Dyson's electric car division is now taking shape, with the company most famous for building vacuum cleaners just announcing the hiring of former Infiniti chief (and BMW heavyweight) Roland Krueger to lead its EV charge.
The brand has already announced plans to bring as many as three EVs to market from 2021, beginning with a lower-volume halo product before expanding the range to include two more mainstream vehicles, all built out of of a bespoke facility in Singapore.
Krueger is a critical piece of Dyson's EV puzzle. The 53 year old has served as a senior executive at both Nissan and BMW, and as president of Infiniti.
Dyson CEO, Jim Rowan, told news service Reuters that the appointment proved the brand was "serious" about its push into electric vehicles, for which the company has reportedly bookmarked some $4.5b in investment.
"This proves how serious we are about taking this project and this division to the next level,"he said. "We expect to be able to go in and disrupt yet another industry using bespoke Dyson technology and innovation."
The dedicated two-level production facility in Singapore - where Dyson already has some 1100 workers - will be finished in 2020, with the EV to begin production in 2021 ahead of a global launch soon after.
"Singapore also offers access to high-growth markets as well as an extensive supply chain and a skilled workforce. Singapore has a comparatively high cost base, but also great technology expertise and focus. It is therefore the right place to make high-quality technology-loaded machines, and the right place to make our electric vehicle,” Rowan said.
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