Lightyear Funding, Investors & Competitors

Tesla is a vertically integrated battery electric vehicle automaker and developer of real world artificial intelligence software, which includes autonomous driving and humanoid robots. The company has multiple vehicles in its fleet, which include luxury and midsize sedans, crossover SUVs, a light truck, and a semi truck. Tesla also plans to begin selling a sports car and offer a robotaxi service. Global deliveries in 2025 were nearly 1.64 million vehicles. The company sells batteries for stationary storage for residential and commercial properties including utilities and solar panels and solar roofs for energy generation. Tesla also owns a fast-charging network and an auto insurance business.

Rimac Group is a Croatia-headquartered developer of electric vehicle technology, producing the Nevera hypercar with 1,914 horsepower and supplying powertrains to automakers. Founded in 2009 near Zagreb, Rimac partners with Bugatti-Rimac for high-performance EVs and Porsche for platform engineering. The company delivers battery systems, motors, and software for vehicles achieving sub-two-second 0-60 times.

SFCC is a Shenzhen-based high-tech enterprise pioneering hydrogen fuel cell vehicle commercialization. Founded on April 8, 2016, in Guangdong province, the company conducts research, develops power systems, and industrializes core technologies for buses and commercial fleets in China.

Founded in 1995, BYD is a leading Chinese manufacturer in the design, development, and production of new energy vehicles, or NEVs. In March 2022, the firm discontinued production of internal combustion engine, or ICE, vehicles. Its products primarily target the growing midpriced mass-market segment in China’s passenger vehicle market. The company sold about 4.3 million passenger NEVs in 2024, accounting for 35% of the Chinese passenger NEV market. Besides automobile production, the company is also engaged in handset components and assembly services, as well as the rechargeable battery and photovoltaics business. After more than 25 years of development, the company has established over 30 industrial parks worldwide.

Ford Motor Co. manufactures automobiles under its Ford and Lincoln brands. In March 2022, the company announced that it will run its combustion engine business, Ford Blue, and its BEV business, Ford Model e, as separate businesses but still all under Ford Motor. The company has over 13% market share in the United States, about 10% share in the UK, and just over 1% share in China including Taiwan and unconsolidated affiliates. Sales in the US made up about 65% of 2025 total company revenue. Ford has about 169,000 employees, including about 56,300 UAW employees, and is based in Dearborn, Michigan.

Rivian is a battery electric vehicle automaker that sells its vehicles in the US and Canada. The company also develops electronic control units and related software for autos in a joint venture with Volkswagen. Rivian has multiple vehicles in its fleet, which include a luxury truck and full-size SUV and a delivery van. The company plans to begin selling a midsize SUV in 2026. Total deliveries were over 42,000 in 2025. Rivian is also developing autonomous driving software to be used in its vehicles.

Tata Motors Ltd is an automobile manufacturer, offering a diverse portfolio of smarter, integrated and safer mobility solutions. It designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of automotive vehicles. The company also manufactures engines for industrial applications. Its operating segments consist of: a) Automotive: The Automotive segment consists of four reportable sub-segments: Tata Commercial Vehicles, Tata Passenger Vehicles, Jaguar Land Rover and Vehicle Financing. Other operating segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds for disclosure and have been aggregated. b) Others: Others consist of IT services and Insurance Broking services. The majority of revenue is generated from the Tata Commercial Vehicles sub-segment of the Automotive segment.

GAC Aion is a Guangzhou-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer established in 2017 as a sub-brand of Guangzhou Automobile Group. The marque produces passenger EVs including the Aion S sedan, Aion LX SUV, and Hyper series performance models while offering battery swapping stations and charging infrastructure services across China.

Enilive is a Rome-headquartered subsidiary of Eni focused on sustainable mobility services. The company delivers integrated low-carbon solutions including biomethane production facilities, car-sharing fleets, and refueling stations for alternative fuels. Enilive operates across Italy with a network supporting electric vehicle charging and hydrogen infrastructure, advancing decarbonization in transportation through public-private partnerships.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd Formerly Tata Motors Ltd is an automobile manufacturing company. It designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of automotive vehicles. The company also manufactures engines for industrial applications, aggregates such as axles and transmissions for commercial vehicles, and factory automation equipment, and provides information technology services. Its operating segments include Automotive and Others. The Automotive segment, which derives key revenue, consists of four reportable sub-segments: Tata Commercial Vehicles, Tata Passenger Vehicles, Jaguar Land Rover, and Vehicle Financing. Geographically, it generates maximum revenue from India, and the rest from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe, China, and the Rest of the World.

Li Auto is a leading Chinese NEV manufacturer that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart NEVs. The company started volume production of its first model Li One in November 2019. The model is a six-seater, large, premium plug-in electric SUV equipped with a range extension system and advanced smart vehicle solutions. It sold over 500,000 NEVs in 2024, accounting for about 4% of China's passenger new energy vehicle market. Beyond Li One, the company expands its product line, including both BEVs and PHEVs, to target a broader consumer base.

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd is a Pune-based subsidiary of Tata Motors manufacturing electric passenger vehicles including the Nexon EV, Tigor EV, and Tiago EV. The company operates a 350-acre facility in Sanand, Gujarat, producing over 100,000 units annually with battery assembly and fast-charging infrastructure. TPEML partners with Tata Power for nationwide charging networks and exports to Europe and Southeast Asia.

Smart is an automotive brand producing compact urban vehicles under a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely, with manufacturing in Hambach, France, and Bovisio-Masciago, Italy. The company offers the smart fortwo coupe, cabriolet, and forfour models, enhanced by BRABUS tuning packages that boost engine output to 109 horsepower from the standard 91-horsepower rear-mounted electric or gasoline powertrains. BRABUS variants feature 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, and exclusive leather interiors in the Xclusive trim. Launched in 1998, Smart vehicles emphasize rear-engine layout for tight parking maneuvers and city navigation across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Zhiji Auto is a Shanghai-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer established in 2020 through a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Alibaba Group. The company produces premium smart EVs including the LS6 sedan, LS7 SUV, and L7 sedan, all equipped with LiDAR-based autonomous driving systems and NVIDIA DRIVE Orin platforms. Deliveries of the L7 model started in late 2022, with over 10,000 units sold by mid-2023 across China.

Farasis Energy is a global lithium-ion battery manufacturer producing power systems for electric vehicles, energy storage grids, and commercial applications. The company operates production facilities in China and the United States with partnerships including BMW for automotive battery supplies. Farasis Energy supplies high-energy-density cells addressing transportation electrification and renewable grid integration needs.

Hozon is a Shanghai-based electric vehicle manufacturer operating the Neta brand. It produces models like Neta V, U, and S series SUVs and sedans with autonomous driving features, LFP batteries, and OTA updates. The company sells through dealerships in China and exports to Southeast Asia and Latin America.

ENOVATE Motors is a Shanghai-headquartered manufacturer of high-end new energy electric vehicles. The company produces intelligent models like the ME7 SUV, integrating global design, premium materials, and advanced interconnection features. ENOVATE emphasizes user-defined mobility with autonomous driving capabilities, over-the-air updates, and smart cabin technologies. Operating from facilities in Chongqing, it supplies vehicles to the Chinese market and explores international expansion through partnerships.

Youxia Motors is a Shanghai-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2014 with 4.2 billion yuan in registered capital. It develops, designs, produces, and services new energy vehicles, including the pure electric YOUXIA X model. The company advances smart city transportation technologies via youxiamotors.com.