Scottish electric vehicle manufacturer Munro plans to establish a new production facility in the UK in 2027 as it seeks to expand manufacturing capacity for its industrial electric vehicles.
The company said the planned factory will support growing demand from customers in sectors including mining, defence, construction and other heavy-duty industries.
Expanding Domestic Manufacturing
Munro chief executive Avinash Rugoobur told the Financial Times that the facility will primarily serve domestic customer demand, with annual production eventually scaling to thousands of vehicles.
According to Rugoobur, the company’s specialist focus and relatively small operational footprint make UK-based manufacturing commercially viable despite higher labour and energy costs compared with some overseas markets.
The company currently manufactures its vehicles in Scotland and expects production volumes to increase from dozens of units annually to hundreds over the next year.
Focus on Industrial Electric Vehicles
Founded in 2018, Munro initially specialized in converting legacy Land Rover vehicles to electric powertrains before developing its own purpose-built electric off-road vehicle, the Series M.
The Series M is designed for industrial and commercial applications where durability, off-road capability and zero-emission operation are key requirements.
Munro has identified a significant market opportunity in electrifying vehicles used across industries that traditionally rely on diesel-powered equipment.
Leadership Appointments
Alongside its manufacturing expansion plans, the company announced the appointment of Avinash Rugoobur as chief executive officer and Tim Holbrow as chief financial officer.
Munro said the leadership changes support its strategy to pursue what it estimates to be a £35 billion ($47.1 billion) market opportunity for industrial-use electric vehicles.
The company also indicated that partnerships could be considered in the future if it decides to establish additional manufacturing facilities beyond the planned UK plant.
UK Automotive Industry Context
Munro’s expansion plans come as the UK government seeks to increase domestic vehicle manufacturing and has set a target of producing 1.3 million vehicles annually by 2035.
Industry forecasts from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders project UK vehicle production of approximately 824,000 units this year.
The announcement follows a period of mixed developments for Britain’s automotive manufacturing sector. While several EV-related investments have been announced, some international automakers have chosen alternative European locations for new production facilities.
Munro’s planned factory represents a domestically driven manufacturing investment focused on a specialist segment of the electric vehicle market, targeting industrial customers rather than mainstream passenger vehicle buyers.