The Liux Big microcar from Spanish startup Liux has obtained Europe-wide homologation, with plans for sales to begin in early 2026. This development marks a notable step for the advancement of locally built, sustainable EVs, especially as compact electric vehicles from China dominate the European market.
While Chinese EVs have become increasingly popular and city car sizes continue to contract across Europe, Spanish manufacturer Liux is entering the segment by focusing on sustainability. The humorously named Liux Big, reflecting its petite dimensions, recently cleared regulatory approval and is now preparing for a launch targeted for before mid-next year. This initiative breaks a longstanding absence of fresh car manufacturing projects in Spain and aims to compete directly with Asian imports.
Restarting Car Manufacturing in Spain: Liux’s New Factory
An important distinction for Liux is the opening of Spain’s first new car plant in more than thirty years, located in Azuqueca de Henares, not far from Madrid. Although Liux markets the Liux Big as “made in Spain,” its co-founders, David Sancho and Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros, are realistic about the unavoidable complexities tied to global supply chains. From their Madrid showroom, Espinosa points out that producing a fully European car—sourced and assembled entirely on the continent—is not currently achievable. Instead, the company’s approach emphasizes sustainability while acknowledging global interdependence.
Batteries used in the Liux Big, for instance, are imported rather than produced domestically, yet drivers can recharge them at home, including with solar energy. The standout element of the car is its shell, crafted from an innovative biocomposite based on linen fibers. This design not only supports the firm’s “real circularity” vision but also enables future extraction and recycling of materials. With backgrounds in B Corp startups and experience with hybrid high-performance vehicles, Sancho and Espinosa’s priorities center on durability and recyclability of both design and engineering—ensuring that parts and materials can re-enter the production cycle.
Pushing Market Boundaries With Measured Growth
Liux initially developed the Liux Animal, a sustainable electric SUV composed mainly of plant-based or recycled materials. After introducing the Animal in 2022, the founders quickly pivoted to a smaller class of car that could more easily obtain regulatory approval. This strategic switch bore fruit: with homologation in place, Liux is set to start production at three sites in Spain in 2026 and has built a team of 65 employees.
Applying lean management principles adopted from Toyota, the Azuqueca facility remains streamlined, handling only final assembly. Production director Beatriz Belda González, who previously worked at BMW, outlines a target of 20,000 vehicles annually by 2030.
Interest in the Liux Big appears strong, as over 7,500 prospective buyers have enrolled in its no-deposit waiting list. These early registrants are mainly urbanites aged 55 to 60, often considering the model as a secondary vehicle for their households rather than a primary daily driver. Espinosa underlines the company’s focus on attainable goals, noting that Liux will explore opportunities to work with B2B fleets and investigate enabling autonomous features in the future.
Distinctive Approach to Safety, Value, and Interior Design
The Liux Big will feature 15 kWh and 20 kWh battery packs, a cargo option, and the possibility for more versions down the line. A base price under €18,000 (about $21,000) before incentives places it among premium microcars, supported by its sustainability-first identity. R&D director Celso Fernández Llorens notes that maximizing trunk space within regulatory specs was a central design challenge—ultimately yielding a generous 260-litre boot for its class.
Europe’s regulatory system differentiates ultralight L6e cars from the heavier L7e group (more information here). Though most rival microcars stick to broadly similar specs, Liux has leveraged its L7e classification to offer vehicle dynamics and safety equipment typically reserved for larger vehicles, with test drives and braking demonstrations performed despite an exemption from crash testing in this class.
Retail plans include European dealership partners, and the project has attracted €16 million (roughly $18.5 million) in funding, part of which comes from European Union backing. The in-store experience mirrors the brand vision—showrooms display 3D-printed car models in three shades, use textured samples, and feature a linoleum floor to echo the use of flax in the bodywork—setting Liux apart from its Asian microcar counterparts.
The Future: From Urban Mobility to a Wider Lineup
Sancho and Espinosa have stated their intent not to limit the brand to a single model: Liux looks ahead to broadening its product range—potentially even entering the supercar sector, an area where Sancho holds expertise. For now, however, the launch of the Liux Big encapsulates their mission of impacting sustainable city mobility through innovative design and commercial realism.
With the arrival of Liux, Europe sees both renewed local engineering commitment and a potential evolution of what defines a “European” car in the steadily electrifying market.