A universal assembly platform for lightweight vehicles, wherein the platform comprises a main vehicle chassis structure, a front suspension system connected to the main vehicle chassis structure and to which one or more front wheel assembly is mountable, and a rear suspension system connected to the main vehicle chassis structure and to which one or more rear wheel assembly is mountable. The rear suspension system is connected to the main vehicle chassis structure such that when the one or more rear wheel assembly is mounted to the rear suspension system a rear wheel of the one or more rear wheel assembly defines the distal end of an overall length of the vehicle.