Canoo aims to produce electric vehicles by 2022 in Arkansas, a change from the Dutch plan
Electric vehicle startup Canoo has stopped discussing a manufacturing contract with the Netherlands’ VDL Nedcar, choosing instead to build electric vehicles at its own facilities in the United States starting in 2022.
In a press release published last week, Canoo confirmed that production will begin at the newly announced Arkansas facility next year, before moving to the “Mega Micro” plant was planned. in Pryor, Oklahoma, in late 2023.
Last month, the company announced it had selected Bentonville, Arkansas, as its new headquarters, with its R&D center and low-volume manufacturing facility there — it will now take over initial production before the Oklahoma plant is completed. .
Canoo MPDV . electric van
Oklahoma Factory was announced in June, but at the time, Canoo said it planned to use VDL Nedcar as its contract manufacturing partner until that facility is ready. The plan change gives Canoo earlier access to offers from Arkansas and Oklahoma, according to a statement confirming the conclusion of discussions with the Dutch company.
Canoo also cites reducing gaps in the supply chain, increasing speed to market, and eliminating the cost of tariffs and overseas shipping as other reasons for its production plans to be disrupted. However, the company said it is still seeking a partnership with VDL Nedcar, the parent company of VDL Group.
“While we have decided not to continue with VDL Nedcar, we also conclude that VDL Group and [VDL-founding] The Van der Leegte family are people we want to explore an ongoing partnership with as we assess how and when best to expand Canoo into Europe with less risk and capitalize on new technologies. advanced manufacturing technology,” a company statement said.
Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle
The guidance issued by the company forecasts production volumes of 3,000 to 6,000 vehicles in 2022, growing to 14,000 to 17,000 vehicles in 2023. Canoo also said it aims for 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles per year by 2020. 2024 and 70,000 to 80,000 units by 2025, but note that these are “targets” rather than guidelines.
This isn’t the first time Canoo has abruptly changed plans. The company recently failed to mention the talked-about subscription model as one of its distinguishing features in 2019.
Canoo teased entire fleet of vehicles, consisting of a pickup and a line of commercial trucks, sharing the skateboard platform and structural battery approach that’s different from Tesla. The $34,750 Car Lifestyle is still due to come first. Earlier this year, Canoo said it would launch in 2022, along with other models after that.
