12 new electric car start-ups you should watch out for

By Sam Phillips

3 Nov 2022

Every new car firm wants to be ‘the next Tesla’. The US company has grown from a start-up tech company into a rival for the legacy car giants - and the benchmark for electric vehicles.

Ever since Tesla’s rapid rise, other EV start-ups have been trying to replicate it. The market for electric cars is big and growing fast, and the new technology gives an opportunity for new firms to grab a slice of the market.

Most of these new firms won’t come close to replicating Tesla, of course. Some won’t even survive. But there is room out there for new brands: look at Volvo spin-off Polestar.

All these new firms can be confusing, though: which do you pay attention to? Here, we take a look at some of the most ambitious and credible electric car start-ups that you should keep an eye on for the future.

Aehra

You’d be forgiven for being unfamiliar with Aehra as the Italian start-up hasn’t even launched properly yet - but it’s planning to shake up the premium EV market.

In September Aehra revealed preview images of a new SUV, with the as-yet-unnamed EV set to be unveiled this month. Aehra plans to launch that model alongside an electric saloon, with both said to be coming to the UK.

The “ultra-premium” brand’s design team is made-up of ex-lamborghini bosses, Filippo Perini, Alessandro Salvagnin and Alessandro Serra, as well as Italdesign exterior designer Marco Quamori.

Both the electric SUV and saloon will be equipped with the same battery offering a claimed range of up to 497 miles. Production for both models is expected to commence in 2025 by the end of that year.

Stay tuned to Move Electric as we’ll be bringing you more detailed information on Aehra and its future models later this month.

Aiways

Aiways - pronounced i-ways - is a Chinese start-up founded in 2017 looking to take advantage of the seismic switch to electrification to build a global brand.

The fresh-faced EV brand was formed by ex-Volvo sales chief Sam Fu Qiang and his partner Gary Gu and has already built a plant with a capacity for 300,000 vehicles, a full research and development centre and a battery factory.

To support its ambitions, Airways teamed-up with a number of big-name automotive suppliers from the start and focussed on creating cars to meet international expectations. The likes of Bosch, battery company CATL and parts supplier Lear all work with Aiways.

Aiways U5 review

Although relatively new, Aiways is currently active in 14 European countries as well as its home market of China, but hasn’t reached the UK yet. Aiways is focusing on achieving scale in left-hand drive markets, but has made it clear that the UK is in its short term plans.

Two models make-up the Aiways line-up: the U5 SUV and recently launched U6 coupe-style SUV. That’s not all however, as the firm is aiming to grow its line-up further with more SUVs, a five-door coupe and even a high performance sports car.

BYD

BYD - which stands for Build your Dreams - is another China-based electric car start-up that was established in 1995 and is part of an industrial giant that operates in automotive, electronics, new energy and rail.

As a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, BYD started producing cars in 2003, with its first model arriving two years later. Alongside its passenger cars, BYD also builds commercial vehicles including buses and taxis.

Earlier this year BYD stepped up its expansion plans into Europe with a refreshed line-up of three electric cars - and is planning to launch in the UK by the end of this year.

The firm started offering its Tang large SUV in Norway last August, and thanks to its success, BYD is eyeing up a bigger roll out across Europe, with plans to launch its models in the Netherlands, Sweden and Israel.

BYD says its first phase of its European launch will focus on Benelux and Nordic markets where EV up-take is greater.

By the end of 2022 the BYD Atto 3, a mid-size SUV that’s built on a new bespoke electric platform, will arrive in the UK. Other models are set to follow but the Atto 3 will come first because it’s being engineered and built in right-hand drive.

A battery firm at heart, BYD is still heavily focussed on battery production. In 2020 it launched its high-tech Blade battery, which uses new technology and design elements.

Fisker

Some of you might be asking if Fisker is actually a new firm. Well, it is… sort of. The original Fisker developed the innovative Karma hybrid saloon collapsed (eventually becoming a firm called Karma).

But Henrik Fisker, formerly of BMW, Aston Martin and Ford, has now returned with a new EV firm that looks to be built on far more stable foundations.

