REE Automotive and Magna International, Inc. have signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the goal of developing MEVs (modular electric vehicles) for tech companies and new electric mobility providers. The agreement will explore the combination of REE Automotive’s REECorner technology with Magna’s vehicle systems integration and manufacturing capabilities and will potentially produce MEVs under the Powered by REE brand.
More significantly, REE and Magna will also use their collaboration agreement to explore the creation of a MaaS (mobility-as-a-service) venture in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) space based on REE’s proprietary x-by-wire REEcorner and EV platform technology as well as Magna’s industrial footprint.
“We see a growing demand for highly modular EVs from leading tech companies and new electric mobility players who have set their sights on entering the EV realm and building a brand in automotive,” said Daniel Barel, REE Co-founder and CEO. “REE and Magna working together under the ‘Powered by REE’ approach can help bring their vision to life.”
“The evolving mobility landscape is opening new business-model opportunities for Magna with our systems capability and unique ability to design, engineer, and assemble vehicles,” said Eric Wilds, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Magna. “We are excited about our collaboration with REE and our ability to offer another capability to support potential new customers and mobility-as-a-service.”
REEcorner technology integrates critical vehicle components into an area between the chassis and the wheel—at the “corners,” creating a compact single module where each corner is controlled by its proprietary x-by-wire control technology. This results in a “fully flat” skateboard EV platform offering additional interior room for passengers, cargo, and batteries.
According to the company, MEVs using REEcorner will be flexible and customizable. Customers will be offered a menu of choices in EV platform size, vehicle height, width and length, and payload capacity. Four- and two-wheel drive (front or rear) are available options, as well as two- or four-wheel steering. Different power sources—such as battery and fuel cell—will also be offered.
REE also says its MEVs, with an electric motor located at each wheel, are designed with lower centers of gravity than vehicles with motors between the wheels. Its vehicles also feature taller cabins and lower step-in height, which provides more cargo capacity than other EV platforms.
It has already been a busy year for REE, which entered into a merger agreement with 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. and was listed on NASDAQ in February. That same month, REE announced the opening of its new Engineering Center of Excellence in the United Kingdom. It also recently announced various agreements with Maxion Wheels, Mahindra, and KYB.
In March, the company revealed five new and improved REEcorner architecture designs and the technology behind its EV platforms. The company said that it was targeting peak motor power ranges of 35 to 200 kW and payload capacities of up to 5000 kg (11,000 lb).
“Unlike in-wheel motor systems, the motors in REEcorners are fully sprung masses, positioned on the chassis side of the suspension,” said Ahishay Sardes, REE Co-founder and CTO, at the time, explaining REE’s differentiation. “REE’s plan to utilize true x-by-wire technology to control each of the corners of the vehicles with full drive-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and steer-by-wire technology is expected to deliver vehicle stability, responsiveness, and safety with fully independent wheel control. REE’s design further includes the REEcenter ECU (electrical control unit) system to coordinate all four independent REEcorner ECUs, a thermal management system, power converter, and power module.”
EVs and AVs built on the technology will offer unprecedented space for passengers, cargo, and batteries, claims the company. It expects that EVs built on its EV platform will offer up to 35% more interior space than comparable commercial vehicles of similar size, providing much more room for cargo and goods and thereby necessitating fewer delivery routes for reduced carbon impact. Furthermore, its smaller footprint saves valuable space in warehouses and parking areas, while allowing for easy maneuverability in crowded zones.
Kevin Jost contributed to this article.
