Arrival EV Startup Chooses Charlotte for North American HQ

Arrival, a British electric vehicle company intending to go public via a merger with CIIG Merger Corp., has selected Charlotte as the location for its North American headquarters.

The firm announced it will create 150 jobs to staff the new headquarters and allocate approximately $3 million to establish office space in Charlotte’s South End area. Arrival indicates these roles will span various corporate functions, including personnel, branding, financial operations, and general administration.

For almost five years, Arrival operated as a relatively unknown electric vehicle developer until January, when it revealed a $110 million investment from Hyundai and Kia. Since then, the company has increasingly publicized its strategies and collaborations, leading to last month’s announcement of a planned merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to facilitate its entry into public markets. This merger is anticipated to be finalized during the first three months of 2021.

Arrival is focused on developing electric vehicles that can compete on price with conventional gasoline-powered vehicles and offer reduced operating costs compared to other electric vehicle options. The company attributes its approach to its adaptable electric vehicle platform – described as a “skateboard” design applicable to multiple vehicle types – and its strategy of establishing small-scale production facilities, or microfactories, in close proximity to major urban centers.

The company intends to initially manufacture electric commercial vehicles, starting with van and bus configurations. Arrival Automotive CEO Mike Ableson has stated the goal is to have four distinct vehicle models available for purchase by 2023.

Arrival’s North American headquarters will be situated within 30 miles of its inaugural U.S. microfactory, currently under development in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The company currently has a workforce exceeding 1,200 employees across five engineering centers and two microfactories worldwide.