Germany’s NOVUS raises eight-figure round for California Lightbike launch

German electric mobility company NOVUS has closed an eight-figure funding round led by 468 Capital to support European expansion, develop a lower-priced vehicle and prepare a US launch. The Braunschweig-based manufacturer plans to enter California in late 2027 before expanding into other states, according to Tech.eu. The exact size of the round has not been disclosed.

The investment comes after NOVUS began delivering its first model, the NOVUS One, to European customers in spring 2026. Its American push will test whether a premium electric two-wheeler positioned between an e-bike, scooter and motorcycle can attract buyers beyond established motorcycle riders—and whether that positioning can travel beyond its initial European markets.

A premium entry point, with a broader market in mind

Founded in 2019, NOVUS calls its vehicle category the “Lightbike”: a combination of straightforward controls, scooter-like agility and motorcycle performance. Co-founder and CEO René Renger, a former Volkswagen designer who worked on the Golf 8 and ID. Buzz, developed the concept from a university project on lightweight mobility.

The NOVUS One Founders Edition starts at €21,300 excluding tax, placing the initial offering firmly in the premium segment. Its self-supporting carbon frame and hub-mounted drivetrain are paired with keyless operation, smartphone integration and over-the-air software updates. NOVUS says the vehicle accelerates from zero to 50 km/h in under two seconds and offers up to 150 km of range from a 6.2 kWh battery.

The company is targeting car drivers and people who have never owned a powered two-wheeler, rather than solely trying to convert existing motorcyclists. Co-founder Hannes A. H. Krieger told Tech.eu that hundreds of European test rides had revealed interest from customers who found e-bikes too slow, scooters insufficiently exciting and conventional motorcycles too heavy or intimidating.

That makes the competitive proposition as much about design and ease of use as electric propulsion. NOVUS is seeking buyers who might otherwise choose a different form of urban transport, while using its first, expensive model to establish the brand before pursuing a broader audience.

California follows an early European rollout

NOVUS has delivered vehicles in Germany and Spain, with further deliveries planned for the UK, France and Italy. California is the announced starting point for its US expansion, but the supplied reporting does not specify a launch city, American pricing or a sales and service network.

Licensing is another detail still to be clarified for the US launch. Tech.eu reports that some markets allow the NOVUS One’s entry configuration to be ridden with a standard car licence, but requirements vary by country. That European accessibility proposition cannot be assumed to apply in California.

Alongside geographic expansion, the funding will support development of the NOVUS Two, intended as a higher-volume model with a lower entry price. No price is given in the supplied sources. The second model is central to the strategy: the first establishes a premium identity, while a more affordable successor is intended to widen the customer base.

Scaling production without racing ahead

NOVUS manufactures in Braunschweig, near Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg base, drawing on the region’s automotive engineering and production expertise. Despite the fresh capital, the company says it is deliberately starting with smaller volumes rather than immediately pursuing production in the thousands. Krieger cited supply-chain disruption and delayed customer deliveries as risks of scaling too quickly.

Lead investor 468 Capital operates from Berlin and San Francisco. NOVUS also has more than 30 investors spanning technology, automotive and consumer businesses. They include Eric Bach, a former senior engineering executive at Lucid Motors and Tesla who advises NOVUS on vehicle development, and Martin Hoffmann, formerly CFO and co-CEO of Swiss sportswear company On.

For NOVUS, the next phase combines three demands: extending a still-young European delivery operation, developing a more accessible product and preparing a new market. California is a planned expansion rather than an established foothold; the funding gives the company resources to pursue it while retaining its stated preference for measured production growth.