Spanish startup Liux launches microcar with sustainability focus to compete in European EV market
Liux has secured European homologation for its Liux Big microcar and expects to start selling in the first half of next year, positioning sustainability through recyclable materials and local production as its competitive edge.
What happened
Spanish startup Liux, co-founded by Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros and David Sancho, has completed European homologation for the Liux Big, a small electric vehicle with a linen-based biocomposite fiber body designed for recyclability. The company opened Spain's first new car plant in over 30 years in Azuqueca de Henares and expects to start selling the Liux Big in the first half of next year, with production capacity targeting 20,000 cars annually by 2030. More than 7,500 people have joined a waiting list for the vehicle, which is priced below €18,000 (approximately $21,000) before subsidies. The company has grown to 65 employees and is preparing to scale production across three facilities in Spain.
Context
The European microcar market has shifted from Italian compact models to Chinese-made electric vehicles, including Smart's relocation of manufacturing to China. Liux is positioning itself as a European alternative by emphasizing sustainability as a differentiator rather than sovereignty of supply chains, acknowledging that a fully European supply chain is unattainable. The company's founders bring relevant experience: Espinosa previously co-founded Auara, a Spanish B Corp focused on circular business models, while Sancho specialized in electric vehicle engineering and previously worked on hybrid supercars. Early demand data shows the typical buyer is a 55-to-60-year-old city dweller, suggesting the Liux Big will likely function as a household's second car rather than challenge traditional vehicle ownership patterns. The startup is exploring partnerships with fleet operators and autonomous vehicle developers to expand market reach.