If you haven’t heard of EV Technology Group (EVTG) yet, you’ll know right away. The Canada-based company announced a series of news this year, including its acquisition of Moke International. Founded with a vision to impress an iconic brand in 2021, it has grand ambitions.
“Check out this space!” said Wouter Witvoet, Founder and CEO of EVTG.
Auto Futures has been discussing plans for Witvoet and his company. But rewinding a bit, he first told me about his epiphany moment.
“I saw the iconic MOKE on the street while on vacation in Saint-Tropez and fell in love instantly. Afterwards, I was on the phone with MOKE, being part of the team and seeing the opportunity to electrify this iconic brand, our mission began.”
Witvoet’s background is in technology and finance, but he decided his next company should be in the automotive division.
“As we move into the electric age, we can see that the concept of driving for fun is fading away. It’s a functional item sold at .Practical attributes like battery range and charge time,” he says.
EVTG’s main purpose is to provide the iconic driving experience that people love with electric vehicles.
“Our strategy is to steadily build the EVTG ‘house of brands’. We will see some exciting news in the coming weeks and months regarding new brands joining the EVTG family. We acquire brands with solid growth value because of their historical importance and existing brand recognition.”
In July 2022, EVTG announced an agreement to acquire up to 100% of the iconic MOKE brand. This buggy was first made famous by James Bond, Brigitte Bardot, The Beatles and others.
“MOKE International fits perfectly with EVTG’s mission. It’s a car with a rich and fascinating history, people know and love it. I know the word “marker” gets thrown around a lot, but MOKE is a real icon – originally designed by Mini designer Sir Alec Issigonis, driven by celebrities since the 1960s, and featured in multiple James Bond films. It is synonymous with glamorous places like MOKE, the French Riviera.It symbolizes fun, freedom and excitement. I think that’s what his EV market is missing right now,” he explains Witvoet.
MOKE International CEO Isobel Dando said in a press statement: With the right balance of expertise, investment and ambition, we are the perfect company to take your fast growing business to the next level.
“The MOKE works perfectly as an EV, a vehicle typically used for short vacation trips, a ‘villa-to-beach buggy’. By becoming a zero-emission vehicle, the new Electric MOKE will: Keeping the world’s most beautiful places clean is a core value of the MOKE International brand,” he adds Witvoet.
Revitalization of existing brands
In early August 2022, EVTG made another big announcement. His plans to acquire Fablink Group, a UK manufacturing specialist and Tier 1 supplier. The move will allow EVTG to bring its supply chain, manufacturing and assembly expertise in-house.
“The new electric MOKE – MOKE International was EVTG’s first brand acquisition – is already being manufactured by Fablink under the Streamline Automotive division, which specializes in the production of small and medium volume electric vehicles,” said Witvoet. I’m here.
Despite the Fablink acquisition, the company has no plans to build its own electric vehicle.
“As the era of e-mobility accelerates, we are seeing many new EVs being produced by entirely new manufacturers. By revitalizing existing brands that already have followers and romances, we are avoiding the challenge of building a brand from scratch. This is key to the EVTG mission, ”he said. I will explain.
“I am the first to admit that EVTG is still becoming a well-known car brand. Selling EVTG brand cars will be a big challenge. Anyone who is interested is familiar with the MOKE brand and probably has a great love for it,” Witvoet adds.
perfect background
Going forward, the company plans to open an EV Center of Excellence based in Silverstone Park, UK. This place is F1,
“As EVTG expands the number of brands in its portfolio, the EV Center of Excellence in Silverstone, the heart of the UK automotive industry, will become the development and engineering hub for EVTG’s vehicles, including Electric MOKE. of cars will be developed from design to production line,” said Witvoet.
“Silverstone is the center of the UK’s automotive technology industry and as a result the country is home to a vast number of highly skilled people, the type of talent EVTG needs to continue to expand and develop. For symbolic reasons too.For decades Silverstone has been the center of motorsport in the UK, home to many well-known car brands with a long history.EVTG’s love of cars and driving It makes a perfect backdrop as it is a company founded on the basis of
Fun, good looking and well designed
It seems highly unlikely that EVTG would sit still. Witvoet says:
Finally, we asked Witvoet what mobility will look like by the end of the decade.
“Electrical technology is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Currently it works for low-distance personal transport like cars, but large and heavy vehicles require much more development. Developing hydrogen technology for urban areas. For mass transit vehicles like buses and hobbyist cars (thinking cars like the Porsche 911) synthetic fuels are considered zero emissions , but retains the sound and feel of a combustion engine,” he says.
“As car owners are forced off city center roads by taxes and levies, the road network is becoming safer for small personal transport such as e-scooters. And bike and scooter riders in cities like London are at a huge safety risk because they are fighting for tight road spaces in many cars, vans and trucks. But if those cars, vans, trucks are removed or reduced and things like cycle lanes are removed.It will continue to increase and develop – it will Attract new audiences.
“As a result, e-scooters will become much more popular. Unlike moped-type scooters or e-bikes, which do not require special licenses or training, foot scooters have been familiar to many of us since childhood. It’s a thing,’ he says. predict.
“What I do know is that even in this era of rapid change and transition, customers want to buy cars that are fun, good looking and well designed. occupies a place.
