Light topic: no more zeros.
Less than two months after the sleek fastback hatch with the world's highest aerodynamic drag coefficient went into production, Lightyear has discontinued its debut model, the 0.
In an update released Monday, the Dutch EV startup said it made the decision to redirect its focus and resources to the more affordable, higher-production two-hatchback it unveiled earlier this month.
The company also said it has filed a request with the court to initiate "stop payment proceedings" regarding its subsidiary Atlas Technologies, which managed 0 production operations at independent Finnish contract manufacturer Valmet. This decision may suggest that some economic hardship is also an important factor.
"The entire Lightyear 0 development process has provided our company with many valuable learnings over the past several years," Lightyear CEO and co-founder Rex Hofsrud said in a statement. We are now fully committed to developing Lightyear 2 so that we can deliver it to our clients on schedule."
Lightyear previously announced that the 2 will debut in the summer and begin deliveries around 2025. The company has also confirmed a starting price of less than 40,000 euros (about $43,450); the 0 started at 250,000 euros ($271,575). It is not clear if any cars were actually delivered.
In its latest update, Lightyear states that the 2 was developed in parallel with the 0, indicating that the car is already in a late stage of development; like the 0, the 2 will feature solar panels and in-wheel hub motors.
Lightyear also said that 40,000 people have joined a waiting list for more information on the 2, and 20,000 cars have already been pre-ordered by fleet customers.
The company has not disclosed where it plans to manufacture the 2,
but it is expected that the 2 will be available in the U.S. in the near future.