Ventures & initiatives

Britishvolt was founded by Lars Carlstrom with an ambitious vision: to establish large-scale battery manufacturing in the United Kingdom and help create the industrial foundations for the electric vehicle revolution.

At a time when battery production was becoming strategically important to the future of automotive manufacturing, Britishvolt sought to strengthen domestic supply chains, support the transition to electric mobility and position the UK as a competitive player in the global battery industry.

The initiative became part of the wider European debate about industrial sovereignty, advanced manufacturing and the need to develop battery production capacity closer to major automotive markets.

For Carlstrom, Britishvolt represented more than a manufacturing project. It reflected a broader ambition to combine technological innovation, industrial investment and economic development in support of a new generation of sustainable industry.

Founded by Lars Carlstrom, Italvolt was conceived as a major battery manufacturing initiative intended to contribute to Italy's industrial transformation and Europe's emerging battery ecosystem.

The project centred on plans for a large-scale gigafactory at Scarmagno, in northern Italy, on a site associated with the country's historic electronics and manufacturing industries.

Italvolt's ambition was to combine advanced battery production with the redevelopment of an established industrial location, supporting new manufacturing capabilities, employment opportunities and the wider transition towards electric mobility.

The initiative emerged at a pivotal moment for Europe, as governments and manufacturers increasingly recognised the strategic importance of domestic battery supply chains and the need to reduce dependence on production concentrated elsewhere.

For Carlstrom, Italvolt continued the industrial vision behind Britishvolt: to develop large-scale manufacturing platforms capable of connecting technology, investment and regional economic development.

Founded by Lars Carlstrom, Statevolt was established around the ambition to develop large-scale battery manufacturing in the United States and contribute to the development of a domestic battery supply chain.

Its early plans included a major battery manufacturing project in California, reflecting the growing strategic importance of battery technology to electric mobility, energy security and the modernisation of power systems.

Statevolt's broader direction connects battery manufacturing with the expanding role of energy storage. As electricity demand grows and energy systems incorporate increasing amounts of renewable generation, battery energy storage systems can help support grid flexibility, reliability and more efficient use of available power.

This wider perspective links industrial production with the infrastructure needed to deploy batteries at scale, serving the evolving requirements of utilities, industry and energy-intensive facilities.

For Carlstrom, Statevolt represents the continuation of a long-term commitment to industrial innovation and the development of technologies that can support the transition to more resilient energy systems.

Statetron New Energy Holdings AB (publ) represents Lars Carlstrom's expanding focus on energy storage and industrial development across Europe and the Middle East, with Qatar serving as a central focus for its development ambitions.

The initiative is centred on the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS), modular energy solutions and plans for advanced manufacturing capabilities designed to support the region's evolving energy requirements.

A key element of the vision is the Statetron Andromean Class™, a proposed advanced BESS assembly plant concept intended to bring together modern manufacturing processes, modular energy storage products and industrial development.

The wider ambition extends beyond the assembly of battery systems. Statetron seeks to contribute to the development of industrial capabilities, technical expertise and energy infrastructure that can support regional growth, electrification and greater energy resilience.

Qatar offers a strategic setting for this ambition, with its long-term national development objectives and interest in economic diversification, technological advancement and industrial capacity. Statetron's plans are intended to align with the broader direction of Qatar National Vision 2030.

The company's longer-term industrial vision includes the potential expansion from BESS assembly towards battery cell manufacturing, subject to development, investment and implementation.

In 2025, Lars Carlstrom acquired Westline through Dynaroc Group AB, taking on the challenge of revitalising a Scandinavian yacht brand and returning it to the market with renewed ambition.

Founded on Sweden's west coast, Westline built its reputation around Scandinavian design, capable hulls and handcrafted motorboats. The acquisition represented an opportunity to preserve that identity while creating a new generation of premium yachts for an international clientele.

Under the new ownership, Westline Yachts set out to relaunch production in Sweden, refine its model range and strengthen the brand's position in the premium powerboat segment. The development programme included the Westline 270, the Westline 370 Sport Coupé — an evolution of the 365 — and the Westline 440 Sport Cruiser as a new flagship.

The vision extends beyond individual models. It is about combining Swedish craftsmanship and functional design with more sophisticated interiors, carefully selected materials and a stronger international distribution network.

For Carlstrom, Westline represents another dimension of industrial entrepreneurship: recognising the value of an established brand, protecting its essential character and building a platform for its next stage of development.

Some names carry a legacy that deserves more than preservation. They deserve a future.

Lars Carlstrom became involved in the next chapter of Thrupp & Maberly through a partnership with Brendan O'Toole, bringing together international industrial experience and specialist automotive craftsmanship to revive one of Britain's historic coachbuilding names.

With origins dating back to the eighteenth century, Thrupp & Maberly became associated with the tradition of bespoke British motor cars, where individual coachwork, exceptional materials and painstaking attention to detail distinguished a vehicle from mass-produced automobiles.

The modern venture, based in Coventry, is built around a clear principle: honour the standards of traditional coachbuilding without simply recreating the past.

Working with an established team of 50 craftsmen, the company aims to create highly individual motor cars that combine hand-finished interiors, carefully selected materials and distinctive contemporary design with modern engineering. Each commission is conceived as a complete expression of its owner's tastes, rather than a standard vehicle with cosmetic modifications.

The ambition is to operate at the highest end of the luxury automotive market, producing original, contemporary coachbuilt automobiles in very limited numbers for an international clientele.

For Carlstrom, Thrupp & Maberly brings together several enduring interests: automotive innovation, industrial craftsmanship, distinctive British heritage and the creation of products whose value lies in their individuality.

It is not an exercise in nostalgia. It is an attempt to carry a historic craft into a new era — preserving the human skill behind the work while creating something relevant to the next generation of collectors and enthusiasts.