Kuka AG To Build GM's BrightDrop EV600 Electric Van

Kuka AG, a German parts supplier, will be manufacturing GM's BirghtDrop EV600 Electric Van which is meant for commercial use for logistics providers like FedEx. The automotive giant hopes that it can roll out the vehicles in late 2021, revealed Travis Katz, the CEO of GM's BirghtDrop commercial van business in an interview with Reuters. 

"We are working alongside Kuka for initial low-volume production to keep up with market demand and remain on track to deliver our first EV600 order later this year," he revealed. 

Reportedly, Kuka will roll out fewer than 500 hand-built models at its plant in Livonia, Michigan, starting in late October. GM was forced to revert to Kuka because its assembly part in Ingersoll, Ontario wasn't ready for the production of the BrightDrop EV600 electric van. Currently, that facility is building the Chevrolet Equinox which will go on till April 2022. 

This will be the first GM commercial vehicle to use its Ultium batteries

GM believes that it will begin production for the EV600 in its Canadian factory by only November 2022 in one shift. Its second shift will only start by 2023 while the third one will start in 2024. The plan for GM is to invest $800 million in the CAMI plant to produce the delivery van. 

Interestingly, the BrightDrop EV600 will be the first use of its Ultium battery system in a commercial vehicle. It has an estimated driving range of 402 kilometres on a full charge and a peak charge rate of 273 kilometres via 120kW DC fast charging. It offers over 16,990 litres of cargo area and GVWR of less than 4,536 kg. GM estimates the market for such vans is over $850 billion by 2025.