Bollinger Motors’ EVs are finally going on sale, but not in the way the company intended.
The failed start-up has been ordered to sell off everything it owns following a court ruling, according to Crain’s Detroit. The assets, which include 20 Class 4 electric trucks, will be auctioned off next month, with the proceeds going to pay unpaid bills and suppliers.
Founded in 2014, Bollinger’s original plan was to bring a series of retro-inspired, off-road-ready trucks and SUVs—think boxy mashups of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and Ford Broncos—to the market. Despite several announcements and a pre-order launch, the consumer models never came, and in 2022, after Mullen Automotive bought a controlling stake in the company, it decided to refocus on commercial vehicles. The pivot didn’t work, and Bollinger closed up shop last November.
Bollinger B2 Truck
Bollinger Motors
Now, in order to help settle its outstanding debts, the company will sell off everything to it can sell. An auction, which is being overseen by Michigan-based Maynard Industries, will be held on Wednesday, May 13, according to a press release. During the sale 427 lots will be up for bid, including everything from individual tools to a high-voltage battery tester, according to Inside EVs.
Of particular interest are 17 examples of Bollinger’s B4 cab-forward Class B truck. Three other examples of the vehicle that were used for testing purposes will also cross the block. One thing that won’t be available for purchase, though, are the intellectual property and prototypes of the B1 and B2. Those were purchased by the company’s founder and former CEO, Mark Bollinger, for $250,000 in March.
Bidding for each item starts at $1 so there is a potential for some serious bargains, though winning bidders will be on the hook for a 20 percent buyer’s premium and sales tax, which is 6 percent in Michigan. It’s also important to note that if you do buy one of the trucks and something goes wrong, there’s no longer anyone that can fix it.
The court-ordered liquidation comes after a series of supplier complains for unpaid bills. In addition to the auction, Bollinger is also being investigated by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity over complaints of unpaid wages or benefits, according to Crain’s Detroit. The state of Michigan is also looking to recover $1 million of a $3 million grant it gave to the car company after the brand failed to deliver on its promise to invest $44 million in and bring 237 jobs to the Detroit metro area.
