The bare-bones chassis from a bare bones startup with big ideas to flesh out.
EV startup Zoom said today that pre-orders are now open for purchases of its so-called Lifestyle van and Pickup Truck. Starting today, the Lifestyle vehicle, MPDV and pickup truck can be reserved in the United States with a $100 deposit per vehicle at www.canoo.com. The Lifestyle Vehicle will be the first vehicle to market late in 2022, it’s promised, and has targeted pricing starting from $34,750 -$49,950i for Delivery, Base and Premium models, before incentives, or optional equipment. Range topping Adventure trim pricing will be announced in the coming months. Deliveries for the Pickup truck and scaled production for MPDV are scheduled to begin “as early as 2023.” (First Look – Canoo EV Pickup Truck)
It’s not coincidental that Zoom is scheduled to announce its Q1 financial results after the New York markets close. The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading
Stellantis, Foxconn JV for Digital Cockpits, Connected Services
Leaving the marketing babble aside, Mobile Drive will combine Stellantis’ global vehicle design and engineering with Foxconn’s development in the changing software and hardware realms of smartphones and consumer electronics. It’s hoped that the combination will position Mobile Drive ahead of other automakers in the global race to global provide in-cabin information and entertainment capabilities. At best these could be connected inside and outside the vehicles in which they are installed. Continue reading →