Austin's electric vehicle scene is all the rage these days. Just think Tesla, Ayro and Hyliion for starters.
Now another player is entering the market, although it's not a direct competitor. Volcon Inc., an all-electric off-road vehicle startup, announced Oct. 21 it launched and has chosen Austin as its headquarters.
The startup is designing two- and four-wheeled electric, off-road adventure and utility vehicles. Its first vehicle, the two-wheeled "Grunt," will be delivered to customers next spring. It has a 100 mile range and retails for about $6,000.
The startup is building the bikes at a temporary production facility in Round Rock. It's on the hunt for a location in Austin for headquarters, research and development facilities, manufacturing lines, testing grounds and a customer experience center. The company is led by recently appointed CEO Andrew Leisner, and it announced that Bruce Riggs, a former Ayro chief of operations and quality, will be Volcon's COO.
Volcon said in the announcement it is the " first all-electric, off-road powersports company," with a focus "on providing fun, family off-road adventures, backcountry sportsman exploration and practical utility."
"Volcon was quickly funded with an oversubscribed seed round, confirming the enthusiasm for the category," Leisner, previously senior vice president and managing director at outdoors and motorsport media company Bonnier Motorcycle Group, said in a statement. "Having grown up riding with my father and continuing that tradition on motorcycles and UTVs with my daughters, I am excited to help lead the evolution of the powersports industry with electric vehicles that enhance the outdoor experience while reducing our environmental footprint for future generations. Thanks to companies like Tesla, the electrification of the powersports industry is no longer a question of if, but when, and Volcon is positioning itself to play a substantial role in this rapidly changing environment."
Austin is becoming a hub for electric vehicle production. Tesla's $1.1 billion factory is under construction in eastern Travis County. Ayro is scaling up to produce tens of thousands of light-duty vehicles that can be used to delivery food and ferry people around airports. Hyliion went public earlier this month with an aim to grow revenue from $1 million this year to nearly $2.1 billion in 2024 as it creates electric power trains for big rigs.
Volcon said it will follow the Grunt with four-wheeled models in late 2021 and 2022 called the "Stag" and "Beast." The company promised more "family-oriented models are slated to be announced soon."
Volcon said it in the announcement it will keep its manufacturing in the United States as it seeks a home in the Austin area, "what is becoming the electric vehicle capital of the world."
