20-03-2025
This Company Has Plans for a Completely Outsourced EV—Right Down to the Build
London-based EV startup Perseus plans to build electric cars using a business model that involves almost no risk—at least to itself. It will enlist partners to make everything from the OEM platform to the styling to the infotainment and assembly. Has this been tried before? Did it work?
None of the partners are being revealed at this time.
Nor are any prices. But it does have a website.
In Greek mythology, Perseus was the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles, according to the internet. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus, among other accomplishments too numerous to go on the curriculum vitae.
Nowadays, belief in deities being what is, he has apparently gone into the electric car business. As if there aren't enough monsters to slay there.
'Perseus, a new British-headquartered premium passenger-car EV brand, has today emerged from stealth mode and announced preliminary plans for its debut model—a compact SUV,' the startup said from London. 'The company has also provided initial details of the development and commercialization strategy to bring the vehicle to European markets by late 2027.'
The key there being—for us, anyway—European markets. We won't be getting this. But the approach to car-making is intriguing.
Perseus says it plans to build cars using a 'highly efficient, scalable, asset-light/capex-light business model.' Specifically, Perseus 'has established soon-to-be-announced global OEM and Tier-1 partnerships required to bring its first vehicle to mass-market production.'
Asset-light/capex-light sounds like Perseus will be calling in suppliers and other companies to make all the parts and Persues will put them together into an EV? No.
Further specifics: 'Perseus will license a proven, state-of-the-art EV platform from a European OEM Group. It is also collaborating with a pre-eminent Italian design and engineering house for interior and exterior styling, pre-concept development, prototyping, serial engineering, testing and validation requirements.'
And it's not even going to assemble the finished product.
'To speed up time to market and to de-risk execution, the company is engaging with a European contract manufacturer to build its first model to OEM-level quality production standards. This fully flexible and scalable production model will enable Perseus to reach market with maximum efficiency and avail itself of the most advanced manufacturing processes and industrialization capabilities.'
It sounds like stone soup. Or, 'I could make a meatball sandwich if I just had a bun. And some meatballs…'
Even the infotainment will be farmed out. Perseus is partnering with existing makers of HMI, AI, and automotive software for that. And it will all work, the company promises.
'Defined by attainable premium values, the Perseus SUV will combine inspirational and emotive design, groundbreaking technology, engaging performance and exceptional user experience with compelling value. These attributes will differentiate the Perseus SUV from, and elevate it above, competitor vehicle offerings.'
Sales will be online and direct-to-consumer, so there won't even be any dealers. But there will be 'brand experience centres.' Service will be handled by the OEM EV platforms maker's network.
We won't be getting any Perseii here, but it'll be fun to watch it all happen from across the Atlantic.
Perseus says it will unveil more details on its 'comprehensive portfolio of strategic partnerships and senior leadership team over the coming months, followed by updates on the design and technology of the Perseus SUV.'
Have a look at
