Karma plans US-built all-electric pickup and SUV


Fully electric pickups are suddenly all the rage—or, we should say, the possibility of them, as none of them have actually arrived.

Monday, news broke of another electric truck potentially in the works—this one from California-based, Chinese-funded Karma Automotive. 

According to a Bloomberg report, directly citing Karma’s COO, Kevin Pavlov, the Karma pickup would be built on a new all-wheel-drive platform and would cost less than the $135,000 Karma Revero, which is built on a design carried over from the Fisker Karma.

The pickup and a future SUV that would share the architecture would be produced at its factory in Moreno Valley, California. 

Pavlov led the supplier Magna International’s E-Car Systems, which included development for the Ford Focus Electric

Karma Revero assembly at Karma Automotive factory, Moreno Valley, California, July 2016

Karma Revero assembly at Karma Automotive factory, Moreno Valley, California, July 2016

We’re not sure if this new plan precludes Karma’s previously mentioned aim to shop its plug-in series-hybrid system, from the Revero, out to other companies for potential development of an extended-range electric truck.

The Karma pickup would be a rival to the Rivian R1T, which is due to go into production in Illinois by the end of 2020; electric pickups are expected from both GM and Ford by the end of 2021. 

Green Car Reports has reached out to Karma for clarification and comment. 



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