Lightyear One To Be Manufactured by Valmet Automotive

Electric Vehicle startup Lightyear has revealed that it has hired contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive which is based in Finland for the production of the One Solar electric vehicle. This partnership will ensure that the prototype vehicles are built in January 2022. Lightyear is also based in the Netherlands and has promised a range of 724.2 kilometres on a single charge which has drawn some scepticism from the community. Lightyear has managed to gather huge amounts of funding for the same and has partnered with big players from the auto industry like Bridgestone for custom tyres on the One. Already Lightyear is proving to be having a consistent range of 710 kilometres in tests with its 60 kWh battery pack gathering another 3.5 kWh from its solar panels. 

Now it has started work on its second prototype which it wants to manufacture in January. It also wants to produce a limited production run of vehicles. Valmet has been a contract manufacturer for over 50 years and has high-end experience working with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. 

"Two years ago, we announced our prototype Lightyear One. We are really excited to have found a production partner with whom we will manufacture this exclusive model. Valmet Automotive is a great partner, has a well-established track record and over a decade of experience in EV production. It's also a good cultural fit with our company. We are proud that we will soon realise the actual production of Lightyear One with Valmet Automotive," said Lex Hoefsloot, the CEO and co-founder of Lightyear. 

Valmet Automotive also has its own battery manufacturing capability in Finland and has invested heavily in the testing and engineering of EV powertrains. 

The team at Lightyear has made bold claims of an 724-kilometre range

"Our experience as a car manufacturer, as well as our focus on electric mobility and battery systems make us predestined for processes in which mobility must be redefined. We are ready to enter new areas also in manufacturing cars and are therefore pleased that Lightyear has selected us as their production partner," said Valmet Automotive CEO Olaf Bongwald.