Lightyear, the Dutch high-tech company developing the world’s first solar-electric car, writes history by officially commencing production of its first vehicle, Lightyear 0, at Valmet Automotive’s facility in Finland. The company plans to produce one car a week and gradually scale its production in the first quarter of 2023. It is the first automotive company to manufacture an electric vehicle that generates power directly from sunlight. After six years of developing its own technologies, Lightyear has surpassed one of the most challenging phases for new automotive companies: entering the market with novel technology.
Lightyear 0 is the company’s first step in its attempt to transform the mobility sector: by creating an efficient vehicle with a smaller battery capacity (60kWh), Lightyear wants to enable consumers to skip the charging grid and drive more sustainably. Six years after its founding, the company has progressed into a scale-up with over 500 employees and established a reliable supply chain through reputable partners such as Valmet Automotive, Bridgestone, and Koenigsegg.