City Transformer

City Transformer is an Israeli-based startup Electric Vehicle company that specializes on foldable mini-electric vehicles .[1][2] The company was Founded in 2014 and is managed by co-founders Dr. Asaf Formoza and Udi Meridor.[3][4][5] It's headquarters are located in Tel Aviv, Israel.[6]

City Transformer
IndustryElectric automotive
Founded2014 (2014)
FounderDr. Asaf Formoza and Udi Meridor
HeadquartersTel Aviv,
Israel
Key people
Dr. Asaf Formoza (CEO) and Udi Meridor (COO)
ProductsCT-1
CT-2
Websitehttps://www.citytransformer.com/

History

In 2013 Dr. Formoza, Dr. Gidi Goldwine, and Erez Abramov developed a design that shape-shifted a car's chassis.[7][8] In 2014, the company patented the mechanism of shape-shifting or folding the car.[9] This patented mechanism enabled them to create a two-seater urban electric micro vehicle that could change its width while driving, transforming from a width of 1.4m to a width of 1m.[10][11] The wide mode is designated for open roads where the vehicle can reach a speed of 90 km/h and the narrow mode is designated for urban heavy traffic and for easy parking.[10][11] The founders then created a two-seater electric vehicle that changed its width while driving.[6][10][11]

In 2014, the company was registered after which car designer, Eyal Kremer joined the company and soon after joined by Professor Johanne Tomforde who is also known as Father of the Smart car.[12] In late 2017, the City Transformer concept was revealed at the Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv.[5]

In 2020, the company was featured in TIME’s 100 inventions for 2020 that are changing the way we live, work, play and think about what’s possible.[13][14][15]

City Transformers models

CT-1 and CT-2

CT-1 is a two-seater foldable electric vehicle with dimensions of 250L/153H/140W cm while unfolded and 250L/143H/100W cm when folded.[16][12][8] The model was introduced in August 2021.[17] CT-1 is powered by two electric motors of 7.5 kW and weighs 450 kg without a battery and 590 kg with a battery.[8]

In 2021, CT-1 made a debut at the Munich IAA mobility.[18][19] In 2022, the CT-1 model participated in the 2022 Paris Motor Show.[20]

The CT-2 model will be the production model and will be launched at the end of 2024.[1] CT-2 model will have features such as a range of 180 km, a sunroof, smartphone connectivity, electric windows, AC, and heating.[21]

Partnerships

In Oct 2022, the company signed an agreement to develop an automotive digital solution with Bosch Software. The company selected the SEGULA technologies as its engineering development partners in 2022.[22][23]

In 2021, the company signed a $22 million to provide United Hatzalah emergency responders with vehicles that have the ability to contract to 1 meter for easy maneuvering in times of emergency. United Hatzalah is a team of trained medical volunteers who run equipped motorcycle ambulances.[24][25][26][27]

Awards
  • Top Design Winner in Transportation/Alternative Fuel Vehicles[28]
  • Creative Business Cup 2016[29]
  • GOLD in excellent product design passenger vehicles category at the German Design Council in 2023[30]
  • Featured in TIME’s 100 Best Inventions for 2020[14]

Funding

The company received a grant of NIS 3.15 million ($900,000) from the Innovations authority of Israel, in conjunction with the Israel Prime Minister's Office's national program for fuel alternatives and smart mobility.[31] During the company's concept reveal in 2017, the company raised $10M from Israel, Singapore, and American investors designated to build more prototypes for road tests and engineering improvements.[32] In 2021 the company had a Series A round of $10M with a post-money valuation of $100M.[33][34] In 2023, the company will launch a Series B round to raise $50 million.[35][36]

  • CT-1 wide modde
    CT-1 wide modde
  • CT-1 at the Munich IAA debut
    CT-1 at the Munich IAA debut
  • Rear side of CT-1
    Rear side of CT-1
  • Front side of CT-1
    Front side of CT-1

