Texas-based manufacturer Canoo is venturing into the UK van market following a successful showing of its vehicles at the CV Show earlier this year.
It’s now received UK regulatory approval for its right-hand drive electric vans and is launching a new operations hub in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
The company has achieved Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) certification, allowing its LDV 130 and LDV 190 (above) commercial electric vans to begin road testing within UK fleets. The US company has established Canoo Technologies UK Limited and will use Bicester Motion as its base for UK operations.
The IVA certification means that Canoo’s LDV 130 and LDV 190 vans meet safety and environmental standards, which is essential for the company to roll out its vans in commercial and government fleets within the UK. The approval allows the vans to be registered with the DVLA and cleared for road use, following a streamlined approval process and completing minor modifications to its US-certified models.
Canoo chose the Bicester Motion campus, known for its automotive heritage and for housing over 50 mobility-focused companies, to establish a dedicated operations, customer, and activation centre. The new centre houses the entire UK operation and provides a space where customers can get hands-on and test-drive the right-hand-drive vans.
Daniel Geoghegan, CEO of Bicester Motion: “We relish the opportunity to welcome like-minded technology pioneers to the UK to join our drive to positively shape the future of mobility. Over the last decade we have built a world-leading community for disruptive mobility leaders, manufacturers, innovators and change-makers who have a shared passion to deliver the mobility solutions we need for the future. It is clear that Canoo shares our vision, and we are pleased to provide them with a dedicated centre-of-excellence from which they can launch their UK operation and to establish another international marque at Bicester Motion.”
This British debut aligns with the UK’s regulatory targets for zero-emission vehicles. The current Zero Emission Vehicle mandate states that 70% of vans sold must be zero-emission by 2030, working towards a complete transition by 2035. Demand for small electric vans has increased, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reporting strong growth throughout 2024. Canoo’s move into the UK market is set to leverage this demand, aided by the government’s current plug-in van grant.
Tony Aquila, executive chairman and CEO of Canoo: “Our expansion into the UK is a key milestone in our global growth strategy, enabling us to establish a local presence for our commercial customers to better serve their needs. Six months ago, we debuted our right-hand drive vehicle, the USPS’ LDV 190 and also our LDV 130, and hosted and attended numerous fleet shows and customer test drives on tracks to establish ourselves as an American partner in the region. The UK activation centre at Bicester Motion will allow us to leverage the local expertise while strengthening our commercial operations in this high-potential market that provides incentives including the plug-in van grant to help the growing demand and reach the government’s zero-emissions goals. We look forward to sharing more in the near future.”
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