Charge Cars, the British maker of a £350,000 1967 Ford Mustang electromod, has collapsed before delivering any vehicles.
This comes after sibling company Arrival, with which it had planned to share batteries, motors and control systems, went into administration in February.
In a statement, Charge blamed "significant challenges”, adding that it was “working tirelessly to navigate these challenging times”.
“We truly believe that this is not the end for the '67, and we are exploring all avenues to get back on track,” it said.
One source close to the project has told Autocar that the EV was production-ready and deliveries were expected to begin imminently. Charge was also said to have a sizeable order book.
The firm’s 50 or so employees, who ranged from engineers to project managers, are all understood to have been made redundant.
McLaren has already set up a dedicated job page for ex-Charge staff.
Posting on social media, former staff have said the firm’s collapse was down to “a rough patch” and “no one’s fault”.
Autocar has contacted the company and its administrator Cork Gully for further information.
In October 2023, Charge was granted an official licence from Ford to use the ‘trade dress’ for the 1967 Mustang Fastback. This would have enabled it to produce shells and panels for the car in-house at its headquarters in West Drayton, Middlesex, rather than sourcing them externally.
In April, it launched spin-off Lab 364, a paint shop focused on high-value projects. Its clients have included design consultancy Callum and track car maker BAC.
It isn't yet known whether Charge's administration process will impact this arm of the business or whether it will go on to operate independently.
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