Italy Presents the Malya: the Compact EV That Doesn’t Fit into Europe’s Current Regulations

Mole Urbana unveils a concept car that challenges existing EU categories, aiming to pave the way for a new generation of sustainable urban vehicles.

European mobility is at a turning point, with regulations pushing manufacturers toward increasingly compact and sustainable cars. Enter the Mole Urbana Malya, an Italian-born electric concept that refuses to be just another city car or quadricycle. Instead, it aspires to something more ambitious: an urban vehicle also capable of handling suburban commutes and highway travel. With this, the company seeks to fill a regulatory gap that current M1 and L6e/L7e categories fail to address.

Pragmatic design with real space

The Malya measures 3.75 meters long, 1.60 wide, and 1.45 high, offering seating for five and a surprisingly practical trunk for its size. Its design, signed by Umberto Palermo Design, is defined by clean, squared lines. Far from being a mere stylistic whim, these forms are driven by ergonomic and construction choices, simplifying production while maximizing onboard space.

Under the skin, the Malya relies on a basic electric platform but with a flexible architecture, prepared to integrate “differently ecological” solutions. This reflects Mole Urbana’s strategy: staying ready to adapt to future regulations and incorporate technologies still under development, a crucial stance in such a fast-evolving electric mobility landscape.

More than just a concept

Although officially presented as a prototype, the Malya Concept embodies Mole Urbana’s ambition to establish itself as a key player in Europe’s urban mobility scene. The brand aims to spark debate around a new category of electric vehicles, one that overcomes today’s technical and legislative limitations while giving users greater freedom of movement without sacrificing efficiency or affordability.

A call for the future of mobility

“The role of the designer is to observe, identify needs, and propose solutions with skill and flexibility,” explains Umberto Palermo, the mind behind the project. For now, no details have been revealed about the motor or the battery that will power the Malya, though past Mole Urbana projects suggested ranges between 75 and 150 km with top speeds capped at 50 km/h. What is clear is that Malya wants to be more than an experiment: a symbol of Europe’s mobility future, where innovation and regulation still have to find common ground.