Liux Boldly Enters the Sustainable Microcar Market, Challenging Chinese Competitors

A prominent trend is emerging in various European cities as smaller vehicles begin to gain popularity. The increasing demand for microcars is leading to a gradual replacement of traditional Italian ‘yoghurt pots’ with compact electric vehicles (EVs) from China. In response to this trend, Smart, the well-known ultra-compact car manufacturer, has relocated its production facilities to China.

To carve out a distinctive niche in this competitive market, the Spanish startup Liux is gearing up to launch a compact electric vehicle focused on sustainability.

Following the success of Switzerland’s Microlino, Liux is eager to introduce its groundbreaking microcar, the Liux Big. The name “Big” adds a humorous twist; while it is designed for efficient parking, it also reflects the ambitious spirit of a team that continually explores innovative concepts.

“The concept of a European car has nearly vanished,” Liux co-founder Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros shared in an interview with TechCrunch. The startup’s vehicles have attracted significant interest for being “made in Spain,” making his insights particularly relevant and in line with the company’s vision.

While Liux sources its batteries from outside of Europe, they are engineered to be recharged at home using solar energy. The vehicle’s design prioritizes ease of maintenance and counters the rapid obsolescence commonly found in modern cars. Additionally, the exterior incorporates an innovative linen-based biocomposite aimed at enhancing future recyclability.

“Both David and I agree that recycling should extend beyond laboratory conditions. While many products can technically be recycled in a lab, the true recyclability of a material depends on its design,” emphasized Espinosa. “Maintaining material integrity and ensuring components can be reused is essential to our manufacturing ethos.”

Espinosa’s dedication to “true circularity” is influenced by his earlier venture, Auara, a Spanish B Corp that packaged natural mineral water in recycled and recyclable containers. Following its acquisition by a larger corporation, he and Sancho decided to chart a new course with Liux.

Focusing on vehicle innovation, Sancho leads the charge in developing low-emission models. His expertise includes engineering electric vehicles capable of competing with gasoline-powered cars. Before joining Liux, he was instrumental in the creation of the Bóreas, a hybrid supercar introduced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017. After parting ways with former partners, he joined Espinosa to create Liux.

Liux’s first prototype, named Animal, showcased their combined expertise—a fully electric five-seater primarily constructed from recycled and plant-based materials. However, after launching the SUV publicly in 2022, the team decided to pivot, realizing that a more compact vehicle would have a greater chance of achieving homologation.

Fast forward to 2026; Liux has secured European homologation for the Liux Big and plans to officially launch it in the first half of next year. The company currently employs 65 people and is actively ramping up production across three facilities in Spain.

One of these facilities is located in Azuqueca de Henares, about an hour from Madrid, where TechCrunch recently made a visit.

While the Azuqueca site is relatively small, it follows Toyota’s “lean management” principles and focuses exclusively on the final stages of production, as production manager Beatriz Belda González—a Spanish engineer with experience at BMW in Munich—explained. She confirmed that the company aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 20,000 vehicles by 2030.

While it’s still too early to evaluate market interest, over 7,500 people have shown interest in the Liux Big. Signing up is free and helps the startup gauge its potential customer base. The main demographic appears to be urban residents aged 55 to 60, leading Liux to anticipate that the Liux Big will primarily serve as a secondary family vehicle.

This may temper expectations regarding the microcar’s ability to completely replace traditional vehicle ownership. Nevertheless, Espinosa insists that Liux must take a strategic approach. By remaining flexible, the startup is also open to forming partnerships with B2B fleet operators or companies involved in autonomous vehicle technologies.

Espinosa envisions the Liux Big playing an important role in the market by offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative. While pricing is still being finalized, the aim is to keep it under €18,000 — approximately $21,000 — before any applicable EV incentives. This positions the vehicle at the higher end of the microcar price spectrum, but Liux is committed to ensuring it provides significant value.

Celso Fernández Llorens, Liux’s head of R&D, brought up essential points regarding the stringent weight and size regulations in this segment. He believes many microcars exhibit similar characteristics despite European regulators distinguishing between ultra-light L6e four-wheelers and sturdier L7e models. Still, Liux has skillfully maneuvered through these regulations to optimize its L7e homologation.

Through a series of strategic choices, the startup has successfully integrated a 260-liter trunk into its design. The primary goal has been to ensure that drivers feel as though they are operating a real car instead of a two-wheeled vehicle, which is crucial for safety. As Sancho noted: a lightweight vehicle must uphold structural integrity and stability during turns.

Even though crash tests are not obligatory for their vehicle category, Liux has proactively conducted tests to demonstrate the agility, braking, and handling capabilities of the Liux Big. Some of these features were showcased to TechCrunch during a brief test drive of the prototype’s off-road version.

Currently, the main model will provide two battery options: 15 kWh and 20 kWh, with an exploration of a cargo version underway. Despite Sancho’s impressive history, he remains captivated by the thrill of developing a supercar. The company recently announced on LinkedIn its aspirations to evolve beyond being “just a one-car brand.”

In the immediate future, however, Liux aims to utilize the €16 million it has raised to date (around $18.5 million, including European funding) to launch the urban variant of the Liux Big in collaboration with dealerships throughout Europe.

The showroom where we gathered offers a glimpse into Liux’s future sales strategy, as explained by brand manager Ana Terrado Leyva. She pointed out the use of textile screens, 3D models displaying the Liux Big’s three color options—which provide two more choices than the Ford T—and a linoleum floor inspired by linen. These design elements exemplify Liux’s efforts to differentiate itself from its Chinese competitors.

Perhaps the dream of a European car is not completely out of reach.