The Dutch automaker Lightyear, known for its solar-powered, ultra-aerodynamic Zero model, has officially gone bankrupt, and now one of the few remaining cars is up for grabs at a staggering discount.
Once valued as a futuristic innovation, the car is being sold for a fraction of its original price — 88% off.
The Zero was Lightyear's flagship model and it was touted as the world's most aerodynamic car, designed to harness solar power to deliver 7,400 kilometers of free driving each year.
Unfortunately, the dream collapsed before a single car hit the streets.
The vehicle now on auction—car number 0001—is listed on a Dutch auction site, with bids currently around 17,000 euros (approximately $18,967).
That’s a huge drop from the car’s initial price tag.
However, there’s a catch: the car is neither type-approved nor equipped with number plates, meaning it's not road-legal.
The auction ends on Monday, September 30, leaving potential buyers with just a few days to snag this unique vehicle. But with Lightyear going bankrupt in early 2023, buyers will need to consider that no company support is available.
Lightyear had garnered a lot of attention in the automotive world with its bold promises of solar-powered cars. Just two weeks before their bankruptcy, the company unveiled a cheaper alternative, the 'Lightyear 2,' at CES in Las Vegas. Sadly, the company never managed to get their vehicles into full production.
The Lightyear Zero—previously called One during development—was powered by a 170-horsepower electric motor. Theoretically, it could go from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 km/h, though its true performance remains untested in the real world.
