Just days after Lightyear announced it was halting production on its flagship Lightyear 0 model to refocus on its more affordable Lightyear 2, the Dutch solar car company’s main subsidiary, Atlas Technologies, has been declared bankrupt.
The subsidiary is the main production company and the employer of Lightyear’s staff, so the bankruptcy affects 600 workers who are now in limbo as the company searches for a lifeboat.
Reinoud van Oeijen, who has been appointed to oversee the situation has said he will look to restart the business focusing on the more affordable Lightyear 2 model.
“Lightyear regrets having to make this announcement for all employees, customers, investors and suppliers and will work closely with the curator and all the people who are involved and hope for their understanding and support,” the company said in a statement on its website.
“In the coming period the trustee will focus on the position of the employees and creditors as well as assessing how the Lightyear concept can be continued.”
Company hopes to relaunch with new model
Production of Lightyear’s “0” model, which costs €250,000 ($A387,000) started in Finland at the end of November as part of a deal with a company based there. Only a handful of cars were produced before the announcement came last week that production would be halted.
It seems the company still hopes to relaunch the business and has been in talks with potential partners to produce the cheaper Lightyear 2 model, which has a target starting price of €40,000 ($A61,900).
The Dutch startup has received widespread praise over recent years for the development of it’s self-charging solar car, which has an integrated layer of solar cells in the roof, bonnet and hatch.
There are many people who are keen to see the company succeed so hopefully they find a solution and be able continue working on the world’s first production solar car.
Daniel Bleakley is a clean technology researcher and advocate with a background in engineering and business. He has a strong interest in electric vehicles, renewable energy, manufacturing and public policy.