Arrival is a start-up focused on the research and development, and design of commercial electric vehicles (EVs). It also designs and develops EV components, robotic manufacturing processes for EVs, and associated software with the intent of supplying and revolutionizing the EV industry at large. The company operates in the UK, the US, and internationally and is a subsidy of Kinetik S.à r.l. Kinetik is a private equity firm located in Holland with a focus on technology of any kind. The firm operates in a different manner than most VC or private equity firms and is not limited by the type of technology or the stage of the business.
When it comes to the EV market, Arrival is working to reinvent the wheel and seeks to redesign not just the vehicles but the ways they are made. Unlike competitors that are building the largest factories possible, Arrival’s business model is based on small-cell manufacturing. The goal is to send robotic equipment to areas of high demand and use existing manufacturing space to set up an assembly plant. The assembly plant will rely on local supply chains and labor pools and is expected to be operational within 6 months of each project’s start date.
Arrival’s product portfolio includes commercial vans, busses, and cars that stand out from the general run of commercial vehicles because they are intended to be beautiful as well as functional. The vehicles also feature built-in technologies that aid, improve, and speed-up servicing as well as damage-resistant body panels for longer life on the road. The Arrival Van is intended for final-mile deliveries which is a hot category for the EV market. The Arrival Bus is intended for inner city use and provides ample seating for 24 passengers while the Arrival Car is intended for the ride-share market.
The build method at Arrival is unique as well. The components for each vehicle are being designed and manufactured in-house in order to maintain complete control of the modular design. Modular functionality means each component can be used across the vehicle product line which also means decreased costs, quicker production ramps, and faster times to market on new vehicle designs.
The components are plug-n-play as well which means hardware-enabled software. Each component is plugged into the vehicle build and integrates itself into the system once activated. The components are also wifi connected and can update themselves which means easier repairs and an extended lifetime for each vehicle relative to the competition.
Arrival is slated to begin production on its first vehicle in late 2022. The first vehicle will be the Van which can come in a delivery or cargo model. The main difference between the two is the number and locations of doors that make the van easier to maneuver inside or more spacious for added cargo. Production should ramp quickly as the company is already sitting on an order for 10,000 vans and has over 140,000 interested inquiries. The next product launch will be the Arrival Bus followed by the Arrival Car.
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