Bollinger Motors, the U.S. electric truck manufacturer attempting to stabilise operations after months of financial distress, has missed two payroll cycles and is facing multiple legal claims from suppliers over unpaid invoices. The Oak Park, Michigan-based company cited insufficient available funds as the reason for the missed wage payments, according to information reported by the Detroit Free Press.
State records show the Michigan Department of Labour has received 59 claims for unpaid wages from employees. At least six suppliers have also filed lawsuits seeking payment of overdue bills that together exceed $5 million. In an internal email dated 31 October, Managing Director Walter Collins told staff, “Unfortunately, we were unable to process this week’s payroll as scheduled due to a delay in receiving the expected funds.” A follow-up message on 6 November said the company had still not secured financing.
The company previously entered receivership in May after it failed to meet financial commitments, including salaries and vendor payments. Although the court-supervised process ended in June, recent correspondence indicates that Bollinger has continued to struggle despite cost-cutting measures. Production of its B4 electric truck was suspended in January after the company fell behind on $1.8 million owed to its contract manufacturer.
Founded in 2015 by Robert Bollinger, the company initially developed the B1 and B2 electric SUV and pickup before shifting exclusively to commercial trucks. Bollinger later sold most of his stake to Mullen Automotive in 2022 and has since departed the company. In March, he filed a lawsuit against Bollinger Motors related to a $10 million loan he says was never repaid.
