Meet Luvly, The LUV Platform That Could Change How Cities Build Cars

Most city trips don’t need a two-ton car. They need something light, affordable, and simple to build.

And that’s where Luvly comes in.

This Swedish startup created a flat-pack electric vehicle platform that ships like furniture and can be built in small local factories. Their first model, the Luvly O, costs about €10,000, weighs under 400 kg, reaches 90 km/h, and uses a 6.4 kWh dual-battery system with removable packs you can charge indoors.

On the surface, it looks like a small city EV. But the real innovation is the platform behind it. Luvly is changing how cars are made by using lighter materials, smaller production sites, and a manufacturing model built for the scale of modern cities.

What Luvly is building

Luvly builds light urban vehicle (LUV) platforms, perfect for small electric microcars designed for daily city trips. These trips are usually short, often under 33 km per day, with one or two people on board and no need for highway speeds. Traditional cars are oversized for this kind of use, which makes them more expensive, more energy-hungry, and harder to produce.

Luvly has set out to create right-sized mobility that fits how people actually move through cities. That calls for a small footprint, light materials, low energy use, and production methods that don’t depend on huge factories.

Luvly doesn’t run large production lines, but it’s clearly aiming for mass-market scale. They design the fundamental structure, the sandwich composite chassis, and assist partners with safety structure and production method if needed. Partner companies then assemble the vehicle in small micro-factories using Luvly’s flat-pack components.

This creates something new in urban transport. Compact vehicles that are cheaper to build, ship, and maintain. And mini-factories that can be launched almost anywhere without investing a billion euros.

How the Luvly platform works

Luvly’s platform is built around the idea of a safe, lightweight city EV that is easy to ship, quick to assemble, and cheap to run. Instead of following the usual car-making process, the company uses composite materials, modular construction, and low-impact logistics to cut cost and carbon output.

Here’s how it stands out.

A lightweight chassis made from sandwich composites

Every Luvly platform starts with a sandwich composite structure, a foam core placed between two stiff outer layers. This type of construction is common in aviation, racing, and sports equipment because it offers high strength without adding much weight.

Inside the chassis, aluminum profiles play a key structural role. They connect the composite panels to each other, distribute point loads from the suspension and drivetrain, and provide the mounting interfaces used to attach the body to the chassis. It’s a simple, modular setup built for lightweight construction and easy assembly.

For safety, the platform uses energy-absorbing foam modules that deform in a controlled way during impacts, tuned specifically for the low and medium speeds where most city accidents happen.

The result is a very light yet protective chassis, without the bulk, tooling costs, or complexity of a traditional metal monocoque.

Flat-pack manufacturing that ships 20 cars in one container

One of Luvly’s biggest breakthroughs happens before the vehicle even hits the road.

Its panels and structural parts are designed to ship flat, which allows up to 20 vehicles to fit inside a single shipping container. Standard car bodies take up a huge amount of space, even before assembly. Luvly’s flat-pack system avoids that waste.

Once the shipment arrives, a small local plant can assemble the vehicles using mechanical fasteners and structural adhesives. This approach doesn’t require welding, stamping, or any kind of expensive tooling.

This is where Luvly’s model stands out. Luvly doesn’t set up factories. Instead, the low CapEx and flat-pack format make it possible for licensed producers to establish small assembly sites almost anywhere and build the vehicles close to the markets they serve.

According to the company, this approach can reduce production and shipping energy use by up to 80% compared with traditional automotive manufacturing.

During one of our Charging Stack podcast episodes, we talked to the CEO on this particular topic. This is one of Luvly’s key advantages and the company can see the microfactory sprawl happening near a large number of major European (and American, African, and Asian) cities.

A removable dual-battery system (6.4 kWh total)

Luvly uses two removable 3.2 kWh battery packs that combine into a 6.4 kWh system. Together, they deliver about 100 km of real-world city range. Each pack weighs around 15 kg, light enough to carry indoors for home charging.

This kind of dual-battery setup brings a few advantages:

• You can charge the packs at home, with no need for public chargers
• Smaller batteries reduce cost and environmental impact
• Packs can be swapped or replaced one at a time

This works great for apartment dwellers, car-sharing users, or even fleet operators who want predictable costs and minimal infrastructure.

Meet the Luvly O, the first light urban vehicle prototype on the platform

The Luvly O is the first prototype built on Luvly’s lightweight, flat-pack platform. It’s a small, enclosed city EV designed to sit between a microcar and a compact electric hatchback.

