Yet Another US Automaker Rushes Into EV Gap Left By Tesla

Several companies are moving into electric truck and van territory that Tesla has largely left open. The Detroit startup Grounded EVs, known for building electric RVs on Ford and GM van platforms, just raised $5 million in seed funding and is opening a 50,000-square-foot factory in Detroit. It will start making electric and gas-powered box trucks this month, aimed at businesses like food service, mobile healthcare, and public safety fleets rather than individual homeowners.

On the pickup side, Ford's Fathom electric truck is set for volume production next year, Rivian is expanding with help from the Department of Energy, and Slate Auto and Scout Motors (part of Volkswagen) have electric pickups heading toward production. Tesla's Cybertruck, meanwhile, has struggled to catch on. Other companies are chasing medium and heavy-duty electric trucks: Harbinger is working with the Army on hybrid-electric resupply trucks, Workhorse Group landed a 100-unit order for its electric step vans, and Freightliner is pushing its own electric box truck. Tesla's long-delayed Semi truck has finally entered production with mostly positive early reviews. A California startup called Revoy has raised $27 million more (for $41 million total) for a swappable battery unit that retrofits onto diesel trucks.

None of this points to a specific rebate or program for homeowners right now. But it signals that electric trucks and vans, in various sizes and for various uses, are becoming a bigger part of the vehicle market, which could eventually widen choices and lower prices across electric vehicles generally.