What LiU Formula Student does

LiU Formula Student is a non-profit student association founded in June 2010 at Linköping University in Sweden, comprising approximately 130 bachelor and master students organized into 12 technical subgroups plus a management layer. Each year the team designs, manufactures, and tests a new electric race car, starting with ER01 in 2012 and progressing to the current ER26 in 2025. The organization completes the cars through collaboration across mechanical design, high-voltage electric systems, embedded software, aerodynamics, cooling, vehicle dynamics, and safety systems, then competes at international Formula Student events across Europe, including Formula Student Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, East, Spain, UK, and Alpe Adria.

The technical core of each car is a 600V battery pack, an Emrax axial flux AC motor producing 110-148 hp peak depending on generation, and a chassis that has evolved from a steel space frame into a hybrid half-monocoque design with carbon fiber driver panels. Recent platforms integrate COTS battery management, in-house CFD and FEM analysis, a Gazebo-based simulation pipeline for driverless development, and internal React/Python tools for BOM, test data, and authentication. The 2025 ER25 achieved the team's first full-functionality finish at all dynamic events, including a first-ever successful electric Endurance run.

The organization is funded entirely through partnerships with roughly 50 industrial sponsors — including Linköping University, Etteplan, SAAB, Combitech, SKF, Ansys, Siemens, Hexagon, Diab, and Parker — providing cash, materials, services, and engineering expertise in exchange for talent-pipeline access and brand visibility at competitions. There is no commercial product, no pricing model, and no revenue disclosure. The team's chosen customer segments are the student members themselves (who gain hands-on product development experience) and the sponsor companies (who gain early access to engineering talent and university brand exposure).

Name

LiU Formula Student

Legal name

LiU Formula Student

Website

https://liuformulastudent.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LiU Formula Student is a non-profit student association at Linköping University, Sweden, where ~130 students annually design, build, and race an electric Formula Student car at European competitions, funded entirely through industrial partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Motorsport Engineering

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB), Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships) (MPAKAGAH)

Keywords

• Student motorsport engineering
• Electric formula student car
• University racing team
• Engineering talent pipeline
• Race car development

Headquarters

HQ city

Linköping

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Partnership Sponsorship: LiU Formula Student is financed entirely through partnerships with companies that provide financial support, materials, services, and expertise. Partners gain access to future engineering talent and brand exposure at Linköping University and during European competitions.
2. Event Marketing and Visibility: Partners receive advertising opportunities, lunch lectures, company visits, and brand exposure on the car and website during European competitions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LiU Formula Student is a non-profit student association at Linköping University that annually designs, builds, and races an electric Formula Student race car. Each year the team develops a new generation car (current ER26, following ER25, ER24, ER23, etc.) integrating mechanical design, high-voltage electrical systems, embedded software, aerodynamics, cooling, safety systems, and vehicle dynamics. The finished car is then taken to Formula Student competitions across Europe to compete against other universities.

Product overview

LiU Formula Student is a student organization that offers a single unified product: electric Formula Student race cars. Each year the organization designs, builds, and competes with a new generation of electric race cars (ER26 being the current 2025-2026 model). The product portfolio includes the ER26 with mid-mounted motor and new battery pack, the ER25 as the first car to finish all dynamic events, the ER24 with new BMS, ER23 with hybrid chassis, ER22 as the first EV at competition (600V, 148hp Emrax motor), and ER21 as the first fully electric car. The ER19 featured in-house carbon fiber body panels. Cars are developed through collaboration across mechanical engineering, electronics, software, aerodynamics, manufacturing, business, and project management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ER26 Electric Race Car Current generation electric Formula Student race car featuring a mid-mounted single motor with limited slip differential and a brand-new battery pack. Designed and built by LiU Formula Student students for the 2025-2026 competition season.
• ER25 Electric Race Car First full functionality finishing car in LiU Formula Student history, achieving the goal of completing every dynamic event at competition with full functionality. 600V battery pack with Emrax 228 High Voltage motor providing 110 hp at peak. Ended at 239.5 kg after 20 kg weight reduction.
• ER24 Electric Race Car Electric Formula Student car featuring a new off-the-shelf BMS solution adopted after years of challenges with the previous in-house battery system.
• ER23 Formula Student Car Formula Student car with hybrid chassis featuring a half-monocoque front and steel frame at the rear, representing a major mechanical development.
• ER22 Electric Race Car First electric race car at competition for the organization. Features steel frame, steel battery container, carbon fiber aerodynamic pack, 600V battery with Sony VTC cells (8 kWh capacity), and Emrax axial flux AC motor with 148 peak horsepower.
• ER21 Electric Race Car First fully electric Formula Student car for the organization, developed during the pandemic with a simplified design using a single motor in rear with conventional drivetrain and differential.
• ER19 Formula Student Car Formula Student car with main technical goal of improving drivability. Featured in-house manufactured full prepreg carbon fiber body panels and partially 3D printed Inconel 718 exhaust system.

