Image: LightshipLightship is expanding its existing 3,000-square-metre facility by around 4,100 square metres. Construction is already underway, and operations in the expanded premises are set to begin this summer, bringing the total space to over 7,000 square metres. According to the company, the expansion will more than quadruple its current production capacity by the end of 2026. The project is also expected to create new jobs.“This expansion is a defining moment for Lightship,” says Toby Kraus, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightship. “At a time when many companies in this category are outsourcing their production and supply chain overseas, we’re doubling down on our commitment to American manufacturing, accelerating innovation and creating high-skill jobs in a region emerging as a hub for next-generation mobility.”Production of the AE.1 has been underway since summer 2025, as previously reported. The core idea behind the battery-electric caravan is that when the trailer is equipped with its own electric drive and a large battery, the additional energy consumption caused by towing is significantly reduced. For electric tow vehicles, range has previously been severely impacted by the weight and aerodynamic drag of the caravan. Lightship, a company founded by two former Tesla employees, aims to minimise these limitations with the electric drive integrated into the caravan.Lightship previously offered the AE.1 in various configurations, differing in battery size (44 to 77 kWh), the power of the integrated solar system (840 to 1,800 watts), and other equipment details. Alongside the production expansion, Lightship is now introducing an optimised configuration for the AE.1 with an adjusted starting price of $157,500.Instead of multiple variants, the new approach focuses on a single configurable model. The 77 kWh battery, previously only available in the top-tier ‘Atmos’ package priced at $184,000, is now included as standard in all AE.1 vehicles. The 44 kWh battery from the former ‘Panos’ model (starting at $151,000) is no longer offered. As a result, the new AE.1 model with the 77 kWh battery is only slightly more expensive than the previous 44 kWh version.The restructuring of the model range is easily explained: “More than ninety percent of our customers have chosen the 77 kWh battery. This new lineup makes this popular feature more accessible,” says Ben Parker, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Lightship, alongside Kraus. “We are also adding options to give customers the flexibility to tailor the product for home backup, extended travel, short-term rental use, and full-time living.”businesswire.com