Mullen broadcasts US battery plant, Dragonfly sports activities automobile

Mullen is an electrical car startup primarily based in California that has largely flown underneath the radar however has been making a variety of noise in current months.

For instance, the corporate revealed the 5 crossover final November on the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Present. The Tesla Mannequin Y rival is due in 2024 with a 325-mile vary, and can begin from $55,000. Mullen in February additionally stated it was growing solid-state battery know-how, which the corporate stated may seem in a next-generation model of the 5.

Mullen has now come out with an announcement that it plans to assemble its personal battery packs at its present R&D facility in Monrovia, California. The ability was initially established by failed EV startup Coda. Mullen bought the belongings of Coda in 2014 and took over the Monrovia facility in 2017.

Mullen 5

Mullen will use the ability to assemble battery packs not just for the 5 crossover but additionally for a deliberate cargo van and sports activities automobile. The sports activities automobile, generally known as the Dragonfly, is a model of the Qiantu K50 which was revealed in 2016 and presently on sale in China.

“Constructing our personal battery packs is smart because it reduces our reliance on third-party suppliers and lessens our threat of being subjected to the waves of provide and significant element shortages,” David Michery, Mullen’s CEO and chairman, stated in an announcement.

Mullen additionally plans to assemble autos within the U.S. The corporate final yr acquired a plant in Tunica, Mississippi, the place it plans to start out manufacturing of its cargo van, generally known as the One, later this yr. The corporate will ultimately add manufacturing of the 5 crossover on the plant in 2024. Mullen has beforehand stated it is going to import the Dragonfly sports activities automobile from China.