Former CEO who scaled Zipcar from Seed through IPO & former CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles, Griffith brings decades of business strategy, automotive, mobility & venture capital experience

FOSTER CITY, Calif. MAY 16, 2024: Motiv a leading OEM of medium-duty electric trucks, today announced the appointment of Scott Griffith as its new Chief Executive Officer and board member. Griffith has spent the past 30 years founding, leading, scaling and advising leading technology-based companies that have often been market disruptors operating at the intersection of technology and mobility. Immediately prior to joining Motiv, Griffith served as CEO of Ford Motor Company’s Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility Businesses, where he oversaw the development of Level 4 autonomous vehicles as well as overseeing Ford’s portfolio of strategic investments in future mobility businesses.

As CEO of Zipcar for over 10-years, he led the nascent car sharing company from its seed stage. During his tenure at Zipcar, Scott has also been credited with shepherding the development and popularity of the entire car sharing category as he turned a small niche idea into a profitable, mainstream form of urban transportation and lifestyle brand. This led to Zipcar being referred to as “The Best New Idea in Business,” in a cover story by Fortune Magazine. During his extended tenure, Griffith raised several rounds of venture capital from top-tier investment firms, grew the business organically and through acquisitions in the US and Europe and eventually took the company public in one of the strongest IPOs of the year.

After later facilitating the strategic sale of Zipcar to Avis Budget Group, Griffith became an Executive-in-Residence at General Catalyst Partners (GCP), a leading venture and growth stage investment firm, where he was an active Chairman in portfolio companies. During his tenure at GCP, he also co-founded TrueMotion, a pioneering mobile phone and IOT-based telematics platform with a mission to increase safe driving through real-time, AI-based driver sensing and scoring. The company was merged with Cambridge Mobile Telematics and the combined businesses now power the data collection and related AI / driver scoring systems for most of the auto insurance providers in the US, and a growing number in Europe.

Griffith was recently appointed to the board at EVgo (NASDAQ: EVGO), a pioneer in the development of large-scale fast-charging networks for electric vehicles. His EVgo board role puts him at the forefront of an industry that is critical to the success of both passenger and commercial vehicle electrification.

“Most people don’t know it, but medium and heavy trucks only comprise about 10 percent of vehicles on the road but they emit over 30 percent of all harmful ground transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions and that number that will only continue to grow as a result of our insatiable appetite for online shopping and same day delivery,” said Griffith. “Medium duty trucks are the lifeblood of modern commerce and they are also in the early adoption sweet spot of vehicle electrification. Motiv’s innovative products are showing that it’s possible to support the growing demand for local and short route commercial trucking in a safe, cost-effective and sustainable manner, without the need for 300+ miles of battery range or the high level of disbursed publicly-accessible charging infrastructure required to support passenger cars. I truly believe Motiv will become a large profitable operation and as we grow, we will have a big positive impact on the planet.”

Comparing its own sales and deployment data with public data published by CALSTART in its Zeroing in on Zero Emissions Trucks report, Motiv calculates that about half (45 percent) of the electric step vans in California and nearly one in five (19 percent) of the electric step vans deployed nationwide carry the Motiv nameplate.

Notably, 10 of the largest 20 medium-duty truck fleets in North America have deployed Motiv vehicles, including Purolator, Vestis (formerly Aramark), Cintas and other leading brands. Since its founding in 2009, Motiv vehicles have collectively driven 4 million miles and delivered approximately 240 million pounds of goods. In 2023, the company’s electric trucks collectively achieved a remarkable 98 percent uptime, according to Motiv diagnostic data. 

Griffith takes the helm from former Ford executive, Matt O’Leary, who stepped in as interim CEO following Tim Krauskopf’s departure last fall. O’Leary, who continues to serve as an active Executive Chairman of Motiv Electric’s board, has been instrumental in guiding the company through this transition period.

“Scott has an impressive track record of building teams and scaling businesses in the technology, transportation and mobility spaces,” said Matt O’Leary, Motiv Executive Chairman. “We’re expanding our installed base of trucks in large fleets like Purolator, the leading integrated freight, package and logistics provider in Canada. Scott’s background is a perfect fit for Motiv at this stage in our journey and I am thrilled to have him on the team.”

“The challenge in front of us is scale and I’m looking forward to Scott’s proven success in building strong teams and high-growth, profitable businesses,” said Jim Castelaz, Motiv’s Founder, Chief Technology and Revenue Officer.

More information about how Motiv can help electrify a fleet is available at: motivtrucks.com

About Motiv:

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv is a leading OEM of medium-duty, zero-emission electric trucks that eliminate tailpipe emissions and pollution while saving customers more than 85 percent on a total cost of ownership basis.

Its purpose-built platform enables efficient production of a range of vehicles, including step vans, shuttle buses, box trucks, and work trucks basis, all of which eliminate CO2 emissions and particulate matter, while offering drivers and passengers a more comfortable, quieter and safer ride. 

This combination of cost savings and environmental performance helps customers meet increasingly stringent emissions and pollution standards as well as achieve their own Net-Zero, ESG or other climate impact-related pledges and commitments.

