EV Electra is a Lebanese start-up working in the manufacture of electric vehicles in Lebanon and the Middle East. The company emerged from Jihad Mohammad Investments Company to be an independent company with branches in Canada, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, with the company's headquarters being based in Khalde, Lebanon. EV Electra has established a centre dedicated to research and development in the field of electric vehicles, the first example of such an office in the Middle East.[1]
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017; 6 years ago |
| Founder | Jihad Mohammad |
| Headquarters | Khalde, Lebanon |
| Products | Automobiles |
Number of employees | 300 |
| Website | https://evelectra.com/ |
History
editFounding
editEV Electra was established in 2017 by Lebanese-born Canadian-Palestinian businessman Jihad Mohammad, who acts as the chairman and CEO of the company. The company has about 300 employees.[2]
In 2020, EV Electra announced plans to reveal the 'Quds Rise', a two seater, electric sports car reportedly capable of reaching 165 km/h, with a maximum range of 400 km between charges. The unveiling of the car was delayed to 2021, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The car was subsequently revealed in Beirut, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2021, and the car being priced at approximately $30,000.[3] Production never materialised. The car was unveiled during the Lebanese economic crisis, in which imported car sales hit a record low.[4] The name 'Quds' is derived from the Arabic name for Jerusalem; Al Quds.[5] The company later revealed plans to set up 100 recharging stations around Lebanon, connected to generators.[6]
EV Electra subsequently revealed the Quds Capital ES electric sedan, alongside various other renderings of concept vehicles.[7]
Acquisition of Detroit Electric
editIn November 2021, EV Electra acquired a majority stake in Detroit Electric, a car company founded in 2008 by Albert Lam, and named after the car of the same name produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company from 1907-1939.[8] The investment was intended to allow Detroit Electric to "expand its operations in Europe and Asia, with the aim of producing several EV and hydrogen electric hybrid models over the next five years."[9]
Cancelled deal with NEVS
editIn December 2023, Jihad Mohammad announced that EV Electra had purchased the rights to the NEVS Emily GT and PONS Robotaxi projects. A joint statement with NEVS revealed that revealed that EV Electra would soon begin to produce cars in Turkey, with Mohammad adding that cars will soon be produced at the Swedish Trollhättan Assembly again.[10] Despite this, EV Electra failed to secure a development site in Trollhättan, instead purchasing a factory in Italy, leading to NEVS cancelling the agreement and proceeding with the project independently.[11][12]
Controversy
editAlleged cryptocurrency scam
editEV Electra was alleged to be part of a cryptocurrency scam, using car manufacture as a front and stealing money from investors. Jihad Mohammed responded, stating the developer behind the software was detained Swedish businessman Anthony Norman who has been convicted of multiple counts of fraud. Mohammed added that Norman had been sacked and investors had been refunded.[13][14]
Vehicle designs theft
editIn late 2023, reports surfaced alleging that EV Electra had used images of cars from other manufacturers on their website, presenting them as their own designs. These cars included the Skywell ET5 SUV, a K-1 Attack kit car and the Detroit Electric SP.01, pictured with an EV Electra emblem.[15] All these designs have since been removed from the EV Electra website. In September 2024, EV Electra published information on its website about the EV Electra Gaza GT, which was copied from the NEVS Emily GT, although all intellectual property, equipment and technical details remain in the hands of NEVS.[16]
References
edit- ^ واكيم, أيلي (2021-01-08). "إي في إلكترا رايس 2021 الجديدة بالكامل - السيارة الكهربائية الرياضية اللبنانية 100% وبسعر منافس جداً". موقع ويلز - الأرشيف. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ "الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام - شركة EV Electra وجامعة Le Cnam-Liban تقيمان دورات تقنية في مجال تصنيع السّيارات الكهربائية". الأحداث (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ Davis, William (25 May 2021). "Electra Quds Rise EV: Lebanon's first car unveiled in Beirut parking lot". Drive. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Lebanon launches first electric car despite crisis". France 24. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Anderson, Brad (28 April 2021). "The Electra Quds Rise Is An Electric Sports Car From Lebanon". Carscoops. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Lebanon launches first electric car despite economic crisis". Al Jazeera. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "QUDS CAPITAL ES". EV Electra. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Aničić, Goran (2 December 2023). "Unveiling the Buyer Behind the Emily GT Project: The Rise of EV Electra in the Automotive World". Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Detroit Electric - EVElectra - EV Electra LTD". EV Electra. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Martin, Charlie. "Saab-engineered Nevs Emily GT saved by Canadian EV start-up". Autocar. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Martin, Charlie; Culmer, Kris (2024-04-25). "Nevs Emily GT rescuer buys factory in Italy; first EVs due this year". Autocar. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Aničić, Goran (2024-05-24). "NEVS Cancels Deal with EV Electra: Reviving the Saab Heritage with Emily GT!". Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "Emily GT-affären: Scam eller seriös?". auto motor & sport (in Swedish). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Prolific MLM scammer Anthony Norman arrested in Sweden". behindmlm.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ Rask, Kristofer (4 December 2023). "Bluffen: Här är de riktiga elbilarna bakom EV Electra". Altomelbil.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Anicic, Goran (4 December 2023). "NEVS Breaks Free: The Real Story Behind the Emily GT and EV Electra's Gaza GT". saabplanet.com. Retrieved 10 September 2024.