Fellten EV conversions: Australia's Jaunt merges to become world's largest in the game

Melbourne-based business Jaunt Motors will merge with Zero EV to form a new business called Fellten, making it the largest electric vehicle conversions company in the world.

Cool. Who even are Jaunt and Zero EV?

Jaunt began back in 2019 as a crowdfunding initiative to encourage EV four-wheel driving with a "distributed manufacturing model", effectively allowing community groups to buy an electric Land Rover for business use.

Since its founding, Jaunt has grown to be Australia's largest electric conversion workshop, converting 4WD vehicles into EVs that can be purchased or rented.

Zero EV, based in Bristol in the UK, says its driving purpose has been to offer quality parts for electric vehicles, aiming to increase reliability and offer solid after-sales support and training with accessible pricing.

According to SmartCompany, the completion of the merger will create a new entity named Fellten, which will aim to take the EV conversion business global – supplying conversion systems (and training programs) to workshops in Europe, North America, and of course Australia.

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What they said

According to Fellten CEO Chris Hazell, the merger "will provide classic vehicle customers with any level of electrification support, and provide automotive experts, mechanics and electric vehicle converters with the technology, tools and training to be a part of the growing global demand for electrification."

Co-founder and CEO of Jaunt Motors, Dave Bulge added, "Every vehicle on the road will need to be electric by 2050 for us to achieve net zero emissions and classic car owners will want their vehicle to be electric much sooner. With production facilities on three continents, industry-leading technology and development capabilities, Fellten is ready to meet those needs for consumers and the automotive industry."

Fellten claims their products and initiatives will allow conversions to be performed on any vehicle from any era, rather than being focussed on classic 4WD vehicles from Land Rover - a Make originally selected by Jaunt for their use of aluminium panels and their body-on-frame construction (which makes them easier to modify).

The UK and Australian operations will expand in 2023 along with a North American facility opening in 2023.