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Martijn Lammers — Co-Founder

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Lightyear was founded by 5 Solar Team Eindhoven alumni. With Solar Team Eindhoven, we built the revolutionary solar cars Stella & Stella Lux. Both cars are 4 seaters, road legal, solar powered and built to win the World Solar Challenge cruiser class. After two world championships, we decided that it is time for the next step.

Our story started back in 2012. All we had was a blank canvas, no experience, no network and no money. We took our enthusiasm, a healthy dose of naivety and common sense to start an endeavour that still continues today. Looking back, it is easy to forget the times we worked until the sun came up or the problems that kept us from working at all. Like the time our cars’ transport to the competition in Australia was cancelled a week before we left. Or the desperate attempts removing a crucial ..

Asset finance new business down 6% in quieter September

9 November 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 6% in September, compared with the same month last year. In Q3 2017, new business fell by 2% compared with the same quarter in 2016.
While new finance for business equipment grew in September by 4% compared with the same month in 2016, new finance for plant and machinery fell by 8% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“September was a quieter month for the business car and plant and machinery finance sectors. Nevertheless, the asset finance market has returned a strong performance so far in 2017, with new business overall 6% higher than in the previous year. Over the same period, UK business investment is forecast to have grown by only 2.3%.
“Recent data revisions by the Office for National Statistics suggest that the asset finance industry’s contribution to supporting business investment is even greater than previously thought. FLA calculations show that the industry financed more than 35% of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the twelve months to June 2017 – an eight-year high.”
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,750
-6
7,574
-2
31,611
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,740
-2
7,381
+3
30,579
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
494
-8
1,537
+5
6,505
+12
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
711
+1
1,764
-2
7,488
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
212
-4
549
-5
2,214
-3
Business equipment finance (£m)
219
+4
632
+8
2,567
+12
Car finance (£m)
888
-8
2,396
+2
9,763
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
20
+24
34
-77
615
+20
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,283
-5
3,711
0
15,506
+4
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
520
-4
1,423
+3
5,723
+12
Sales finance (£m)
937
+3
2,248
+6
9,350
+6
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
344
-3
941
0
4,000
-3
Operating leasing (£m)
655
-6
1,658
0
7,063
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,434
-2
4,045
+3
16,589
+9
Other finance (£m)
316
-24
930
-21
3,959
-4
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance new business holds steady

11 January 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in November was £2.5 billion, a similar level to the same month in 2016.
The commercial vehicle finance and IT equipment finance sectors reported new business up in November by 5% and 1% respectively, compared with the same month in 2016, while new finance for plant and machinery fell by 3% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance market reported a broadly stable picture across the main asset sectors in November, and remains on course to report a record level of annual new business in 2017 of around £32 billion. This would represent new business growth of 6% compared with 2016, in line with expectations.”
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,541
0
7,962
0
31,804
+4
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,531
+4
7,936
+3
30,919
+6
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
481
-3
1,464
-2
6,506
+10
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
691
+5
2,061
+4
7,574
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
235
+1
642
+5
2,246
-4
Business equipment finance (£m)
209
-4
624
+4
2,566
+9
Car finance (£m)
738
-2
2,538
-1
9,854
+5
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
8
-60
45
-45
574
+18
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,186
-2
3,864
0
15,595
+3
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
526
+14
1,551
+7
5,868
+13
Sales finance (£m)
818
+9
2,521
+7
9,456
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
286
-9
959
-2
3,948
-4
Operating leasing (£m)
607
+3
1,816
-2
7,143
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,371
-2
4,325
+3
16,745
+7
Other finance (£m)
276
+11
862
-9
3,968
-4
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Continued growth in consumer finance in October

13 December 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 10% in consumer finance new business in October, compared with the same month last year.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 13% compared with October 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 3%. Second charge mortgage new business increased 20% by value and 19% by volume over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The growth in consumer finance new business so far in 2017 has been in line with expectations. The latest research from Oxford Economics on behalf of the FLA suggests that total UK new consumer credit will grow by 4.1% in 2017 overall and by 1.2% in 2018.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
7,832
+10
23,995
+5
92,504
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
613
+3
1,679
+5
6,720
+2
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
4,075
+13
11,971
+6
47,447
+7
Second charge mortgages (£m)
85
+20
254
+15
993
+13
Car finance (£m)
2,727
+8
8,971
+5
33,218
+6
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer new car finance volumes down 7% in October

