The company plans on producing one car a week and gradually scaling up its production in the first quarter of 2023. Lightyear is the first automotive company to manufacture an electric vehicle that generates power directly from sunlight. The company has been working on the tech for the past six years.
With this, Lightyear has surpassed one of the most challenging phases for new automotive companies: entering the market with novel technology. In the making since past six years, the company has progressed to scale-up with over 500 employees and established a supply chain through partners such as Valmet Automotive, Bridgestone, and Koenigsegg.
Betting on clean mobility
“We have hit many milestones in recent years, from major funding achievements to great partnerships. However, today is the most significant, and probably the most challenging, milestone we have reached so far,” said Lex Hoefsloot, CEO and co-founder of Lightyear. “Starting production of Lightyear 0, the first solar car, brings us a big step closer to our mission of clean mobility for everyone, everywhere. We may be the first to achieve this, but I certainly hope we aren’t the last,” he added.
Lightyear says that Lightyear 0 is the company’s first step in its attempt to transform the mobility sector. The aim is to create an efficient vehicle with a smaller battery capacity (60 kWh). The company claimed that it wants to enable consumers to skip the charging grid and drive more sustainably.
“We share Lightyear’s motivation for creating new, more sustainable mobility solutions and are excited to be part of this innovative development in the automotive industry. During the last few years, we have been working closely together to understand Lightyear 0’s technologies and prepare everything for smooth production of the solar electric cars for consumers”, says Olaf Bongwald, CEO of Valmet Automotive.
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