The tragic tale of the failed electric delivery van manufacturer just took another turn for the worse. You now have the opportunity to own a piece of electric vehicle history from one of the industry’s most poignant stories. British electric van maker Arrival was once valued in the billions and had a lucrative agreement to convert UPS’s fleet of iconic brown vans into electric models. However, just a few years later, Arrival’s warehouse stood empty, and its sleek electric vehicles and remaining components were auctioned off to the highest bidders. Now, one of the first Arrival prototypes, sold at auction following the company’s downfall, has appeared on eBay.
The seller claims to have worked for Arrival before its collapse earlier this year. In the listing, they state that the Arrival pre-production van is “the only known running and fully operational Arrival Gamma Van available,” and was acquired in June from Arrival’s liquidation auction for an undisclosed amount.
The Arrival Gamma van seems to be in good working condition, featuring sliding electric doors and a touchscreen dashboard interface. The shelving remains intact, and the owner suggests it could be repurposed as a “campervan.” As of Friday, the highest bid stands at £5,600, or about $7,368.
Arrival aimed to revolutionize delivery vehicles in the same way the Tesla Model S transformed the automobile market. Founded in 2015, the company built 25 vans in 2021 for testing. Arrival had ambitious plans to produce a fleet of 10,000 vehicles for UPS to deliver packages across the U.S. and Europe. However, by the end of January 2023, its financial resources had dwindled to $205 million. The company narrowed its focus to the U.S. delivery market, abandoning plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup to buses and rideshare cars. Despite ongoing cutbacks, Arrival eventually closed its doors the following year.
Arrival’s mission to make delivery vehicles more energy-efficient was commendable, and it wasn’t the only company with such aspirations. Amazon partnered with electric van manufacturer Rivian to produce 100,000 vehicles for its delivery fleet by 2030. Ford also introduced a fully electric E-Transit van for consumers and businesses like Walmart.
