Aix-en-Provence creates France’s first parking spaces for small, no-licence cars
Orange bays are for vehicles under three metres long and the scheme also includes free electric charging and discounted parking in the city centre
Published
Cars measuring under three metres in length can now park in dedicated orange spaces in Aix-en-Provence.
The spaces were inaugurated for the first time in France on June 17, on level minus two of the Rotonde car park in the centre of Aix-en-Provence, which is used by more than four million visitors each year.
Identifiable by their bright orange colour, the spaces are exclusively for Pichautòs – a nod to the Provençal language, meaning small cars.
“We have chosen not to use the official term ‘quadricycle léger motorisé’ (light motorised quadricycle), but instead to adopt a more familiar and friendly name… which also reflects the fact that 15% of national sales of ‘no licence’ cars take place in the Provence-Côte d’Azur region!” said Damien Bariller from urban planning group Semepa.
‘No licence’ cars (voiture sans permis, VSP), considered more eco-friendly than traditional cars, are “becoming increasingly popular and are playing an ever-greater role in urban travel,” stated the Aix-en-Provence mairie.
Almost 32,000 VSPs were registered in 2024 (more than double those registered in 2019), however, the number of these mini vehicles bought in 2025 fell slightly.
“In response to the growing popularity of these small cars, particularly with young drivers, we have decided to make it easier for them to access the city centre by facilitating parking with reserved orange spaces and the option of free electric charging, as well as a 50% discount [€60 per month] on a monthly parking subscription,” said Mr Bariller.
Eligible car models include the Renault Twizy (measuring 2.34m), the Citroën Ami (measuring 2.41m), and the Fiat Topolino (measuring 2.53m). Other models can be found here: tinyurl.com/35wp8st3.
The Semepa group also previously introduced the ‘Diablines’ electric tourist shuttles in the city centre of Aix-en-Provence, as well as the first green-coloured parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles, and dedicated spaces for bicycles and cargo bikes – each with charging facilities.