The vehicle measures 2.70 m in length and 1.53 m in width, and it weighs under 400 kg. That low weight is the key advantage. It keeps energy use low, allows a much smaller battery, and makes the flat-pack shipping concept possible.

On the road, the Luvly O can reach 90 km/h, which covers most city and suburban routes. Its two removable battery packs add up to 6.4 kWh and give around 100 km of real-world city range. Each pack charges in one to three hours, depending on the outlet.

The vehicle itself uses about 60–65 Wh/km, which is far lower than any small EV and even below many cargo e-bikes. And inside, there’s a 267-liter trunk, enough for groceries, daily commutes, or shared-fleet use.

Luvly is aiming to set a price point at around €10,000 (or even less!), placing it among the most affordable enclosed electric vehicles available in Europe.

Luvly O – Key specifications

Category	Specification
Length	2.70 m
Width	1.53 m
Weight	< 400 kg
Top speed	90 km/h
Range	~100 km (urban)
Battery	2× 3.2 kWh removable packs (6.4 kWh total)
Energy use	~60–65 Wh/km
Trunk volume	267 L
Charging time	1–3 hours
Target price	<€10,000

The business model: licensing instead of mass production

Luvly isn’t trying to become a large EV manufacturer. Its focus is on licensing its Light Urban Vehicle platform to partners who build the vehicles locally. This choice shapes the company’s pricing, sustainability goals, and how quickly the concept can scale.

Instead of operating huge factories, Luvly offers the IP, engineering work, tooling, and safety structure behind the platform. Partners (who can be OEMs, fleet operators, and regional manufacturers) then set up small microfactories in their own markets. They assemble the flat-packed kits, handle production, and sell or deploy the vehicles.

Luvly earns money through:

• Platform licensing fees
• Engineering and validation services
• Tooling packages
• Royalties for every vehicle a partner builds

This creates a system where one platform can support many localized production sites, each shaped by local regulations, workforce capabilities, and demand.

While many EV startups struggle under the cost of billion-euro factories, Luvly is keeping its footprint small and scalable. It’s a model that works a bit more like software – you design once and build everywhere.

A peek inside the microfactory model

Luvly’s production model is built around small, flexible plants that sit close to the people who will use the vehicles. Partners are, in turn, prepared to launch assembly sites without having costs or complexities as with traditional car factories.

Small-footprint plants near cities

A typical Luvly microfactory needs only about 2,000 m². That’s tiny compared to standard automotive plants. And for good reasons. There’s no stamping, paint shop, or heavy welding. And most of the structure arrives as pre-made composite panels, so final assembly is quick and simple.

Placing these plants near city centers is a great move to keep logistics short and give fleets faster access to service, spare parts, and support.

A flat-pack supply chain

Luvly’s composite panels are made in centralized facilities, packed flat, and shipped like furniture. When the kits reach a microfactory, local teams assemble them into a complete vehicle using standard tools.

The flow is pretty simple.

Central production → container shipping → regional assembly → local delivery

Because everything travels flat, shipping costs and emissions stay low. And if a city/region needs to grow, it can simply add another microfactory instead of investing in a huge plant.

Why microfactories make scaling easier

This decentralized approach removes many of the barriers that slow new EV manufacturers. Smaller plants make it easier to navigate regional rules, material availability, and specific fleet needs. And being close to customers has its own benefits.

Also, this model opens the door for variation. For example, a partner in Italy might build a cargo-focused version. In the same time, a Nordic partner could explore a winter-ready variant. On the other hand, a fleet operator could license a commuter version tailored to the city.

The scaling benefits of microfactories are easy to see. Instead of a single giant plant, you scale by repeating small, efficient ones, city by city.

Who Luvly is built for

Luvly’s platform isn’t exactly for the average car buyer. It’s built for companies and cities that need light, safe, low-cost electric vehicles for dense urban areas. And because of the platform’s modularity, it can be adapted for many work uses.

OEMs exploring small EV platforms

Automakers that want to enter the micro-EV space don’t have to design everything on their own. Luvly’s composite chassis gives them a lightweight starting point that’s simple to assemble. It’s a fast path to launching a small EV without building an entire hardware ecosystem from scratch.

Shared mobility operators

Car-sharing and subscription services need vehicles that are cheap to run, easy to repair, and durable. Luvly’s modular body, low energy use, and small battery system go hand in hand with operators trying to cut costs and expand into tighter neighborhoods.

Urban micro-EV fleets

European cities are shifting toward smaller vehicles as streets get narrower and emission rules get stricter. Luvly’s LUV fits that need. It’s fully enclosed, efficient, and affordable enough for large-scale deployment.

