Canoo said earlier this year that it might not have enough money to start manufacturing. Then Walmart intervened, placing an order with the struggling company for 4500 electric delivery vehicles. Since then, the ailing company’s situation has improved.
The firm’s Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles (LDV) and Lifestyle Vehicles (LV) will be purchased by Zeeba, a national fleet leasing company, for a total of 5,450 vehicles for its long-term lease portfolio. By the end of 2024, 3000 of those will have been delivered.
“We have a sizable, committed, and expanding order book,” stated Tony Aquila, CEO of Canoo. “We are finalizing our multi-year allocations for 2023 client deliveries and will share our manufacturing plan with the broader market shortly.” “This order is yet another accomplishment that validates our strategy and product. Small and medium sized enterprises, which employ nearly half of all working Americans, are the foundation of our communities and the target market for Zeeba. We prioritized technology and combined it with market-leading ergonomics, a low vehicle footprint-to-cargo ratio, and platform versatility to reduce carbon emissions and increase operator return on investment, all of which will help SMBs compete.
Canoo claims in an press release that its cars are built with the driver in mind. While drive by wire steering allows for more usable interior space and better driver ergonomics, a panoramic front windshield enhances visibility. Real-world tests have supported these benefits.
With its 80 kWh battery pack, 120 cubic feet of storage space, and compact passenger car-like turning radius, the LDV offers drivers a safer and more accustomed driving experience. The LV is a people and cargo mover that shares the same battery pack, visibility, and handling qualities as the LDV. It also has passenger seating. Both can accommodate a variety of interior upfit combinations to satisfy the unique requirements of various customers.
“The LDV
