For the subsidiary responsible for the production of the Lightyear 0 was responsible, suspension of payments has been applied for today. Lightyear speaks of a ‘strategic restructuring’, which is necessary to ‘secure the corporate vision’. The company has been working on the solar car since 2016, which, with built-in solar cells, needs to be charged less often.
“The whole process of developing Lightyear 0 has given our company many valuable lessons. We are now putting all our energy into building Lightyear 2,” said CEO and co-founder Lex Hoefsloot.
Of Lightyear 0 was the world’s first production solar car in November, but the car had a hefty price tag: 250,000 euros. In the end, only a handful of cars were produced.
‘Less than 40,000 euros’
Lightyear has been busy developing the Lightyear 2, which must cost ‘less than 40,000 euros’. At a major tech fair in Las Vegas, the Brabant automaker already gave a preview of the car.
Then Lightyear said that production should start at the end of 2025. The company does not want to say tonight whether that planning will now change.
Thanks to the solar cells on the roof, the solar car needs to be charged much less often, according to the makers. The range of the Lightyear 2 should be more than 800 kilometers. 40,000 people have already signed up for the waiting list for the solar car.
Investments and leasing companies
“We hope to complete a number of important investments in the coming weeks to scale up to the Lightyear 2, an affordable solar-powered electric car that will be available to a wider audience,” said Hoefsloot.
21,000 orders have now been received for the Lightyear 2 leasing companies and car-sharing companies, together accounting for a turnover of around 840 million euros. Since its foundation, Lightyear has raised more than 185 million euros in investments.
When the very first Lightyear 0 rolled off the production line at the end of November, according to the Dutch makers, this was not only the first solar car for consumers, but also ‘the most aerodynamic car‘ on the market.
German competitor in financial distress
Lightyear’s German competitor, Sono Motors, is now having great difficulties to raise enough money for his first solar car. That Sion should cost a small 30,000 euros, but the arrival has become uncertain after years of delay.
Sono Motors says it needs almost 105 million euros, but has now only received a small 46 million.