Municipal and public-sector fleets

City departments often need simple electric vehicles for staff transport, inspections, and facility operations. Luvly’s microfactory model makes this easy to happen. Cities can assemble, service, and repair fleets locally, keeping jobs and value in the region.

Last-mile and short-range delivery

Even though it’s not a cargo van, the platform can be adapted for small delivery routes in city centers. Its low weight and low running cost make it useful for short trips where vehicles stop often and don’t need large cargo space.

Asian markets replacing traditional three-wheelers

Many countries in South and Southeast Asia are shifting away from older, unsafe tuk-tuks. Luvly’s platform offers a safer, electric option that stays affordable and lightweight without becoming a full car.

Across all these use cases, the pitch stays the same. Luvly offers a light, efficient EV platform that can be adapted to local needs and built almost anywhere.

How Luvly compares to its competitors

Luvly sits in the ultralight EV category, next to microcars and quadricycles. The difference is in how it’s built, shipped, and powered.

Here’s how it stands out from competitors.

Citroën Ami / Fiat Topolino – cheaper but slower and heavier

The Citroën Ami and Fiat Topolino lead the entry-level microcar market in Europe. They’re affordable and straightforward. But they do have some limits.

Here’s the comparison:

• Price – Ami/Topolino are cheaper at €6,800–8,200.
• Speed – Ami is capped at 45 km/h, while Luvly reaches 90 km/h.
• Weight – Ami weighs about 425 kg without the battery, while Luvly stays under 400 kg
• Battery – Ami uses a fixed battery. Luvly uses two removable modules, which makes charging easier.
• Usage – Ami is a pure city vehicle. Luvly can handle both city streets and short suburban routes.

Ami wins on base price.

Luvly wins on performance, flexibility, and efficiency.

Microlino – stylish, capable, but heavier and more expensive

Microlino is the premium option in the microcar space. It looks great, performs well, and targets buyers who want style as much as practicality.

Here’s how it compares:

• Price – €17,100–26,750 depending on model.
• Weight – Over 500kg
• Speed – Similar top speed around 90 km/h.
• Range – Longer range thanks to larger battery options (up to around 228km)
• Positioning: – A premium, design-led vehicle built to stand out.

Luvly takes the opposite approach. It’s simpler, lighter, and built to scale at a low cost.

That said, the Luvly O remains in the pre-production phase, having recently partnered with Stellantis to evaluate the technology. And no customer deliveries have yet started.

Luvly’s real edge is in sustainability and affordability with safety leading the way

This is the part that sets Luvly apart.

Most ultralight EVs struggle to balance safety, weight, and cost. Luvly’s platform is built around solving that triangle. A structure that is light enough for efficiency, affordable enough for city-scale adoption, and engineered for safety, something most vehicles in this segment lack.

On top of that core idea sits one of Luvly’s biggest practical advantages – the flat-pack format and local-assembly licensing model.

Where brands like Ami, Topolino, or Microlino ship fully assembled vehicles, Luvly ships flat composite panels and a bonded safety cell that partners assemble in small microfactories. This approach brings clear benefits:

• Much lower shipping emissions because nothing ships as full-size vehicles
• Local production almost anywhere, without massive factories
• Faster global scaling through licensed partners
• Lower labor and operating costs for regional assembly
• A safe, light structure that stays affordable and easy to produce

But all of this works because the platform starts with a safe, ultralight structure – the foundation that makes the rest possible.

The better comparison isn’t another microcar brand, and that’s why it’s hard to compare it to Ami or Microlino. I’ll rather call Luvly a mix of IKEA-style logistics and automotive engineering. Flat-packed components, local assembly, and a platform that partners can adapt to their own markets.

That’s what makes Luvly stand out. Rather than being just a new EV, it’s a new way of building them.

The team building Luvly’s ultralight EV platform

Luvly is a small Swedish team made up of people who have spent years working on lightweight vehicles, safety engineering, and efficient manufacturing.

Håkan Lutz, CEO and founder, has more than 20 years of experience in ultralight mobility and composite safety structures. He is the mastermind behind Luvly’s patented composite technology and the driving force behind the platform’s lightweight engineering approach.

David Egertz, CTO and co-founder, brings strong composite-engineering expertise, especially in advanced sandwich structures and optimized chassis design. His work helps turn Luvly’s composite concept into a robust, production-ready platform.

Björn Lindblom, chairman and co-founder, comes from the engineering and IoT space. Before Luvly, he served as CEO of Connode, a company known for building large-scale wireless networks for utilities and smart-city systems. His experience adds to Luvly’s operational and commercial foundation, especially as the company transitions toward partnerships and licensed production.

