Editor’s Note: I’ve been planning on trying to do this (with some partners) for quite a while … but I certainly have too much on my plate. Am happy to see quality people are on it and I can cross it off my list. 😉
The “first” cross-brand global sales and distribution network for both new and used electric vehicles is now in the process of being created by the newly announced EVEN Electric venture, according to a new press release.
The new venture, which was announced on August 17th in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada), will provide the new electric vehicle (EV) sales and distribution network “through an innovative retail and online customer experience.”
“The traditional dealership model has proven unable to deliver the sales and service experience that EV owners want and need,” stated Mike Elwood, CEO of the new Canada-based venture. “Our EVEN model was developed to combine the best aspects of both an on-line and in-store retail experience to make it easy for EV customers to find and acquire exactly what they want, when and where they want it.”
The press release provides the details: “EVEN will maintain electric vehicle inventories at efficient and cost-effective centralized processing centers in key countries. Once selected, a vehicle will be shipped to the nearest ‘Customer Centre,’ a streamlined and less capital intensive version of a dealership. Vehicle deliveries — as well as service — can occur at either the Customer Centre, or directly in an owner’s driveway.”
It’s also worth noting here that the new venture is now “engaging and consulting with governments, fleets, and NGOs to more fully participate in development of EV infrastructure and deployment. Elwood said that in addition to recent successes in Iceland, EVEN is in advanced discussions with locations in Canada, Norway, Panama, Ireland, Belgium, and the UK with others coming on line. A recent pilot project in Iceland proved that consumer demand for EVs is high, provided the proper distribution and infrastructure services are in place. The EVEN model quickly sold 100 cars and left an additional 200 orders unmet simply due to supply constraints.”
The new venture is primarily the work of 3 main partners: Mike Elwood, CEO and co-founder, as well as co-founder of Electric Mobility Canada; Gisli Gislason, Chairman and founder, also the founder of Northern Lights Energy Holding and Icelandic Holding Company; and John Gordon, COO and co-founder, and also operator of Canada’s first 100% Multi Brand Electric Vehicle Dealership and Service Centre, Green Rock EVS, since 2013.
Images by Gisli Gislason
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