13 December 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 7% in October, compared with the same month in 2016, while the value of new business was up by 2% over the same period.
The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS was 86.1% in the twelve months to October, compared with 86.0% in the same period to September.
The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in October up 15% by value and 9% by volume, compared with the same month last year.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Falls in new business volumes reported by the POS consumer new car finance market so far in 2017 have mirrored trends in private new car sales. FLA members’ penetration of this market has held steady at around 86%.
“In 2017 as a whole, new business volumes in the POS consumer car finance market overall are expected to be around 2.3 million, a similar level to 2016.”
Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships
New business
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,373
+2
5,063
+1
18,382
+3
Number of cars
71,002
-7
261,042
-9
979,975
-6
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,353
+15
3,909
+10
14,836
+10
Number of cars
116,918
+9
339,717
+4
1,313,327
+5
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars
46,192
+7
118,165
-3
509,143
+1
Used cars
Number of cars
4,527
+1
13,682
+12
58,556
+30
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage new business growth in October

13 December 2017
Commenting on the October 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The second charge mortgage market reported growth in October, with new business up 20% by value and 19% by volume compared to the same period in 2016. The number of new second charge mortgages was 1,880.
“A second mortgage continues to be a useful option for customers seeking to raise additional funds without wanting to change their existing mortgage, and are regularly used to fund home improvements.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
85
+20
254
+15
993
+13
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,880
+19
5,491
+10
21,247
+8
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Asset finance up 7% in October

13 December 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 7% in October, compared with the same month last year.
The plant and machinery finance and business equipment finance sectors reported new business up in October by 6% and 13% respectively, compared with the same month in 2016, while new finance for IT equipment was up by 22% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“Growth in the asset finance market was broad-based in October, with most of the main asset sectors reporting increases in new business.
“The industry is on course to report a record level of annual new business in 2017 of around £32 billion.”
Oct 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Oct
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Oct
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,672
+7
7,625
+1
31,771
+5
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,665
+9
7,568
+3
30,772
+7
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
489
+6
1,485
+1
6,518
+12
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
660
+5
1,883
0
7,520
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
195
+22
579
+4
2,248
0
Business equipment finance (£m)
196
+13
603
+8
2,585
+12
Car finance (£m)
911
+8
2,413
+2
9,833
+6
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
17
-64
44
-52
586
+10
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,395
+6
3,786
+1
15,585
+4
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
505
+14
1,478
+5
5,785
+13
Sales finance (£m)
765
+11
2,304
+7
9,403
+7
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
328
+5
945
+1
4,005
-3
Operating leasing (£m)
553
-1
1,678
-2
7,057
+6
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,519
+14
4,148
+5
16,765
+10
Other finance (£m)
271
-5
855
-11
3,944
-5
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer new car finance volumes down 11% in September

9 November 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 11% in September, compared with the same month in 2016, while the growth in the value of new business was flat over the same period. In Q3 2017 overall, new business was up 1% by value, but fell 9% by volume.
The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS held steady at 86.0% in the twelve months to September.
The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in September up 9% by value and 3% by volume, compared with the same month last year.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The performance of the POS consumer new car finance market in September continued to reflect recent trends in private new car sales.
“Despite subdued consumer confidence, new business volumes in the POS consumer car finance market overall were stable in the first nine months of 2017, compared with the same period in 2016.”
Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships
New business
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)
2,869
0
4,898
+1
18,358
+3
Number of cars
144,143
-11
254,167
-9
985,382
-5
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,277
+9
3,849
+11
14,663
+10
Number of cars
110,000
+3
337,170
+5
1,303,848
+5
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars
41,827
-16
119,873
-6
505,930
-1
Used cars
Number of cars
3,862
-8
16,397
+34
58,492
+34
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations. 2. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer new car finance volumes down 8% in November

11 January 2018
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 8% in November, compared with the same month in 2016, while the value of new business increased by 2% over the same period.
The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS was 85.9% in the twelve months to November, compared with 86.1% in the same period to October.
The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in November up 16% by value and 10% by volume, compared with the same month in 2016.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The POS consumer car finance market remains on target to report new business volumes of 2.3 million in 2017 as a whole, a similar level to 2016.
“The performance of the POS consumer new car finance market in November continued to reflect trends in private new car sales. FLA members’ penetration of this market has held steady over the past year at around 86%.”
Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships
New business
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,385
+2
5,627
+1
18,413
+2
Number of cars
69,287
-8
284,432
-9
974,049
-7
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,237
+16
3,866
+13
15,003
+11
Number of cars
104,683
+10
331,601
+7
1,322,786
+6
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business
Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Nov 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars
33,630
-17
121,649
-9
504,374
-1
Used cars
Number of cars
5,006
+1
13,395
-2
58,617
+24
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage market down 2% in September

9 November 2017
Commenting on the September 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The fall in new business volumes in September comes amid subdued consumer confidence which has affected the housing market as a whole. It follows six consecutive months of growth in second charge mortgage new business volumes which grew by 11% in the first nine months of 2017 to 16,043.
“Lenders are continuing to embed the new regulatory regime which puts first and second charge mortgage regulation on the same footing.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Sep 2017
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
77
0
259
+16
979
+10
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,693
-2
5,594
+11
20,951
+4
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.