Vancouver electric vehicle (EV) maker ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. (Nasdaq:SOLO) is changing lanes within its corporate ranks, tapping a new CEO from Motor City.
Detroit-based Kevin Pavlov had served as ElectraMeccanica’s chief operating officer since May prior to being promoted to the top job Thursday.
“We are entering a critical inflection point in our company’s maturation from a formerly developmental stage startup to a scaled production enterprise,” Pavlov, whose résumé includes time at Canadian auto stalwart Magna International Inc. and California-based EV firm Karma Automotive, said in a statement.
“I believe my direct experience working within automotive companies at all stages of development will prove to be a critical resource as we make this transition.”
Pavlov is the company’s third CEO in the past few years.
His predecessor, American Paul Rivera, replaced former BC Green Party candidate Jerry Kroll as CEO back in 2019. Pavlov has replaced Rivera on the board of directors, joining Kroll who retained his board seat after departing as CEO.
ElectraMeccanica revealed earlier this year it had selected Mesa, Arizona, as its home base for manufacturing in North America following a 14-month search.
About 200 workers will initially carry out light assembly when the 235,000-square-foot facility opens in 2022.
The EV maker, best known for its distinctive three-wheeled, single-passenger Solo vehicle, already has one manufacturing facility in China.
Deliveries of vehicles produced at the Chinese factory are expected to begin October 4 for select drivers who made early reservations. The company had previously relied on the factory for a smaller number of EVs produced for test-driving and fleet demonstrations.
“Now that ElectraMeccanica has started construction on its new U.S. assembly facility and will begin delivering vehicles to its first customers, the company is poised for success and ready to build upon the foundation of the Solo ecosystem,” Rivera said in a statement.
