All-electric RV developer Lightship said it is significantly expanding its production footprint to “meet surging demand” for its flagship travel trailer, which will see a streamlined configuration process.
It’s been a minute since we shared any Lightship news, and it’s always welcome. The all-electric recreational vehicle startup has been mostly quiet the past nine months or so following the official start of production of its flagship travel trailer, the AE.1.
Those builds began with a configuration of the AE.1 called Cosmos Edition. After opening sales of the AE.1 Cosmos Edition in late 2024, Lightship reported strong demand – a trend that appears to have continued given today’s update below.
The launch edition version of the Lightship travel trailer completely sold out during early production, but the company announced two additional versions: AE.1 Atmos and AE.1 Panos – each designed to meet different traveler needs and price points.
Today, Lightship announced it has revamped its AE.1 configurations to simplify its lineup for customers while expanding trailer production to keep up with its growing order backlog.
Lightship to expand trailer production by ~44k square feet
According to a release from Lightship this morning, it is significantly scaling up its all-electric travel trailer production footprint in Broomfield, Colorado. Construction is already underway to expand the company’s current 32,000-square-foot facility by about 44,000 square feet.
The expanded trailer production footprint should total approximately 76,000 square feet upon completion, and Lightship shared that operations in the new space could begin as early as this summer. Lightchip co-founder and CEO, Toby Kraus, elaborated:
This expansion is a defining moment for 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.
Lightship shared that 80% of the component value of the AE.1 travel trailer is sourced locally in the US, and the new production expansion will only aid the startup in increasing vertical integration and its localized advantages.
On that note, Lightship also announced some changes to the AE.1 lineup, which has now been streamlined for future customers. For example, the RV’s 77 kWh battery pack was previously available only in the top-tier $184,000 trim, but now comes standard across all production versions of the AE.1.
Furthermore, the adjusted starting price of the trailer is now $157,500, centering on a single, configurable model. Previously, Lightship offered AE.1 Atmos for $184,000 and the AE.1 Panos for $151,000. The company’s other co-founder and chief product officer, Ben Parker, gave insight into the lineup change:
More than ninety percent of our customers have chosen the 77 kWh battery. This new lineup makes this popular feature more accessible. 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. Because we are a direct-to-consumer brand that builds and sources in the U.S., we can incorporate real-world feedback into product improvements on a much shorter cycle.
The complete production expansion in Colorado is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
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