Latest news with #B4
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Electric car brand ‘on brink of collapse' with ‘all assets frozen' – months after suing British EV firm
Bollinger Motors President and CEO Bryan Chambers has issued a statement about the future of the company NO CHARGE Electric car brand 'on brink of collapse' with 'all assets frozen' – months after suing British EV firm Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ELECTRIC car brand is on the "brink of collapse" with "all assets frozen" after suing another EV firm. The start-up is recognisable for its big blocky motors, but they may be on their way out. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Bollinger Motors produces a range of electric vehicles Credit: Alamy 3 The company is currently embroiled in a major lawsuit Credit: Getty Images Michigan-based manufacturer, Bollinger Motors, was founded in 2014 and quickly gained traction. Its chunky B1 SUV and B2 pickup truck showcased minimalist designs and robust features - and both were completely electric. The company's founder and former CEO Robert Bollinger filed a lawsuit in March, in which he claimed he was owed an eyewatering $10 million. Robert had taken a step back from the company in June 2024, handing over the reins to California-based company Mullen Automotive Inc. According to Robert's lawsuit, he issued a $10 million loan to the company which required periodic interest payments. He is now claiming that those payment terms haven't been met. According to Automotive News, the former CEO had requested that the company would be placed into receivership to secure all of its assets - which were used as collateral for the loan. On May 7, that request was granted. However, this means that Bollinger Motor's assets - including an unknown number of B4 trucks - are frozen. The legal storm didn't just stop with Robert Bollinger's lawsuit and at least two other suppliers have also taken Bollinger Motors to court, alleging unpaid bills and broken contracts. Dogs prefer EVs to fuel-powered cars with heart rates revealing exactly how your pet feels on drive, study shows_1 Now Bollinger Motors is now under the control of a court-appointed receiver. This receiver has a tight 30-day window to come up with a plan to pay off the company's debts. If the money isn't transferred over, then according to it could seal the fate of the startup. Bollinger Motors President and CEO Bryan Chambers told Motor1: "We can't comment on the outcome of the court case at this time. "During this period, we are focused on moving forward and remain committed to bringing our customers a world-class vehicle, and we remain optimistic about our future and the impact we will have on the commercial vehicle market. 'We continue to work with our dealers to sell and service the Bollinger B4. "We have temporarily paused production as we adjust to current market conditions and plan for Model Year 2026 production.' This isn't the only battle Bollinger Motors has been in. Previously, the EV company battled Scottish electric car maker Munro Vehicles after it launched its off-roader in December 2023. Bollinger alleged that the Munro MK-1 is too similar to designs for vehicles they intended to launch and accused Munro of trademark and patent infringement. They also claimed that Munro's designer Ross Compton - who formerly worked with Bollinger - violated a nondisclosure agreement by referring to confidential Bollinger files, with Munro's awareness, while designing Munro products. Munro said they will "robustly defend" their position and insist their electric vehicle has an "unique design." Bollinger Motors sought a preliminary and permanent injunction to prevent Munro from, as it sees it, infringing on Bollinger's trademark designs, and for Munro to immediately cease using direct and indirect knowledge of Bollinger's designs for professional gain. The company also sought reimbursement of all fees related to the lawsuit, profits relating to the vehicle in question and a judgment of damages. As of now, the legal proceedings are ongoing, with both parties preparing to present their cases in court. Bryan Chambers, President and CEO of Bollinger Motors, said: "We can't comment on the outcome of the court case at this time. "During this period, we are focused on moving forward and remain committed to bringing our customers a world-class vehicle, and we remain optimistic about our future and the impact we will have on the commercial vehicle market. "During receivership we are still selling and delivering trucks to customers."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Another EV Maker Is on the Brink of Collapse
Another electric vehicle maker appears to be on the brink of collapse, the latest in a growing trend of EV startups failing to break through in a crowded marketplace. This time it's Bollinger Motors, a commercial EV company founded nearly 10 years ago. According to The Detroit News, the company, which was acquired by Mullen Automotive in 2022, has been struggling to pay employees, contribute to 401(k) accounts and cover debts. Those debts include a $10 million loan from founder Robert Bollinger, who earlier this year filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming it was broke and that production had stopped. Most Read on IEN: Production Car Shatters Speed Record VW's Electric Bus Recalled for Too Much Seating Room Ford Worker Accused of Stealing Millions in Parts Podcast: VW's Too Big Seats; Flying Motorcycle; Rivian's Secret Stockpile Now Bollinger has been placed in court-ordered receivership, which will figure out what to do with the company's remaining assets. The financial struggles for Bollinger come shortly after the company announced its B4 Chassis Cab, an all-electric Class 4 commercial truck. Production for the vehicle began last year in Michigan. But as the report points out, sales have been slow for the nearly $140,000 truck, with only two sold in the past month and about 40 in inventory. Bollinger had partnered with Roush Industries to build its B4 trucks but production stopped in January and now Bollinger is completely locked out of the facility after missing $1.8 million in payments. Bollinger's troubles reflect similar hardships for other electric vehicle companies. Earlier this year, both Nikola and Canoo filed for bankruptcy. And last year, Fisker shut down and tried to get out of the lease at its former California headquarters, which were apparently vacated so quickly that the company's landlord described the aftermath as 'complete disarray,' and that the building looked like it had been 'ransacked.' Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
EV maker Bollinger Motors, low on cash, will be run by court-appointed receiver
