The promising Helmond start-up, which managed to raise more than 200 million euros in investments in just a few years, is charting a new strategic course after a recent bankruptcy and subsequent restart. Although the company originally focused on the production of solar cars, CEO Lex Hoefsloot indicates that Lightyear is now focusing on marketing solar roofs for cars.

This change of course comes after a careful evaluation of market dynamics and capital interests, Hoefsloot said in an interview with NRC, following earlier reporting by Het Financieele Dagblad. He indicated that attracting new capital for the production of private cars was proving to be a challenge, while there is growing interest in solar roof technology in the automotive industry. Lightyear holds a significant number of patents in this field and has production facilities in Venray, Limburg, at the former location of the sliding skylight manufacturer Inalfa.

These production facilities are not the only pillars on which the company is building its new focus. Hoefsloot announced that the company has signed a letter of intent with a supplier to the automotive industry and is actively in discussions with various car brands. This indicates a stronger presence in the B2B sector and possibly a less capital-intensive approach than producing its own cars. However, this reorientation will also lead to job losses at Lightyear, which currently has 90 employees. The exact number is not yet known.

Despite these changes, the chapter on automotive production is not finally closed. Hoefsloot states that Lightyear will continue to explore the possibilities of producing a car in the future together with the automotive industry. This comes after a difficult period in which the company went bankrupt following a failed investment deal with industrial group VDL and rising operational costs due to an increase in the workforce to more than 650 employees. The restart was financed with 8 million euros and the company is still in discussions with a Korean industrial group about a possible investment of 3,5 million euros.

Meanwhile, Lightyear's financial situation is still the subject of investigation. One of the curators has submitted a request to the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam for a concern inquiry, an in-depth investigation into the management of the company. This case will be heard in November and could have further implications for the company.