The automotive company Bollinger Motors was founded in Hobart, New York in 2014[1][2] by its namesake, American entrepreneur Robert Bollinger. The aim was to develop a full-size electricoff-road vehicle.[3]
In April 2017, Bollinger showed an aluminum chassis with a 105 in (2,700 mm) wheelbase that weighed 295 lb (134 kg) alone, designed for a forthcoming "all-electric sport utility truck".[4] The first result of the work of Bollinger's designers was a prototype of a three-door car called the B1, which was presented in June 2017.[5] The car has an austere design distinguished by an angular body covered with matte varnish and the possibility of disassembling the rear part of the roof,[6] its appearance was compared by the automotive press to vintage Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender utility vehicles.[7][8] The market launch of the model was then scheduled for 2019. By August 2017, the manufacturer managed to collect 6,000 "expressions of interest" for the Bollinger B1; these did not require a refundable deposit.[9][8] Bollinger deliberately designed the 2017 B1 prototype as a medium-duty Class 3 truck with a GVWR between 10,001 and 14,000 lb (4,536 and 6,350 kg) in order to reduce the regulatory burden on the company compared to passenger cars and light-duty trucks.[10]
Photographed at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Oct 2021
In March 2018, Bollinger decided to move its headquarters from Hobart, New York, to Ferndale, Michigan.[11] Two years after the presentation of the B1 prototype, in September 2019, Bollinger presented its first two cars as production-ready prototypes. The production variant of the B1 model underwent cosmetic changes in the exterior and became longer with an additional set of rear doors and a large 4-door B2 pickup was added to the line.[12]
Both the B1 and B2 were built on what Bollinger called its E-Chassis; Bollinger stated in March 2020 the largely symmetric E-Chassis, which had double wishbone independent suspension at all four wheels, would be made available for commercial upfitters in 2021.[13] In April 2020, Bollinger announced that serial production and sales of both B1 and B2 models would start in 2021[14] and showed renderings of a B2 chassis cab model, offering the cab section of the B2 in 2- and 4-door versions with a variety of wheelbases to accommodate a variety of commercial uses.[15] In August 2020, the company headquarters moved from Ferndale to Oak Park, Michigan.[16] 1,000 preorders were received for the B1 and B2 trucks by the fall, with interested potential owners paying a refundable US$1,000 deposit.[17]
Also in August 2020, Bollinger showed renderings of the Deliver-E,[18]apanel van designed for package delivery companies spanning multiple weight classes, from Class 2B to 5, and a choice of wheelbases. The Deliver-E does not use the E-Chassis, and would include a variety of battery capacity options for the van-specific platform, which would be equipped with front-wheel drive.[19][20]
In March 2021, Bollinger announced the B2 cutaway chassis cab and E-Chassis had been renamed to the B3 Chass-E Cab (with a 2-door cab) and Chass-E, respectively, and provided prices for rear-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive with dual rear wheels, and all-drive versions.[21][22]
In mid-January 2022, the company announced a major shift in direction, postponing development of its consumer models in favor of a commercial vehicle platform, saying it would refund B1 and B2 deposits. The Bollinger Commercial Platform for medium-duty Class 3-6 trucks is a rear-drive skateboard chassis with a leaf-sprung rear live axle and front double wishbone suspension that will be offered to upfitters,[17] which will use the platform as the basis for tow trucks, trash trucks, buses and other commercial EVs.[23][24][25] In May 2022, Roush Industries was announced as the manufacturing partner for the Commercial Platform[26] and the Deliver-E van.[27] In September 2022, renderings of the Commercial Platform-based Bollinger B4 cab-forward medium-duty Class 4 truck were unveiled.[28]
Also in September 2022, Mullen Automotive acquired a 60% controlling interest in Bollinger Motors for US$148.2 million.[29] The news spurred speculation the B1/B2 could be relaunched.[30]
