Swiss cleantech company Synhelion has achieved a major milestone by powering a car with solar gasoline for the first time. A 1985 Audi Sport quattro, part of AMAG’s classic car collection, completed the historic drive without any engine modifications – demonstrating the fuel’s compatibility with existing vehicles.

The solar gasoline was produced at Synhelion’s DAWN plant in Jülich, Germany – the world’s first industrial-scale facility to generate synthetic fuels using solar heat. The process converts water and biogenic CO₂ into drop-in fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with near net-zero emissions.

The Audi’s drive took place during the Supercar Owners Circle Classic Andermatt, touring Switzerland’s famed mountain passes. It marks the third successful vehicle test for Synhelion fuels, following earlier demonstrations with a motorcycle and a steamboat.

With industrial production now underway, Synhelion is scaling efforts to bring solar fuels to wider transport markets.