Liux Big Microcar Secures European Homologation, Sales Expected Early 2027

The Liux Big microcar has secured Europe-wide homologation in 2026, with sales projected to begin in the first half of 2027. This Spanish startup aims to compete in the growing European microcar market by focusing on sustainability.

Liux, a Spanish startup, is positioning its electric microcar, the Liux Big, as a sustainable alternative in a market increasingly dominated by smaller electric vehicles. The company's name for the car, "Big," is a humorous nod to its compact size, which allows it to park at a right angle to the curb, and its founders' ambitious goals.

Founders and Company Vision

Liux co-founder and CEO Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros and co-founder David Sancho established the company with a commitment to sustainability. Espinosa previously co-founded Auara, a Spanish B Corp known for selling natural mineral water in recycled and recyclable bottles, emphasizing "real circularity." Sancho, an engineer specializing in electric vehicles that can rival gas-powered cars, previously developed the Bóreas, a hybrid supercar unveiled at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017.

The company initially unveiled a fully electric five-seater SUV prototype called the Animal in 2022, which was made almost entirely from recycled or plant-based materials. However, the co-founders later decided to pivot to a smaller car, determining that a microcar would have higher odds of achieving homologation, the process of certifying a vehicle meets regulatory standards.

Liux has opened Spain's first new car plant in over 30 years. Despite this, Espinosa and Sancho have acknowledged that a fully sovereign supply chain is unattainable. Instead, they prioritize sustainability throughout their operations.

Sustainable Design and Materials

The Liux Big is designed with sustainability at its core. Its fiber body is constructed from a novel linen-based biocomposite material, specifically engineered for later extraction and recycling. Espinosa emphasized that true recyclability depends on how a product is built, ensuring material integrity for a second life.

While the batteries for the Liux Big are not manufactured in Europe, they are rechargeable at home and compatible with power generated from solar panels. The vehicle is also intended to be easy to maintain, aiming to counteract the rapid obsolescence cycles common in modern cars.

Production and Market Outlook

Liux has grown to 65 employees and is preparing to scale up production across three facilities in Spain. One of these is the factory in Azuqueca de Henares, located about an hour from central Madrid. Beatriz Belda González, Liux's head of production and a former BMW engineer, stated that the Azuqueca factory is compact, adhering to Toyota's "lean management" principles by focusing on the final stages of the production process.

Despite the factory's size, Liux projects its production capacity could reach 20,000 cars annually by 2030. The company has already seen significant interest, with more than 7,500 people expressing interest in the Liux Big microcar.