As the first electric Mini Moke models are delivered to customers, the company that makes it has been sold.
Built in Britain, the new electric Moke has a range of about 75 miles, a top speed of 50mph and can be charged in four hours.
It costs from £34,980 (£29,150 plus VAT).
Fun-packed: The new electric Moke has a range of about 75 miles, a top speed of 50mph and can be charged in four hours
Moke International brought the original 1964 design back to life in September 2020.
This week, it confirmed it has agreed to sell 65 per cent of its shareholding to EV Technology Group (EVTG), which specialises in electrifying iconic motor brands, for $51.6million (£43m).
EVTG’s founder and CEO is Dutch entrepreneur Wouter Witvoet.
Only electric Moke beach buggies will now be produced as part of the deal.
Moke International brought the original 1964 design back to life in September 2020
Isobel Dando, CEO of Moke International, said: ‘I am proud and excited that Moke International is becoming part of the EV Technology Group. It is the perfect Company to take our rapidly growing business to the next level with the right balance of expertise, investment, and ambition.
‘EV Technology Group’s in-house expertise, and customer-centric technologies will also be invaluable to us as we continue to develop the Electric Moke and more pioneering products.
‘I am also looking forward to working closely with Wouter and the entire EV Technology Group leadership team to further develop Moke International and other exciting brands to come.’
The new Moke is being built in ultramodern factories operated by the Northamptonshire-based Fablink Group.
The petrol-driven original, created by Sir Alec Issigonis, was driven by The Beatles and Brigitte Bardot.
Richard Hammond making festival appearance
Former Top Gear star and The Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond will be at the 2022 Hagerty Festival Of The Unexceptional with The Smallest Cog team.
Main man: Richard Hammond will be at the 2022 Hagerty Festival Of The Unexceptional with The Smallest Cog team
Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers and Paul Cowland host of Salvage Hunters will also appear at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire, on Saturday, July 30.
Limited tickets, costing £20 per car, are on sale at eventbrite.co.uk.
Top honour
I am honoured to have been named Automotive News Journalist of the Year for 2022 in the UK’s motoring Oscars, the Newspress Awards.
Judges praised both ‘storytelling’ and the use of graphics in my reportsnoting: ‘Ray has a nose for news and he is able to compile it in the right way for his audience.
‘He sets the standard. Nobody knows how to sell a story like Ray.’
The awards were held at Bicester Heritage motor hub, Oxfordshire, on Thursday.
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