DR Group Birba
The microcar market continues to expand and is now preparing to welcome the Birba, a small heavy electric quadricycle (L7 category) from the DR Group.
Like the rest of the lineup from the Molise-based manufacturer, it is a rebadged Chinese model — in this case, the Chery QQ — presented in preview at the KEY event in Rimini.
As an L7e category quadricycle, the DR Group’s Birba can be driven from the age of 16 with a B1 license. Here is everything you need to know.
Let’s start with dimensions: the Birba is 2.98 meters long, 1.49 meters wide, and 1.63 meters tall, with a wheelbase of 1.96 meters. The boxy shape, similar to many other microcars, maximizes the use of interior space and provides good awareness of the exterior footprint.
Up front, it features lighting units with “U”-shaped signature LEDs and full LED lights at the rear as well — something not common in this segment. The wheels are 14 inches, fitted with 155/50 tires.
The interior accommodates two people and offers a station-wagon-like trunk: 700 liters, with a payload capacity of 275 kg. The instrument cluster is digital, while infotainment relies on the user’s smartphone, placed in a mount on top of the dashboard.
As for the powertrain, the Birba is driven by a rear-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor delivering 14 kW nominal power (22 kW peak), paired with an LFP battery rated at 156 Ah. The declared driving range — according to the WLTP cycle — is 182 km.
The onboard charger accepts AC only, up to 1.8 kW, allowing a full charge in about 8 hours on a 220 V connection. The suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink system at the rear.
Pricing for the Birba starts at 12,900 euros, dropping to 9,900 euros with the 2025 incentives, or 8,900 euros with scrappage. Standard equipment includes power steering, Bluetooth and DAB radio, a multifunction steering wheel, air conditioning, power windows, 14-inch alloy wheels, regenerative braking, a rearview camera with parking sensors, and an anti-theft system.
