(WWJ) – It’s not as sleek as a Tesla, or as upscale as a Lucid sedan, and it’s not as in-your-face as a Rivian.
But as the electric vehicle revolution continues, startup Canoo is looking to create a new niche in the EV space.
WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert got to cruise up and down Woodward Avenue when Canoo brought its lifestyle vehicle prototype to Detroit, featuring seven seats – all in the footprint of a Toyota Prius.
With no engine allowing for a see-through front window, Gilbert says the “oddly shaped car” is certainly “a unique vehicle.”
“As we cruise down Woodward, we get a number of stares from individuals, that certainly is not unusual,” he said.
The key for Canoo is configurability, with one “skateboard” – or frame – that “can be configured for the top half you want.”
The consumer van prototype VP Gary Gumushian brought to Detroit has a larger capacity than most vehicles its size, but Canoo will be first using it to delve into the commercial market.
The company is making 4,500 vans for Walmart, which will use them for the in-home delivery services they offer for food and general merchandise.
Canoo will begin producing this 350-horsepower vehicle with a 200-mile range later this year at a plant in Oklahoma City. By the end of the year, they should be up to a run rate of about 20,000.
More information on Canoo can be found on the company's website.
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