Quantifiable outcome

• First car in organization history to finish all dynamic events with full functionality (ER25)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Linköping UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution that provides facilities, workshop access, composite lab, and support for participation in Formula Student competitions. Lysator hosts the team organization.
• EtteplanmajorTechnology or IntegrationProvides carbon fiber manufacturing facilities for the team, enabling production of lightweight and durable carbon fiber parts for the car.
• DiabmajorOthersProvides core materials for aero components including foam cores for wings, enabling advanced aerodynamic shapes.
• CombitechmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Linköping providing engineering expertise, innovation support, and guidance to help team members grow as engineers.
• SKFmajorTechnology or IntegrationProvides wheel bearings essential for vehicle dynamic movement. Has been a key partner in previous projects and continues to play an important role.
• SAABmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides engineering expertise and resources that enhance development process, helping refine designs and improve car performance.
• Tech TalentsminorOthersSupports team with training and development opportunities, helping maintain engineering innovation at the forefront.
• ME RacingmajorOthersProvides chassis tubes that are laser-cut by Luni and bent by BS Rörbock before TIG-welding in university workshop.
• LuniminorOthersProvides laser cutting services for chassis tubes supplied by ME Racing.
• BS RörbockminorOthersProvides tube bending services for chassis manufacturing.
• Digi-KeyminorOthersProvides electronic components for car electrical systems.
• T&S Engineering IntelligenceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides AI-driven document examination for design review, ensuring drawings meet standards and streamlining the design process.
• Easy CompositesminorOthersProvides composite manufacturing materials.
• IVM Industriverktyg och MaskinerminorOthersIndustrial tools and machinery supplier.
• Vestergaard & CominorOthersComponents supplier for car systems.
• norelemminorOthersMechanical components and standard parts supplier.
• ParkerminorOthersHydraulics and sealing technology partner.
• LappminorOthersCable and connector solutions for electrical systems.
• LesjoforsminorOthersSpring and suspension components supplier.
• AhlsellminorOthersIndustrial products and tools distributor.
• Excel compositeminorOthersComposite materials supplier.
• TwindejminorOthersManufacturing services supplier.
• RS OnlineminorOthersOnline electronics components distributor.
• MarstromminorOthersMaterials and components supplier.
• SchrothminorOthersSafety systems and restraints supplier.
• AluminiumsvetsminorOthersAluminum welding and fabrication services.
• AutosockminorOthersProvides tire traction aids for winter/wet conditions.
• TelestepsminorOthersSafety equipment and ladders supplier.
• CampushallenminorOthersCampus facilities and wellness partner.
• SimAlmminorOthersSimulation and analytics technology partner.
• CarbixminorOthersCarbon emissions analysis and monitoring partner.
• TranemominorOthersWorkwear and safety clothing supplier.
• AM printserviceminorOthers3D printing and rapid prototyping services.
• tinkerlab.seminorOthersPrototyping and maker space resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Others

• Formula Student Germany: Organizer of the largest Formula Student competition (FSG) held at Hockenheim. Relevant as the ecosystem enabler whose ruleset and event calendar shape what LiU builds each season; not a direct peer but a structural counterpart.

Direct peers

• Luleå Formula Student: Luleå University of Technology's Formula Student team. Comparable as a Swedish university FS team, competing in the same European event series with similar structure of student membership and industry sponsorship.
• KTH Formula Student: KTH Royal Institute of Technology's Formula Student team based in Stockholm. Both teams are Swedish university entries competing at European Formula Student events with electric powertrains, vying for the same pool of sponsors, alumni placements, and competition slots.
• Clear River Racing: Karlstad University's Formula Student team. Swedish FS team operating in the same competition calendar with comparable electric vehicle scope, sharing access to the Nordic Test Event and European Formula Student circuit.
• Umeå Formula Student: Umeå University's Formula Student team. Directly comparable Swedish student-run Formula Student organization competing in the same European competitions, sharing the wider Swedish FS community referenced by LiU.
• Chalmers Formula Student: Chalmers University of Technology's Formula Student team in Gothenburg. Directly comparable as a Swedish university team developing electric race cars for the same Formula Student competitions, sharing the Swedish FS ecosystem.
• Jönköping Formula Student: Jönköping University's Formula Student team. Sister Swedish team referenced in the same Formula Student Sweden community, competing in the same European FS calendar with the same student-association operating model.
• Lund Formula Student: Lund University's Formula Student team. Sister Swedish team competing in the same European FS events, drawing from the same regional industry sponsor base (Scania, Volvo, etc.) and alumni recruitment channels.
• AMZ Racing (ETH Zürich): ETH Zürich's Formula Student team. Comparable as a leading European university FS team developing electric race cars at a similar scale and competing at the same Formula Student events, often referenced for high-voltage and autonomous system innovations.
• TU Delft Formula Student Team: DUT Motorsport from TU Delft is one of Europe's top Formula Student teams. Comparable as a university-based student organization designing and racing electric cars in Formula Student events, often used as a performance benchmark by Swedish FS teams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/liuformula

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LiU Formula Student