All-terrain EVs made in Scotland set to reach customers in US
Munro Vehicles is aiming to build more than 3,000 all-electric, all-terrain 4×4 vehicles at its plant in East Kilbride – with the company targeting customers in the US.
The Munro 4×4 EV, seen by some as Scotland’s answer to the famous American ‘Humvee’, is being targeted by Wyre – an all-electric vehicle sales and leasing specialist – at customers in major US utility companies, oil field operators in Texas, farmers in Florida, forestry businesses in Canada and the gold mines of Nevada.
Spearheading what could be worldwide opportunities for Munro Vehicles and their unique all-terrain electric vehicle, Wyre benefits from its US and Canadian state-wide connections in all the major industrial sectors using off-road vehicles.
Munro’s CEO and co-founder Russ Peterson said: “North America is a key growth market for Munro, and we’re pleased to be able to partner with Wyre to realise our ambitions ahead of our original timeline. We’re dedicating half of our 2023 production to left-hand-drive Munro vehicles developed specifically for the US market, which Wyre will deliver to customers throughout the year.
“This opportunity demonstrates that Munro has the potential to be a global player in the automotive industry, with a product that is clearly desirable around the world. These vehicles and their owners will also feedback valuable data to our team as we develop our product further. This is just the beginning.”
This collaboration is seen as significant for Wyre as it establishes, what UK managing director Rebecca Hansen says is “a new and substantially important foothold” for its operations in the UK and US electric vehicle sales and leasing markets.
She said: “We see the Munro 4×4 EV as a serious and compelling opportunity for a wide range of our customers across the USA and one which will see us go from an initial order book of 50 vehicles next year to 500 in 2024 and around 2,500 in 2025.”
Orders mean a huge scaling-up of production in Munro’s East Kilbride assembly plant and comes 42 years after the last passenger car was built in Scotland – at the Chrysler Linwood plant.
Ms Hansen added: “One particular customer market we have / are targeting in the States is the huge electric utility sector where companies need to show their customers that they are taking the provision of EVs seriously in their own fleets. Oil and gas industry customers are also on our radar. The price point of the Munro vehicle at around £75,000 (US$ 88,500) is compelling.
“The Munro is a great multi-purpose vehicle, and one that has a great future and we are delighted we have the opportunity to make it a big success in the United States. Just as important, it is further step in establishing Wyre as market leaders in what we do.
“This an important win for us. The US is a massive market for this type of serious off-roader which Munro Vehicles intend to service by establishing facilities in the States. The UK’s electric car salary sacrifice scheme could be easily introduced into the USA and we are now in discussions with a number of companies and organisations to help them bring this forward through lobbying for new US tax regulations. When we explain that a salary boost scheme can save 40% or more on a new electric vehicle, people get interested.”
Ms Hansen confirmed that Wyre is in discussion with international shipping companies on future transport of vehicles to the USA.
Munro’s design, development and manufacturing operations were originally set up by young entreprenures Russ Peterson & Ross Anderson at their base in the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow. They recently opened an assembly operation in nearby East Kilbride ready for full scale production to begin.
Munro Vehicles aims to fill a gap in the market for a back-to-basics electric off-roader. Once the production line is at full capacity, Munro expects to meet demand of up to 5,000 vehicles per year by 2030. It is expected that eventually, should sales exceed factory capacity in Glasgow, some CKD (completely knocked down) vehicle kits could be shipped to the States for assembly.
Ross Anderson, Co-Founder of Munro Vehicles, commented: “The Munro is a fully electric 4×4 utility vehicle with exceptional off-road capabilities, designed to carry personnel and equipment across difficult terrain.”
Jen Walls, director of Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, said: “This sales and leasing opportunity in the USA is a tremendous achievement and shows that the level of innovative thinking by these two entrepreneurs is exactly what we wish to see here in Scotland.
“The Munro 4×4 is a truly unique concept, bringing together the latest EV and off-road technologies. It’s simply an amazing vehicle and I’m sure the company can look forward to a high level of world sales success.”
Images courtesy of Munro Vehicles.
