B-ON, an electric vehicle (EV) solutions provider, is teaming up with Karma Automotive, a luxury EV producer based in the US, to manufacture B-ON’s electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) at Karma’s facility in California.
The partnership is set to kick off this year, with pre-production starting in July and full-scale production beginning in 2024. The Karma Innovation and Customization Center, a 555,000 sq ft facility with the capacity to produce up to 30,000 vehicles annually, will initially produce a run of delivery truck vehicles for B-ON in 2023.
“Demand for our electric light commercial vehicles is quickly expected to outstrip our capacity to build them in Germany alone,” said Stefan Krause, Founder, Chairman and CEO of B–ON. “We knew we would need to expand production capacity this year, and Karma’s facility in California perfectly positions us to address the booming North and South American markets while also giving us access to their world-class workforce and capabilities.”
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“It’s abundantly clear to us at Karma that the market for electric commercial vehicles is poised for rapid growth,” said Jeff Wawryzniak, CEO of Karma Automotive. “B–ON’s product is a proven winner in this market, and we are proud to be partnering with B-ON to be the exclusive manufacturer in North America of their last mile delivery vehicles. Their product combined with our existing technical expertise and Customized Flexible Manufacturing operational capabilities as an OEM is a recipe for success, both in 2023 and down the line as the partnership grows.”
The facility boasts comprehensive manufacturing and customization services, including complete vehicle assembly, full paint capabilities, engineering, homologation testing, certification, and supply chain management. With this partnership, B-ON aims to expand its presence in the US, Canada, and Latin America.