Last year the firm unveiled its first electric model, the sporty Ocean SUV which is set to arrive in the UK by the end of 2023. And Fisker’s model line-up doesn’t end there as the EV start-up is planning to launch the smaller Pear city and car and ronin electric GT.

Lightyear

Hoping to prove that the sun is a viable way of charging an EV charger is Dutch firm Lightyear, the company behind the Lightyear 0 solar-powered electric car.

In 2016 the company was founded and a year later Lightyear officially launched, gaining its first reservation for its future solar-powered car in the process.

It wasn’t until 2019 when the first prototype of the Lightyear 0 was unveiled, a super-sleek, ultra-aerodynamic saloon.

Earlier this year the company launched the 0, with the car making its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The innovative EV has a range of up to 400 miles and is made from a mixture of recycled materials.

Such innovations come at a premium and the Lightyear is no exception, starting from €250,000 (£217,000). On a more positive note, the Lightyear is available to order in the UK, and will become a rare beast with just 964 examples being made.

Lucid

American firm Lucid Motors is aiming to undercut the Tesla Model S and become a leader in the luxury EV market.

Formerly known as Atieva, the Chinese-backed electric car brand started out by building batteries and powertrains for other vehicle manufacturers in 2007. It wasn’t until 2016 when the firm rebranded itself as Lucid Motors and stated its intent to build high-end luxury electric cars.

The firm is spearheaded by the man behind the Tesla Model S, Peter Rawlison, who led the design for the brand’s first model, the Lucid Air.

In 2020, the firm’s $700 million (£626m) manufacturing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona was finished and production of the Air saloon commenced, with the top-spec, limited-run, Dream Edition being the first models off the line.

The California-based EV marque showcased the Air saloon for the first time in the UK at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Lucid is yet to arrive in Europe, but has revealed it will launch in Germany first. It is not yet known if the American brand will come to the UK.

Nio

Chinese car giant Nio has grown at a serious pace since its inception in 2014, through its premium EV line-up and its innovative battery swapping technology.

Last year the firm expanded into Europe through the launch of its ES8 electric SUV in Norway. Nio is now planning to expand its operations and bring its fleet of EVs to Europe, including the UK.

The brandchild of technology entrepreneur William Li, Nio produces a range of electric saloons, crossovers and SUVs. In fact, the marque is about to roll out its second generation of models: the ET5 mid-sized saloon, flagship ET7 saloon and EL8 SUV.

Formerly known as NextEV, Nio gained early prominence through its time in Formula E, winning the championship in its inaugural season.

Nio stands out from its fellow competitors thanks to its battery swapping technology. Nio drivers simply drive to a battery swap station, park their vehicle inside and a robot swaps the depleted unit for a fully charged one.

Q&A: Can EV battery swapping work in Europe?

The EV car brand will arrive in the UK towards the end of 2023, launching initially with the ET5 before bringing other models that are appropriately sized for British roads. Battery swap stations are also set to be implemented in the UK so keep an eye out for those once Nio lands next year.

Ola

The Indian start-up was set-up by entrepreneur Bhavish Aggarwal, and has since grown into a well-established electromobility company.

Although it is yet to launch its first EV, Ola has made a name for itself with its S1 Air electric scooter and plans to launch its first EV in 2024.

Ola is best known in the UK as an app-based ride-share operator, with its Uber-rivalling, Ola Cab, service available in London, Birmingham and Cardiff since 2018.

Don’t think India will be the only firm getting all the spoils, as Ola is planning to build a new factory in Coventry focused on engineering and vehicle design.

Ola’s Futurefoundry site in the West Midlands will work alongside the brand’s headquarters in India and will focus on the production of two- and four-wheel vehicle design, advanced high performance automotive engineering, digital and physical modelling, and research and development.

The Bangalore-based start-up says it will inject £100 million into the factory in Coventry and is aiming to launch its Tesla Model 3 rivalling, 310-mile electric saloon in the UK by 2025.

