Spanish EV Startup Liux Secures Homologation for Recyclable Microcar Ahead of Commercial Launch

Spanish electric vehicle startup Liux is preparing to enter the European urban mobility market with the Liux Big, an ultracompact electric vehicle built with sustainable biocomposites, TechCrunch reported. The Madrid-based company has secured €16 million ($18.5 million) in total funding, combining private capital with European grants, as it aims to challenge Chinese manufacturers that have increasingly captured market share in Europe's small-EV sector.

Founded by chief executive officer Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros and vehicle engineer David Sancho, Liux operates Spain's first new automotive manufacturing facility established in more than 30 years. Espinosa previously co-founded Auara, a sustainable mineral water startup later acquired by a larger beverage firm, while Sancho previously designed the Bóreas hybrid supercar that debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017. The duo originally unveiled a five-passenger plant-based electric SUV named the Animal in 2022 before pivoting to a microcar platform to streamline European regulatory approvals.

The company recently obtained Europe-wide homologation under the L7e quadricycle classification for the Liux Big, positioning the vehicle for a commercial release in the first half of next year. Liux currently employs 65 staff members and is preparing to scale manufacturing across three locations in Spain. Its primary assembly plant in Azuqueca de Henares, directed by former BMW engineer Beatriz Belda González, utilizes Toyota-inspired lean production principles to execute final assembly, with plans to reach an annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles by 2030.

To differentiate the Liux Big from competitors like Switzerland's Microlino and low-cost Chinese imports, the founders focused on end-of-life material recovery. The outer shell is constructed using a novel linen-derived biocomposite engineered to allow structural separation and recycling of raw components. Espinosa emphasized that practical circularity requires designing vehicles to preserve material integrity during assembly rather than relying solely on experimental recycling techniques.

The Liux Big will feature two battery options, offering 15 kWh and 20 kWh configurations designed for home charging and compatible with residential solar arrays. Despite the size constraints of the L7e category, head of research and development Celso Fernández Llorens noted that the vehicle incorporates a 260-liter trunk. Liux has also emphasized structural rigidity and road handling, conducting public driving maneuvers to demonstrate stability even though crash tests are not legally mandated for its quadricycle class.

Liux intends to price the vehicle under €18,000 ($21,000) prior to government EV incentives, placing it at the premium end of the microcar category. The startup has gathered over 7,500 non-binding waitlist sign-ups. Demographic data from the reservations indicates that prospective buyers are predominantly urban residents aged 55 to 60 who intend to use the Liux Big as a secondary household vehicle.

Rather than adopting a direct-to-consumer sales strategy, Liux will distribute its vehicles through established European automotive dealerships. The startup is also exploring commercial fleet supply agreements and potential technology integrations for future autonomous driving capabilities. Head of brand Ana Terrado Leyva noted that the company's showroom incorporates natural linoleum flooring and custom display models offering three exterior color options.

In addition to the standard two-seat urban model, Liux is developing a cargo variant and an off-road edition as part of a broader plan to expand its product line. The company will utilize its existing €16 million in capital to complete production scaling and execute its dealership rollout across Europe.