Israel-based REE Automotive Ltd, a world-leader in ‘e-Mobility’, has announced that it will open its US headquarters in Austin, Texas to address the growing local market demand for mission-specific electric vehicles (EVs) from delivery and logistics companies, ‘mobility-as-a-service’ and new technology players.

In addition, Austin will be the location of REE’s first asset-light Integration Center for the assembly and testing of its REEcorner technology and ultra-modular EV platforms. The centre will offer REE’s technology to its existing and future automotive partners in North America, enabling them to build modular EVs ‘powered by REE’.

The EV manufacturer is exploring several collaborations with a number of Koch Industries Inc companies, to support and accelerate the establishment of REE’s integration centre in Austin. Koch Strategic Platforms, LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is an investor in REE as well. The REE Austin facility is expected to create approximately 150 jobs in the next few years.

Daniel Barel, REE’s co-founder and CEO, said: “Establishing our US headquarters in Texas best positions us for growth and rapid expansion. Austin is fast becoming a worldwide home for elite technology professionals. REE needs to continue growing and thriving, and Austin’s dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit definitely fit REE’s culture and values.

“Our US presence will allow us to capitalise on the incredible opportunities in the US market and put us closer to our North American-based customers and partners, including Magna International and JB Poindexter, as we work together to develop and deliver modular EVs.”

REEcorner technology integrates critical vehicle components, including steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control, into a single compact module between the chassis and the wheel, using x-by-wire technology for steering, driving and braking.

This innovation has enabled REE to develop a modular, fully flat skateboard chassis with more room for passengers, cargo and batteries that will be highly adaptable to customers requirements. EV platforms using REEcorners are agnostic to vehicle size and design, power-source and driving mode, enabling REE to target a $700 billion total addressable market, and help OEMs, delivery fleets, ‘mobility-as-a-service’ providers and new mobility players get to market faster at a fraction of the cost.

REE intends to tap into a global network of Tier One partners’ manufacturing capacity, with full point-of-sale component assembly and testing set to take place in REE’s Integration Centers.

REE expects this manufacturing process to significantly reduce capital expenditures and increase its global presence and market share. REE’s CapEx-light manufacturing approach and Integration Centers are designed to enable the company to remain a comparatively asset-light enterprise, helping to increase operating margins and ROI and reduce the carbon footprint of its operations.

Michael Charlton, REE’s COO, said: “REE’s Integration Centers will be designed to be fully modular and scalable to ensure the company achieves projected production volumes. The ‘state of the art’ centres will utilise automation, including automated guided vehicles (AGVs), for the optimal movement of assemblies, with the goal of increasing automation levels to Industry 4.0 technology levels and beyond.”