British startup Morris Commercial will manufacture its electric revival of the classic Morris J-Type van in Wales, with production now targeted for late 2025 and a market launch planned for late 2026, the company and Welsh government said. The timeline marks a significant delay from the original launch plan in 2021 for the retro-styled electric commercial vehicle.
The company will build the Morris JE at its new facility in St Athan after securing financial support from the Welsh government through the Economy Futures Fund. In return, the project is expected to create around 150 jobs. Speaking to the BBC, Morris Commercial Chief Executive Dr Qu Li described the new factory as “exciting” and said it would allow the company to “start to deliver vehicles to long waited customers.”
Morris Commercial first unveiled the Morris JE as a concept in late 2019, initially targeting production in late 2021. That goal was later pushed back after the company secured additional funding in 2023 and revised its launch plan to 2024, which also did not materialise. Under the latest schedule, production will begin in Wales in late 2025, with customer deliveries expected in late 2026.
The technical specifications of the Morris JE have evolved since the concept stage. The company now lists a payload capacity of one tonne, a cargo volume of 6 cubic metres and a gross vehicle weight of 2.5 tonnes. The electric van is expected to offer a range of up to 250 miles (around 400 km), with fast charging to 80% capacity in under 30 minutes.
Morris Commercial plans to retain several design cues from the original 1950s J-Type, including its distinctive pear-shaped front grille. The Morris JE will feature a carbon-fibre body mounted on an aluminium chassis, a construction method chosen to reduce weight and improve efficiency, though it is more costly than conventional steel bodies. Both the chassis and body are expected to incorporate recycled materials, according to the Welsh government.