With his Softcars, Jean-Luc Thuliez is revolutionizing urban mobility with sustainability... and lightness
To celebrate 15 years of commitment to sustainable innovation, CleantechAlps is launching the “15 years – 15 faces” initiative, highlighting personalities who are shaping the Swiss cleantech ecosystem in Western Switzerland. It’s an opportunity to showcase entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators who, through their commitment and vision, are shaping the future of clean technologies in our country. Jean-Luc Thuliez, serial entrepreneur and founder of Softcar in Fribourg, perfectly embodies this dynamic of responsible innovation. . With his revolutionary vehicle production system, he offers a new approach to urban mobility.
Jean-Luc Thuliez’s sensitivity to ecological issues developed gradually, particularly during the development of the Swatch and then the Smart. “When I joined the Swatch Group in the early 1990s, I was sent to visit companies like Tetra Pak and Ikea to observe their approaches to sustainability. It was through contact with their engineers that my thinking on sustainability really began,” he recalls.
At the time, no one was talking about electric propulsion, batteries, or CO2—except for U.S. Vice President Al Gore. One particular experience marked a turning point in Jean-Luc Thuliez’s vision. “I worked on the development and testing of several prototypes that would become the Smart. I discovered that there were 350 different polymers in a dashboard, some weighing less than two grams and others non-recyclable, making any recycling impossible. I was outraged at the time.”
After leaving Swatch, Jean-Luc Thuliez founded several electric vehicle companies. However, his approach goes far beyond electric propulsion. “With Softcar, we offer a turnkey production solution for a zero-emission car. For example, we removed polyurethane from the steering wheel for a truly recyclable solution, and we are the only ones in the world to go this far in ecological design,” he explains.
What sets Softcar apart is its vision of the vehicle’s full life cycle. “Like amphibians that are born in a pond, evolve, go on their journey, and return to their original pond to lay eggs,” Jean-Luc Thuliez illustrates, “we look at the entire life cycle of the car—not just the usage phase. Our vehicles come back to the factory after use to be dismantled and fully recycled.” This circular approach leads to impressive figures: the production of a Softcar generates 6 tons of CO2 2, compared to around 70 tons for a conventional car. Thanks to their lightness, Softcars achieve an astonishingly low energy consumption of just 7 kWh in urban areas.
Simplicity, sustainability, and local production
The Softcar is also notable for its radically simplified design. “Our vehicle has only 1,800 parts, compared to 45,000 for a traditional combustion engine car.” This simplification not only reduces the environmental footprint but also makes repairs and refurbishment easier while lowering part and assembly costs. Softcar has also developed a three-module chassis in collaboration with a leading crash-test simulation firm to ensure optimal safety.
Softcar’s business model is based on selling assembly centers, enabling decentralized production close to consumer markets. “We manufacture cars locally with decentralized factories, saving gray energy and reducing import-related costs. A Softcar factory becomes profitable with just 5,000 cars per year, making it viable even in countries that have never built cars before.”
Challenges met with support from the ecosystem
Founded in 2012, the Softcar startup had to overcome many challenges, particularly financial ones. “Since the creation of the company, we have been seeking funding and industrial partners to move forward. Softcar is part of the Holdigaz group,” Jean-Luc Thuliez notes.
The support of the Swiss innovation ecosystem has been crucial. “Thanks to the ongoing support of CleantechAlps and other organizations in Switzerland, we were able to adapt the startup’s operations to our needs and finances,” he acknowledges. Other supporters include the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the Solar Impulse 1000 Solutions, and the European Commission.
Today, Softcar continues to innovate, notably with a hybrid version powered by natural gas that extends the range from 200 to 400 km. “This model will be particularly useful in countries that have gas but limited electricity—like India. It allows for intelligent decarbonization of transportation.”
Additional information : www.softcar.ch
Jean-Luc Thuliez’s favorite quote
« Light is right. »
– Colin Chapman
This quote by the visionary founder of Lotus Cars perfectly sums up the philosophy of Jean-Luc Thuliez and Softcar. This maxim reflects one of the core principles of the Softcar project: weight. At just 630 kg, the Softcar embodies the belief that lightness equals efficiency, sustainability, and lively urban driving. Lower weight translates directly into lower energy consumption and a minimized environmental footprint. Electric propulsion is ideally suited to cities, and a low battery mass enables a unique and brilliant driving experience—perhaps a glimpse of the future?
In an automotive industry where vehicle weight has consistently increased over the decades—especially electric cars, which often exceed two tons—manufacturers are forced to reinforce the vehicle’s structure, increase braking power and energy absorbers, and reduce performance on short trips. Softcar takes the opposite approach, reminding us that the most sustainable innovation is often the one that removes rather than adds. Sir Colin Chapman’s philosophy of “adding lightness,” embraced by Softcar, reminds us that in sustainable mobility, less truly can mean more.
An example of circular and local economy
Softcar develops and markets lightweight electric vehicles designed according to the principles of the circular economy. It also stands out for its energy frugality and reduced environmental impact.
The originality of the Softcar model relies on several key pillars, including:
- Carefully selected recyclable thermoplastic materials for easy recycling
- Absence of hazardous polymers during transformation or incineration
- A durable aluminum chassis designed for a 50,000-hour lifespan (compared to 5,000 for a typical car)
- A modular triple-layer monocoque body, easily repairable, replaceable, and recyclable
- A design focused on local repair and refurbishment
- Decentralized manufacturing close to end markets
CleantechAlps supported Softcar in its development, helping to integrate it into the Swiss innovation ecosystem and boosting its visibility. This collaboration perfectly illustrates the mission of CleantechAlps: to identify and support innovative startups whose approaches can sustainably transform our modes of production and consumption.
The 15-year anniversary concept
For the past 15 years, CleantechAlps has been committed to advancing its vision and connecting talents, stakeholders and solutions that drive the transition toward a more sustainable future in Western Switzerland. To mark this anniversary, we wish to highlight the individuals who bring our ecosystem to life every day — through their projects, their dedication and their vision.
“15 Years – 15 Faces” features fifteen personalities, fifteen journeys, fifteen voices that embody cleantech. From technology to policy, from research to industry, from local to international — these women and men are building, each in their own way, the cleantech solutions of today and tomorrow. Through their stories, we share with you the successes to which CleantechAlps has contributed — notably by serving as a facilitator of connections, dialogue, and collaboration. Discover their passion. Their inspiration. And their vision for a more sustainable future.
