Munro plans major expansion with new boss and £17m order book
Munro Vehicles, the UK firm behind the purpose-built Series M electric 4×4, has appointed a new chairman ahead of a major expansion over the next 18 months.
Former GM and Arrival executive Avinash Rugoobur has joined the original leadership team of Russ Peterson and Ross Anderson, as the off-road specialist completes testing of its innovative utility vehicle and looks to ramp up production.
Glasgow-based Munro Vehicles was set up in 2019 with the aim of developing a dedicated off-road electric vehicle for use in the most challenging applications and locations – from infrastructure and agriculture to military and mining.
Over the last 18 months, the vehicle has undergone intensive testing, with just a handful of customer deliveries supporting the programme. However, over the next 18 months, Munro aims to fulfil almost 250 more existing orders worth in excess of £17 million.
Announcing the appointment, Munro CEO and co-founder, Russ Peterson, said: “Avinash brings a wealth of experience from the global automotive and technology sectors and proven expertise in delivering sustainable, strategic growth for start-up and scale-up businesses.
“Together, we will establish Munro as the global leader in sustainable specialist 4×4 vehicles built for the world’s toughest industries and exploit the $337 billion global electric SUV market, which is expected to grow to $13.9 trillion by 2030.”
Avinash Rugoobur, added: “It is an honour to accept the position of Munro chairman. All the components are there to ensure success. There is a clear need for such a specialist vehicle from customers in industries such as agriculture, emergency response, defence, infrastructure and mining, targeting net zero.”
The Series M 4×4 costs from £63,000 before VAT and offers three body styles – an SUV-style Utility, pick-up Truck and bare Chassis to accommodate custom bodies. There are two powertrain options, both using an 85kWh battery and offering either 228bhp and 43lb ft or 375bhp and 516lb ft. Both offer a 1,050kg payload capacity and towing weights of 2,250kg for the less powerful model and 3,500kg for the more powerful version.
While it is road-legal, the Series M has been designed primarily for off-road use and Munro says it exceeds the performance of the most capable diesel off-roader on gradients, breakover, ramp and departure angles.
Ross Anderson, Munro’s head of powertrain, noted: “Most vehicles in the SUV and truck segments are now designed with road use as their primary function; those attributes often compromise their suitability in off-road and commercial environments.
“Our products have market-leading off-road attributes, an underlying platform that can be adapted to specialist applications, and a unique safety strategy designed to address the risks light vehicles face in extreme and unpredictable environments. By producing durable, long-lasting, and serviceable electric vehicles, Munro offers a clean alternative for sectors that traditionally rely on fuel-hungry 4x4s to operate.”
