Stellantis Corporation has shown interest in the "box car" concept from Swedish startup Luvly, which could lead to the release of a series of urban electric cars in this format.
The Stellantis company has become interested in the "box car" concept from the Swedish startup Luvly. This format could be used to create a new generation of urban electric quadricycles, such as the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, and Opel Rocks.
The Stockholm-based startup Luvly was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Håkan Lutz, who aims to offer the world an affordable urban electric vehicle in the minimalist style characteristic of Sweden. In this case, it’s not just a simple and concise design but also an assembly idea reminiscent of IKEA furniture assembly. The name Luvly sounds similar to the English word "lovely" and also includes the abbreviation LUV (Light Urban Vehicle). The first model will be the Luvly O, an electric car with a closed body and two seats, but this approach could also be applied to other types of bodies.
The Luvly O is 2.7 meters long and weighs less than 400 kg. It can accommodate two people and has a luggage capacity of up to 267 liters. The Luvly O body is a panel-frame structure made of aluminum profiles onto which sandwich panels are attached. To ensure safety, the vehicle uses energy-absorbing blocks similar to those used in motorsport. All components, including the motor, suspension, wheels, interior, and body, are packed in boxes and can be shipped anywhere in the world for assembly at mobile production facilities. A standard 6-meter Euro container can hold 20 boxes with Luvly O assembly kits, making transportation very convenient and compact.
The Luvly O electric car is equipped with a battery consisting of two removable blocks with a total capacity of 6.5 kWh. The blocks are located under the seats and can be charged at home. A full charge allows the car to travel up to 100 km. The motor's power is not disclosed, but the car's maximum speed is limited to 90 km/h. The price of the Luvly O will start at €10,000. However, the exact release date is not yet known, as the startup is currently attracting investments for pilot production.
Recently, in an interview with Zag Daily magazine, Håkan Lutz announced that his company has signed a one-year partnership with Stellantis. This automotive giant has become interested in the Luvly O's design and plans to conduct research to understand how effective such a model might be and whether it will help reduce production costs for urban electric quadricycles. Currently, the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, and Opel Rocks are produced in the traditional way on the assembly line in Kenitra, Morocco. Therefore, Stellantis is looking for ways to optimize processes and reduce costs. Whether this technology will be implemented will be known within a year.
It’s worth noting that the market for urban electric quadricycles is actively developing in Europe. In some countries, such vehicles are available even to teenagers (but with a speed limit of 45 km/h), and purchasing a quadricycle is not mandatory—it can be rented. This makes such cars affordable and convenient for everyday use in any weather. In addition to Stellantis, Renault has recently entered the urban electric quadricycle segment, offering the Mobilize Duo and Bento models. Toyota is also aiming to enter this market with its prototype two-seat urban electric car, the FT-Me, which was presented last week.