At the start of the year, there was optimism surrounding the future of the electric StreetScooter delivery van, especially after its inventor, Günther Schuh, regained control following the bankruptcy of B-ON GmbH in 2023. However, it has now been confirmed that production will no longer continue in Düren, Germany, and will instead be relocated to Thailand, beginning in 2025.
In early 2024, Schuh, along with his company e.Volution, purchased the rights to the electric vehicle and entered into a strategic partnership with Neapco, a contract manufacturer. This partnership was expected to restart production in Düren, but the site has been at a standstill since July. Schuh explained that the decision to relocate production to Thailand was driven by more favorable production conditions and the opportunity to attract investment, which would allow for the international marketing of the German-developed electric vehicle.
Schuh will set up a 50:50 joint venture with a Thai investor, with plans to produce the StreetScooter near Bangkok. While the timeline and exact investment remain undisclosed, German media reports indicate significant financial commitments from the Asian investor. The decision follows the bankruptcy of B-ON, which struggled with delivery delays and quality issues that hindered production of the electric Sherpa van. Schuh had invested millions of his own money to try to revive the project but acknowledged that it was no longer financially viable to continue production in Germany.
The move to Thailand will impact around 200 jobs in Germany, while the future of the Neapco plant, which employs over 500 people, is now in question. The closure of the Düren facility and the shift to Thailand reflects ongoing challenges in the electric vehicle market, including competition from lower-cost rivals and the complex landscape of subsidies and regulations.