Luvly also collaborates with a focused group of specialist designers and engineers. Joachim Nordwall, Luvly’s Head of Design, previously worked at Koenigsegg, bringing valuable experience in high-performance lightweight design. Fredrik Wettermark, an advisor whose former company “Composite Design” worked with Koenigsegg, contributes additional expertise in advanced composite structures.

Today, Luvly operates with less than 10 core employees, supported by advisors and outside engineering teams. The team structure completely mirrors the product strategy.

Keep the company lean, move production knowledge to licensed partners, and scale through a network of microfactories instead of one giant plant.

Funding and key partners

Luvly’s funding story is far simpler than some would expect. The company hasn’t raised the kind of money typical for an EV startup, and that’s because its model doesn’t rely on billion-euro factories or heavy industrial tooling. With flat-pack components and local microfactories, the cash needs stay modest.

The only officially confirmed investment so far is from Sörmlandsfonden, a regional Swedish fund that backs growth-oriented companies across multiple sectors. In July 2022, they invested in Luvly, helping push early development of the platform.

Beyond that, Luvly has publicly stated that it is in the process of raising €5 million as of March 2025, aimed at scaling R&D, testing, and early commercial groundwork. There’s no confirmation yet that this round has closed, who is participating, or the final amount.

The most significant recent milestone isn’t funding, but a partnership. In March 2025, Luvly announced a collaboration with Stellantis, the group behind the Citroën Ami, Fiat Topolino, and Opel Rocks Electric. The agreement focuses on evaluating Luvly’s flat-pack composite platform for potential use inside Stellantis’ broader urban mobility lineup.

The duration, scope, and commercial terms of the partnership haven’t been disclosed, and there is no indication that Stellantis has committed to manufacturing or licensing the platform yet. It is an evaluation, nothing more, nothing less, but still the strongest signal so far that a major automaker sees potential in Luvly’s lightweight, low-cost architecture.

For now, Luvly remains a lean hardware-platform company with one verified investment, one active fundraising process, and one major industrial partner exploring the technology. The capital footprint is small, but the interest from Stellantis suggests the model may scale far beyond its size once homologation and licensing fall into place.

Regulatory questions and the road to homologation

Luvly’s design was created specifically for the L7e category, the heavy-quadricycle class used by many micro-EVs in Europe. And based on what we know, Luvly fits that class without any real friction.

The company has mentioned a top speed of around 90 km/h, which is fully allowed within L7e rules. The weight stays well under the 450 kg limit, and nothing in the published specifications suggests issues with power or structure.

Important to mention – the vehicle that enters homologation will be the production version of the platform, and not the prototype that’s currently referenced and seen on the visuals in this article.

And because Luvly uses a licensing model, certification may eventually happen through individual manufacturing partners rather than centrally. That could lead to some regional variations in specs or rollouts, depending on how each partner approaches local regulatory processes.

But the core point is clear, Luvly’s platform was built with L7e requirements in mind, fits the category’s limits, and doesn’t face the kind of regulatory uncertainty many new EV startups wrestle with. The bigger milestones ahead aren’t about category placement, but about getting the production version through approval and into partner-led assembly.

Regulations vary across Europe

Even with certification in place, each country has its own rules:

• Some allow L7e vehicles with a B1 license
• Others require a full B license
• Insurance categories differ
• Access to bus lanes, LEZ zones, and city centers changes from city to city

None of this is unusual for micro-EVs, but it means that every new market will require local regulatory work before production and sales can begin.

Current traction and market presence

Luvly has attracted solid media attention and curiosity across the mobility world, but its actual market footprint is still very early (even though the company has been here for more than a decade). They have a clear vision and a unique engineering approach, but commercial rollout hasn’t started.

Here’s how things look today.

No production vehicles on the road

The Luvly O has been shown through prototypes, renders, and technical previews. But no production vehicles have been delivered. The team is still refining the flat-pack platform and preparing it for future licensing partners.

No public pilots or fleet trials

Luvly has not announced any municipal pilots, private fleet trials, or early customer deployments. The Luvly O hasn’t been tested in real city conditions or with live operators.

Strong media coverage, limited commercial activity

The company has received widespread press attention, including stories in Reuters, Wired, and several big automotive outlets. Even so, this visibility hasn’t yet turned into measurable market traction. For now, most of the interest is around the concept and the flat-pack approach.

Stellantis partnership is still exploratory

Stellantis still has not signed on to produce or sell Luvly vehicles.

