A Silverstone-based British company that converts classic cars and industrial fleet vehicles to electric power.
Lunaz takes vehicles that already exist and gives them electric power, rather than scrapping them. It began with classic cars such as the Jaguar XK120, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Continental, Range Rover Classic and Aston Martin DB6, each fully restored and fitted with an electric powertrain. It also upcycles industrial fleet vehicles, starting with Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse trucks, and sells its powertrain to other manufacturers as a white-label product.
Lunaz was founded in 2018 by David Lorenz, who named it after his daughter Luna. His belief is that "the most sustainable vehicle is the one that already exists", and he has said the company's goal is to remanufacture rather than replace. Jon Hilton, a former Formula One technical director, joined as managing director and designed the electric powertrain. Lunaz says each vehicle it makes lowers emissions, and an independent study found its refuse truck keeps more than 82% of the original vehicle's embedded carbon.
The company is based at Silverstone Technology Park next to the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, which is its global headquarters and technical centre. A 2022 magazine feature said it had grown from 13 staff in 2020 to 170, and engineers test cars at the nearby Millbrook Proving Ground. It has agreed to electrify the diesel refuse truck fleet of Buckinghamshire Council, which ties the company directly to UK local government. Staff reportedly nicknamed the trucks "Bentley bin lorries", and the plan is to upcycle up to 1,100 trucks a year for councils and other municipal buyers. Interiors use eco-fabrics such as carpets made from reclaimed fishing nets.
The same feature describes a craft-focused culture. Each car is 3D-scanned, stripped by hand, restored and painted in a colour chosen by the owner. Staff named include a head of client experience, a commercial director, a design director who previously worked at Aston Martin, and a trainee heritage engineering technician learning restoration skills from older colleagues. These are the press description of the team, and the numbers may have changed since 2022.
Roles in a company like this include electrical and mechanical engineers, designers, restoration and paint technicians, trimmers and upholsterers, manufacturing and quality staff, and client and commercial teams. The pages we read did not give a current headcount, so check recent news for the latest picture.
Website: www.lunaz.com
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