.
• Casalini: Casalini is an Italian microcar/quadricycle manufacturer with thermal and electric models, directly comparable to Chatenet as a niche European VSP specialist in the L6e/L7e category.
• Tazzari EV: Tazzari EV is an Italian maker of electric microcars and quadricycles with a comparable premium-niche electric positioning to Chatenet's CH46e, including similar LiFePO4/urban range trade-offs.

Direct peers

• Aixam: Aixam is the French market leader in voitures sans permis, directly competing with Chatenet across the same AM-license quadricycle category with overlapping thermal and electric product lines.
• Ligier: Ligier is a historic French VSP manufacturer (and owner of the Microcar brand) offering direct competition to Chatenet in the same premium quadricycle segment across France and Europe.
• Microcar (Ligier Group): Microcar is a sister VSP brand under the Ligier group, directly comparable as a French quadricycle specialist with overlapping target customers (young drivers, urban commuters without full licenses).
• Bellier: Bellier is a French constructeur of light quadricycles and microcars, comparable to Chatenet as a domestic competitor in the VSP category serving young drivers and urban customers in France.

Broad incumbents

• Citroën Ami: Citroën Ami is a Stellantis-backed electric quadricycle occupying the same L7e regulatory class as Chatenet's CH46e, but with OEM scale, brand reach, and rental programs that Chatenet cannot match.
• Renault Twizy: Renault Twizy is an OEM-built electric quadricycle from a major automaker, directly comparable to Chatenet's CH46e in powertrain class, urban use case, and target segment of license-restricted or city drivers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Chatenet.automobiles
• Xx.com/autochatenet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automobiles-chatenet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automobiles Chatenet