The agreement in place is an evaluation partnership, which means:

• Stellantis is studying the platform
• There is no commitment to license or manufacture it
• Discussions remain at an early stage, for all we know

It’s a great sign that major automakers see huge potential in Luvly, but it hasn’t been commercialized yet. And we’re counting on that to change soon.

Key challenges Luvly needs to overcome

Luvly has a bold idea, but building a global flat-pack microcar ecosystem won’t be simple. Several hurdles will determine how quickly the concept can grow.

1) An unproven microfactory model

The entire business depends on partners assembling vehicles from flat-pack kits in small local plants. It’s a clever approach, but no company has scaled this model for road-legal EVs. Ensuring consistent quality, training, tooling, and safety across many microfactories could prove to be a challenge.

2) A crowded and competitive segment

Europe’s micro-EV space is filling up fast. The Citroën Ami, Fiat Topolino, Microlino, Silence S04, and a growing wave of Asian imports already have production, pricing advantages, and brand recognition. Luvly has to show why a flat-pack, composite-based vehicle is a better choice for operators and OEMs.

3) Funding needs that exceed current capital

Luvly avoids the cost of large factories, but scaling a licensed vehicle platform still takes money. Tooling partners, certification, supply chain setup, and working capital could push real needs well above €50 million. They’ll have to raise significantly more to reach commercial production.

4) Safety claims still need external validation

Luvly stresses the benefits of its composite structure and energy-absorbing modules, but there are no public crash tests, no Euro NCAP data, and no third-party validation so far. In a category where trust is crucial, safety proof will be essential before partners commit at scale.

5) A licensing model that relies fully on partner adoption

Luvly isn’t planning to manufacture vehicles itself. It depends on OEMs, fleets, and regional manufacturers to license the platform and run assembly sites. If those partners hesitate, due to cost, risk, or uncertain demand, the model slows down.

The Stellantis evaluation agreement is a great sign, but it’s still only exploratory, and not a commitment.

What comes next for Luvly

Luvly is still early in its rollout. The next two years will determine whether the flat-pack EV idea becomes a real alternative to traditional manufacturing or stays a promising concept. Here’s what lies ahead.

Homologation and validation

The next big step is EU approval. Luvly is being developed for the L7e category, and its published specs fit within that class. Homologation will confirm the safety testing, documentation, and compliance steps needed before partners can begin production.

Expanding the platform beyond the Luvly O

The vehicle shown in Luvly’s materials , the Luvly O, isn’t a production model. It’s a prototype vehicle built to show what the platform can support. It’s not “the first model,” and it’s not intended for commercial release.

What the platform actually offers is flexibility. It can support many different vehicle geometries and use cases, but those versions won’t necessarily come from Luvly directly. They’ll come from licensed partners who adapt the structure to their own needs.

Luvly’s chassis is designed so partners can build bespoke vehicles without heavy tooling, but there are no official announcements about specific variants such as cargo versions, three-wheelers, or region-specific models.

Scaling licensing to OEMs across Europe and Asia

Licensing is the core of Luvly’s strategy. The goal is to enable other companies to build them using Luvly’s platform. That means signing partners with their own production capacity, regulatory experience, and sales channels.

• Stellantis is the most visible early prospect, thanks to the ongoing evaluation agreement.
• Asian markets may be even more promising. Many Southeast Asian cities are seeking safe, electric replacements for tuk-tuks, kei-class vehicles, and micro-delivery fleets. A low-cost, flat-pack EV with local assembly fits that need well.

If Luvly secures only a few strong partners, the platform could spread faster than traditional EV programs that rely on expensive, centralized manufacturing.

And things are looking great! We discussed all this, from Luvly’s manufacturing process to key partnerships, in our latest Charging Stack podcast episode! ↓

Why Luvly matters

Most city trips are short and simple. Yet people often take them in large, heavy cars that were never meant for narrow streets or tight parking. In Europe, many daily journeys are under 10 km, usually with just one person on board. The gap between what people drive and what they actually need keeps growing.

Luvly starts by addressing that mismatch.

The company is challenging the idea that a car must be heavy, complex, and produced in a huge centralized factory. When the size of both the vehicle and production setup get reduced, emissions get slashed both during use and during manufacturing.

If the model works, a Luvly could be assembled close to the city where it will be used. And that means lower transport costs, fewer emissions, and a change for regions to build their own EV ecosystems.

This is why the idea matters beyond the product itself.

It gives us a new approach to small EV manufacturing with local assembly, short supply chains, and lighter materials.

Luvly is trying to redesign how small electric vehicles are made. If the approach scales, it could shift how European cities think about mobility, production, and the future of ultralight EVs.