Atlas Technologies, which accounted for the construction of Lightyear's electric vehicles, is bankrupt. Trustee Reinoud van Oeijen is investigating whether there is a way to continue the Lightyear concept. The trustee is also focusing on the position of Atlas Technologies' employees.
Lightyear announced its flagship Lightyear 0 in 2016. This is an all-electric vehicle, which has solar panels on its roof. Using these solar panels, the vehicle can charge while driving or in a car park, without having to be connected to a charging station to do so. This increases the vehicle's range. The output of the solar panels depends on the location where the Lightyear 0 is used. In sunny locations, the range the vehicle generates with this is greater than in less sunny locations.
The price tag of the Lightyear 0 was relatively high at 302,500 euros. It is not known how many examples of the vehicle were bought. Production started in Finland in November 2022. In total, Lightyear wanted to build 946 units of the Lightyear 0.
Deferred payment
Parent company Lightyear, however, filed for a moratorium on payments on 23 January. It then announced it was halting development of its flagship Lightyear 0. The company wanted to focus entirely on developing the Lightyear 2, which, like its big brother, features solar panels on its roof. However, with a price tag of less than 40,000 euros, this vehicle is aimed at a different audience.
"We are now putting all our energy into building Lightyear 2 to make it available to customers in time," CEO Lex Hoefsloot reported. Leasing company Arval, among others, wanted to invest in Lightyear, Lightyear announced at the time.m
Bankruptcy declared
However, it did not turn out that far. A week later - on 27 January 2023 - Atlas Technologies BV was declared bankrupt. Atlas Technologies is a subsidiary of Lightyear and responsible for the production of the Lightyear One. The company employs over 620 people, who could lose their jobs as a result. If it comes to a restart, some of them may be reinstated. The receiver reports that it will assess how the Lightyear concept can be continued.
Lightyear's intellectual property is in its parent company Lightyear, which has not been declared bankrupt. Lightyear's subsidiary focusing on the production of solar panels has not been affected either. This division employs some 30 people, who will keep their jobs. Lightyear therefore hopes to continue production of the Lightyear 2. This model should roll off the production line from 2024 or 2025.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Lightyear
