Liux’s Big microcar bets on sustainability to take on Chinese rivals
The Liux Big microcar is made in Spain. The startup thinks it can compete in a crowded market with its tiny electric car built around sustainability.
European cities have seen a trend of smaller cars, but Chinese EVs have dominated the microcar market. Smart, an iconic ultracompact car brand, moved its manufacturing to China. Spanish startup Liux aims to compete in the crowded market with its tiny, sustainable electric car, the Liux Big. Inspired by the Swiss Microlino, the company's co-founder, Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros, believes that a European car concept doesn't exist.
Liux opened Spain's first new car plant in over 30 years, but realized a fully sovereign supply chain is unattainable. Instead, they focus on sustainability, with batteries that can be recharged at home using solar power and a fiber body made from a novel linen-based biocomposite. The company prioritizes recyclability, ensuring that the material can be extracted and recycled later.
Co-founder David Sancho is an expert in engineering electric vehicles and led the development of the Liux Big. The company has secured Europe-wide homologation for the Liux Big, which is expected to start production in the first half of 2026. Liux has grown to 65 employees and is preparing to ramp up production across three facilities in Spain.
The first prototype, the Animal, was made almost entirely from recycled or plant-based materials. Liux Big aims to be affordable, with a price tag expected to be below €18,000. The company's R&D team worked to ensure the car feels like a traditional car and prioritized safety, despite the category not requiring crash tests. Liux has secured over 7,500 people on its waiting list for the Liux Big.
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