Business EV maker Bollinger Motors, low on cash, will be run by court-appointed receiver Bollinger Motors Inc., the once high-flying Oak Park, Michigan, electric truck maker founded a decade ago, is now struggling to make payroll and a court-appointed receiver is set to take control of its daily operations and remaining assets. U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg on Wednesday said the company would go into receivership amid its recent financial woes and as debts to suppliers have piled up, though details of the oversight plan were not yet finalized. The order came as part of a lawsuit filed by Robert Bollinger, the company's founder and former CEO, who says the truck maker owes him about $10 million. Bollinger Motors, whose majority owner is Mullen Automotive Inc., started making an electric chassis cab truck called the B4 last year, and a larger version, the B5, was scheduled for release in 2026. Robert Bollinger and current executives with the company say a primary issue in recent months has been obtaining enough funding for day-to-day operations from Mullen, a California-based EV company. The company recently has struggled to pay many of its bills, CEO Bryan Chambers testified Wednesday during a hearing in Detroit. It recently missed a scheduled 401(k) contribution for employees, fell behind on rent for its Oak Park offices, and also missed a recent payment to Robert Bollinger on the $10 million loan he made to the company last October. It also has trimmed some of its workforce, which as of this week numbered about 120. The truck maker faces eight lawsuits from suppliers who are owed money, Chambers said. Mullen had sent a $350,000 payment to Bollinger Motors late Tuesday, the CEO said, which would help the company make a few key payments. "During this period, we are focused on moving forward and remain committed to bringing our customers a world-class vehicle, and we remain optimistic about our future and the impact we will have on the commercial vehicle market," Chambers said in a statement. He declined to comment further on the status of the case. The CEO said in court the company isn't making much from its vehicle sales. It sold two of the approximately $138,000 trucks in the last month, and has about 40 in inventory, worth a total of about $5 million. Meanwhile, production of the trucks at a Roush Enterprises facility in Livonia has halted since mid-January, with Bollinger locked out of the facility entirely since Monday due to $1.8 million missed payments as the contractor moves toward eviction, Chambers said. Roush is contracted to build the trucks, with Bollinger Motors owning much of the equipment inside the plant. Both Robert Bollinger and the company itself acknowledge a key problem has been obtaining enough funds from Mullen. Meanwhile, Bollinger executives confirmed, Mullen-appointed members of Bollinger's board of directors, who have the authority to call meetings, have not done so for nearly a year, and also have not provided direction on how the EV truck maker should navigate its current dire financial situation. Mullen spokespeople didn't respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. Bill Burdett, an attorney for Robert Bollinger, said that the company continuing on its current path would amount to "moving the deck chairs around on a sinking Titanic." Robert Bollinger says in the lawsuit that the receiver is needed to manage, protect and eventually liquidate the company's assets, as it otherwise has not way of paying him or others back. But his attorney said the founder still would like to see the truck maker live on, and still wants to financially support it, perhaps following a sale. For now, the company's operations have largely ground to a halt. Chambers said even if Bollinger Motors were able to catch up on payments to its suppliers, it would take two to three months to get truck production started again. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM.
CBC
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Remembering Canadian hip-hop legend Bishop Brigante
Social Sharing Canadian rap legend Bishop Brigante has died at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Brigante is known for his role in establishing the Canadian battle rap scene, as well as hit songs like Its Fo Twenty and Trust Nobody. He also made headlines in recent years for his work trying to get the colonoscopy screening age in Ontario lowered to 30 years old. Today on Commotion, Juno Award-winning artist Choclair and Views B4 The 6 podcast host Big Tweeze join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to look back on the decades-long legacy of the Scarborough local. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Elamin: Choclair, you and Bishop go way back. You're both from Scarborough. He was featured on a few songs from your second album. Tell me about the first time that he came on your radar. Choclair: I believe it was Manifesto [Festival], but I'm not a hundred percent sure if that was the event. I remember we were in a tent, and DJX introduced us. He just kind of came in like Scrappy-Doo. He came in and started rapping, doing all this stuff, and then we became cool. And then I brought him on the road, and I remember him telling me, "I'd never left Scarborough till you took me on the road." I'm like, OK, maybe Ontario, maybe Canada, but Scarborough? He was like, "No, man." And then we created this great bond. We traveled and toured, wrote music and did so much stuff together. It's been I think almost 30 years. Long time, long time. Elamin: Before the travel and the tour and everything else, Bishop Brigante first got Toronto's attention as a teen battling other rappers on the legendary Power Move Show on CKLN 88.1 FM. But it was Kipling to Kennedy that got him buzzing beyond his hometown. It's off the compilation Rap Essentials 2001. That song was an ode to the train stops along Line 2 of Toronto's subway line. Tweeze, what did you think when you first heard it? Big Tweeze: I mean, as Choclair mentioned, DJX produced that song and was the host of The Power Move Show. Bishop had told me this great story one time that as he was going to DJX's house, he didn't have rhymes written for anything. And that's how he came up with Kipling to Kennedy, man. So it's just a testament to what a quick-minded guy he really was. You know what I'm saying? I think it's great. I love the song, by the way, man. It's so Toronto. You can't help but love it, right? Elamin: I'm enjoying Choclair kind of smiling and nodding as you talk about Bishop's style. Maybe Choclair, you can talk about this a little bit as an MC yourself. What would you say it was about Bishop's rap style that sort of set him apart from other rappers coming out of Canada at the same time? Choclair: Because he was just authentic to who he was, you know? He rapped how we rap, he respected the rap culture and the talent of doing it…. I think when [ Kipling to Kennedy ] came out … me and my manager at the time were like, "Yeah, we're going to put that record out now by itself." So we put that record out. And the best part about everything is just him as a person. Because we would be in studios and on the road and everything like that, he always helped make me better as a person, but also made music better, because it'd be like, "I don't know about that line, Chocs. You need to change that line," or whatever…. People don't even realize some of the times where he was in studio with me and was writing music and we would work it out. So it's his authenticity and his friendship, his brotherliness towards me. Just overall a great person.