References
  1. Carey, Nick (29 January 2023). "With tiny EV, City Transformer takes aim at Europe's urban markets". Reuters. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. "City Transformer is small urban EV with a folding, adjustable body". Autocar. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. "Israeli Startup Brings Its Foldable Car Dream Closer". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. Shemer, Simona (18 October 2021). "City Transformer To Provide Foldable Electric Vehicles For United Hatzalah". NoCamels. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. Constantinoiu, Marina (26 October 2017). "The new folding car that shrinks to fit motorbike parking". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. Rathenow, Solveig (14 February 2023). "E-Auto für zwei Personen: Wie City Transformer aus Israel mit dem CT-1 den Stadtverkehr revolutionieren will". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. "The City Transformer CT-1 is a shapeshifting Citroën Ami rival | Move Electric". www.moveelectric.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. "Exclusive: City Transformer CT-1 first drive | Move Electric". www.moveelectric.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. EP3206887A1, Abramov, Erez; Goldwine, Gideon & FORMOZA, Asaf, "Foldable vehicle, system and adjustment assembly thereof for adjusting width of a vehicle", issued 2017-08-23
  10. "Hate parking in Tel Aviv? Shrinkable car offers solution". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. "Meet the Shape-Shifting City Transformer". Yahoo News. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. Solomon, Shoshanna. "Honey, I shrunk the car: Israeli folding vehicle to take on urban street woes". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  13. Solomon, Shoshanna. "6 Israeli creations get showcased in TIME's 100 Best Inventions for 2020". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  14. "City Transformer Electric Vehicle: The 100 Best Inventions of 2020". Time. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  15. "Israeli innovations featured in Time's 100 Best Inventions of 2020". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  16. "The City Transformer CT-1 Can Shape-Shift To Tackle Tiny Parking Spaces". InsideEVs. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. Knapp, Gabriel (17 March 2023). "Putting the City Transformer prototype to the test – Is this mini electric car a game changer for urban mobility?". DOWNTOWN Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  18. Howard, Bill (7 September 2021). "Munich Auto Show: Top 10 Cars Of IAA Mobility 2021". Forbes Wheels. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. "Concept Cars Rule at the Debut Munich Motor Show - The Detroit Bureau". 8 September 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  20. Krivevski, Blagojce (20 October 2022). "City Transformer and the shape-shifting all-electric CT-1 make Paris Motor Show debut". Electric Cars Report. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  21. "City Transformer CT-2: Tata Nano Is 50% Wider Than This Tiny Electric Car". www.businesstoday.in. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  22. "Israel's City Transformer Chooses SEGULA Technologies as Engineering Development Partner". The NewsMarket. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  23. Krivevski, Blagojce (5 July 2022). "City Transformer and Segula Technologies announce engineering collaboration". Electric Cars Report. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  24. Ben-David, Ricky. "Israeli 'foldable' electric cars to make debut as emergency response vehicles". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  25. "City Transformers' CT-1 joins Israel's emergency response team: First-ever foldable electric urban vehicle in world". Financialexpress. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  26. "'Shrinking' electric cars to aid Hatzalah emergency responders". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  27. "Israel to Get 'Foldable' Electric Car CT-1 from City Transformer as Emergency Response Vehicles". News18. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  28. "CT1". European Product Design Award. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  29. "Meet the winners of Creative Business Cup 2016 - Articles - Creative Business Network". www.cbnet.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  30. "City Transformer - Gold - Passanger Vehicles - German Design Award". www.german-design-award.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  31. Gutman, Lior (16 December 2019). "Israel's Government to Fund a Folding Electric Vehicle and Hydrogen Gas Stations". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  32. Gutzelnig, Harald (25 May 2022). "City Transformer bekommt 10 Mio. Dollar zur Finanzierung des faltbaren Mikroautos CT-1". electricar (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  33. Livingston, David. "City Transformer secures series production via financing round - electrive.com". www.electrive.com/. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  34. "City Transformer | News - Press Release". City Transformer. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  35. "City Transformer takes aim at Europe's urban markets". Financialexpress. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  36. "סיטי טרנספורמר מגייסת 50 מיליון דולר - כמה תעלה המכונית המתקפלת שלה?". TheMarker. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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