Rimac

Some EV hypercar connoisseurs may be familiar with the Croatian brand, which is spearheaded by founder and CEO, Mate Rimac.

Describing Rimac as the bellwether hyper EV firm is an understatement considering the list of hugely established car firms that are lined up to collaborate with the Rimac.

Launched in 2009 with just a handful of employees, Rimac now has around 1300 staff members working at the firm’s headquarters in Sveta Nedelja, Croatia. Rimac is currently in the process of building its new facility - referred to as The Campus - in Zagreb, which will become the new manufacturing plant for the brand’s new Nevera hypercar, while also assembling gearboxes, motors and inverters for automotive clients.

Rimac centres itself on low-volume, premium hypercars, building just eight examples of its first model, the Concept One. The firm is now building its second model, the Nevera - a 1427kW, £2 million hyper EV that can sprint from 0-60mph in just 1.85 seconds.

Last year the Croatian marque agreed a new partnership to effectively take control of Bugatti, formulating a new company called Bugatti Rimac LLC. The new company, owned in part by Porsche, Rimac Group and Hyundai, will support Bugatti with its future hyper EV ambitions.

Rivian

Aiming to prove that even pick-ups can go electric is American firm Rivian. The electric pick-up brand rose to prominence when it launched its first models, the R1T and R1S SUV in 2018. Since then the firm has grown into a multifarious EV maker, and produces electric vans for Amazon.

Rivian was founded by engineer and entrepreneur, RJ Scringe, and didn’t formally launch the brand until 2011. Originally the young entrepreneur set about building a 2+2 hybrid coupe in 2009 before shelving the idea to focus on other projects.

Rivian’s plans in Europe aren’t yet clear and considering the car is left-hand drive it might be some time before we see any of its models in the UK. We’d suggest you keep an eye on Rivian though: they beat both Ford and Tesla to the market with the first electric pick-up truck.

Sono

Sono Motors specialises in solar-powered vehicles and recently showed off its new Sion SEV and Solar Bus Kit.

Established in 2016, the German brand revealed its first solar-powered concept - the Sion - a year later, as a six-seater MPV with a choice of batteries and powertrains. The final design for the Sion wasn’t finalised until 2019, with the brand confirming its new EV would be produced at the former Saab factory in Trollhättan by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS).

The Munich firm says that 20,000 customers have placed private reservations for a Sono Sion SEV, with prices starting from £21,700. You’ll have to wait to see one on the road however, as production isn’t set to start until the second half of 2023.

Like the Lightyear 0 mentioned above, the solar panels on the Scion complement the traditional battery powertrain rather than running the auxiliary electronics.

Alongside its solar EV endeavours, Sono Motors creates panels for buses and lorries. Offered as a business-to-business retrofit solution the Solar Bus Kit is designed for 12-metre public transport buses. The solar panels can power subsystems such as heating and ventilation helping to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel use.

Xpeng

China is gaining serious traction in the world of electric cars and evidence of this is clear considering Xpeng is the fourth Chinese brand to feature in our list.

Launched in 2014 by founders Henry Xia and Tao He, Xpengs’s EV line-up is made up of two saloons, crossovers and the recently unveiled G9 SUV. The Guangzhou-based brand claims that its forthcoming flagship G9 will be the fastest charging mass produced EV due to its 480kW charging capabilities.

Xpeng has expanded its operations into Europe already and rolled out its Tesla Model 3 rivalling electric P5 saloon in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in March.

Earlier this Autumn, Xpeng vice president and chairman Brian Gu revealed that the Chinese marque could come to the UK. Speaking to Move Electric, Gu said that the firm was currently focusing on left-hand-drive markets, but didn’t rule out a move to Britain in future.

If Xpeng opted to launch in the UK then it would face competition from compatriots in Nio and BYD.

Although centred on EVs, Xpeng has shown its willingness to move further afield in the world of electric mobility and recently showcased its new X2 eVTOL craft. The craft successfully carried out a test flight in Dubai, with the firm hoping to launch the X2 commercially, serving as a flying taxi in the future.

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