Electric vehicle manufacturer Arrival will invest over US$41m in a new micro-factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, to produce zero-emission vans for UPS and other fleet operators.
The UK-based startup’s second US micro-factory will be built in West Charlotte, near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and is due to begin production by Q3 2022, creating more than 250 new jobs in the area.
The modern production center will be able to assemble up to 10,000 electric delivery vans each year, many of which are expected to enter UPS’s North American fleet as part of the post’s commitment to purchase up to 10,000 vehicles from Arrival in the USA and Europe.
Luke Wake, vice president of maintenance and engineering, UPS Corporate Automotive, commented, “We’re excited by this significant milestone that will enable UPS to economically deploy electric vehicles throughout our global operations at an increasing pace.
“At UPS, we’re laser focused on finding operational efficiencies. Establishing factories that can quickly serve both the European and North American markets is a masterful use of logistics. We can’t wait to see UPS’s new electric vehicles roll out of this factory, as this is one of many paths UPS is taking to reduce its CO2 emissions.”
Arrival’s first two micro-factories, in Bicester, UK, and Rock Hill, south Carolina, are due to go into operation this year.
Michael Ableson, CEO, Arrival Automotive, said, “Our newest micro-factory will be producing two different classes of EV vans for our US customers, expanding the zero-emissions options for fleet operators and accelerating the mass adoption of electric vehicles.”
