Swedish Carmaker Wants To Follow In IKEA’s Footsteps With Flat-Packed Vehicles

What if a car from a continent away could be shipped as a flat-packed package? That’s what Swedish microcar maker Luvly aims to achieve, as it works on a forthcoming electric vehicle (EV) that won’t be traveling across the world in one piece.

According to Electrek, the manufacturer plans to produce the Luvly O in parts that can be shipped flat, much like IKEA furniture, which would allow for 20 cars’ worth of parts to fit into a single standard shipping container.

Upon reaching its destination, the vehicle will be reassembled at distribution centers for drivers to take home. Not only is the solution more convenient, but it also will help consumers and companies save on shipping costs and bring down the car’s environmental footprint.

The catch is that for the idea to work, the vehicle in question needs to be a much smaller model than most cars currently on the roads. That’s why the Luvly O—which will retail for US$11,000—is an energy-efficient, compact model.

With a maximum speed of 55 mph and weighing just 847 pounds—or a fifth of the standard passenger car—the vehicle comes with a swappable battery that can be changed on the go. No charging point? No problem.

While smaller cars are often branded as less safe than giant SUVs, Luvly emphasized that its vehicle will be equipped with a sandwich-structure composite safety shell, including energy-absorbing foam material to keep the driver and passengers extra safe.

Going forward, should the Luvly O become a success, the company has plans to license its production and assembly process to other brands, so more cars can be built and shipped as flat-packed packages.

[via Interesting Engineering and Electrek, cover image via Luvly]