Amble, a new European electric vehicle startup founded by alumni of Apple, Audi, and Ford, has launched the Amble One, a $25,000 lightweight buggy inspired by the NASA moon buggy, according to WIRED.
The Amble One is a street-legal, stripped-down electric buggy designed for short-range mobility on coastal paths, private estates, and resort roads. It offers a range of more than 60 miles, a top speed of 40 mph, a five-hour charge from a standard home socket, and a curb weight under 450 kilograms (992 pounds). This weight is critical to qualify as an L7e vehicle in Europe, allowing it to drive on public roads without being treated as a car.
Design and Manufacturing Philosophy
The design lead, Julian Hoenig, spent years at Audi working on the RSQ, A4, R8, and Q3, then joined Apple's design team to work on the Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and the canceled Project Titan car program. Hoenig told WIRED the One is directly inspired by the NASA moon buggy: "I always loved the lunar rover, the moon buggy. It is fantastic, and there's not much to it—four wheels and the skateboard." The electric platform is deliberately visible, echoing the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
Hoenig emphasized a philosophy: "Pick the material suited to the job, let manufacturing drive the form." The vehicle makes liberal use of aluminum, leather, cotton, and cork. An "unapologetic" flat windscreen emulates the Mercedes G-Wagon, and an interior dashboard bar is the same diameter as motorcycle handlebars for standard accessory mounting. Large orange screws mark every removable or reconfigurable element.
Configurability and Accessories
The Amble One is configurable from the start. Rear seats fold flat, a canvas weatherproofing option is coming, and a lockable front box will replace the standard basket for urban buyers. Hard doors are also in development.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $25,000 |
| Range | >60 miles |
| Top speed | 40 mph |
| Charge time | 5 hours (standard home socket) |
| Curb weight | <450 kg (992 lbs) |
| Vehicle class | L7e (Europe) |
Founding Team
The company is led by Adrien Roose, CEO and cofounder, who previously cofounded Cowboy, a premium electric bike brand. Michael Tropper cofounded Forpeople, a 120-person creative agency whose clients include InterContinental Hotels. José António Uva, chairman, restored the São Lourenço do Barrocal luxury estate in Portugal. Roose noted the difficulty of the weight target: "This is really hard. If you take a car and just shrink it, it doesn't work."
Amble plans to bring the One to market as a new category of lightweight electric vehicle, though no specific production timeline has been disclosed.
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