More information about the company’s products, services, and career opportunities is available at motivtrucks.com.

Foster City, CA, May 9, 2024 —Motiv, a leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of class 4-6 electric trucks and buses driving the backbone of modern commerce, today announced it has fully completed the delivery of 55 Motiv electric trucks to Purolator, a leading integrated freight, package, and logistics solutions provider. Purolator ordered the additional vehicles last year following a successful pilot of five Motiv electric trucks in 2021. The new trucks bring Purolator’s total Motiv truck count to 60, which have been deployed to daily routes across Canada in Richmond, B.C., Quebec City, Que., Montreal, Que., and Vancouver, B.C.

Purolator’s first five Motiv electric trucks delivered in 2021 have completed tens of thousands of miles of deliveries while reducing tailpipe Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, helping Purolator move toward its 2030 goal of vehicle electrification and reduced GHG emissions.

A Motiv support team member was stationed at Purolator’s hub in British Columbia for its pilot, and the company is expanding its support operations across Canada as Purolator adds more Motiv electric trucks to the road.

“Integrating Motiv’s trucks into our operations is a step forward in our journey towards reaching 60% electrification of our last-mile delivery vehicles by 2030, and ultimately achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Chris Henry, Director, National Fleet at Purolator. “Motiv’s vehicles and customer support team were an integral part of our electric vehicle pilot in British Columbia and important to our overall success in that pilot as we transition to a zero-emission fleet. Quick responses, short downtime, and onsite service keep our electric fleet moving smoothly.”

As the first Canadian courier company to launch fully electric curbside delivery trucks nationally, Purolator has set ambitious goals to be the greenest courier company in Canada. The company recently announced it expects to invest approximately $1 billion to electrify 60% of their last-mile fleet in Canada over the next seven years. This includes a plan to purchase approximately 3,500 fully electric trucks and to electrify more than 60 terminals across Canada.

“We are immensely proud of the lasting legacy of our partnership with Purolator and the milestones we’ve achieved together,” said Jim Castelaz, Founder and Chief Technology and Revenue Officer of Motiv Power Systems. “Purolator has been a longtime leader in fleet electrification, with ambitious goals and successes that prove the shift to electric trucks is not only possible, but the practical choice — leading to improved performance and operational efficiencies while also reducing carbon emissions. Deploying these 55 electric trucks is another step in our journey together to reshape last-mile delivery and create a more sustainable future.”

More information about Motiv electric trucks is available at motivtrucks.com

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About Motiv

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv delivers medium-duty 2-6 ton payload commercial battery-electric trucks and buses, along with charging infrastructure and guidance for deploying commercial fleets. Specializing in electric step vans, shuttle buses, and box trucks, Motiv is a leading provider of daily-use zero-emission vehicles for moving people and goods that are the “backbone of modern commerce”, with best-in-class reliability and customer support.

The company’s solutions offer fleets up to 85 percent operations and maintenance cost savings, in addition to providing operators and riders a healthier and more comfortable experience without polluting the communities they serve. For more information about the company’s products, services, or career opportunities, please visit motivps.com.

About Purolator

Purolator Inc. is a leading integrated freight, package and logistics solutions provider. Celebrating over 60 years of delivering its customers’ promises, Purolator continues to expand its reach and renowned service levels and reliability to more people, more businesses and more places across North America and around the world. Purolator is proud of its Canadian heritage and is focused on sustainably positioning itself for future growth and success. Purolator is also committed to contributing to the well-being of the communities it serves and where more than 14,000 of its employees live, work and play.

In use by 10 of the 20 largest medium-duty truck fleets in North America, Motiv accounts for 45 percent of electric step vans in California and 19 percent of step van deployments in the U.S. overall

FOSTER CITY, Calif. – MAY 3, 2024: By comparing the publicly available information about the number and types of electric step vans and other electric trucks in CALSTART’s Zeroing in on Zero-Emissions Trucks with its own sales and deployment data, Motiv calculates that about half (45 percent) of the electric step vans in California and nearly one in five (19 percent) of the electric step vans deployed nationwide carry the Motiv nameplate. Notably,10 of the largest 20 medium-duty truck fleets in North America have deployed Motiv vehicles, including Purolator, Vestis (formerly Aramark Uniform Services), Cintas and other leading brands.

Motiv has provided electric step vans, box trucks and shuttles to businesses for the last 15 years, with over 300 vehicles on the road that have driven 4 million miles and delivered approximately 240 million pounds of goods. In 2023, the company’s electric trucks collectively achieved a remarkable 98 percent uptime, according to Motiv diagnostic data. 

“The numbers reflect the significant trust and confidence that our customers have in our trucks, our technology and our company,” said Jim Castelaz, Founder, Chief Technology and Revenue Officer of Motiv. “We’ve spent over a decade listening to customers and iterating on our designs to meet their practical needs with the application of best-in-class technology and manufacturing. In addition, our team works closely with customers on all aspects of the transition to electric to make it as easy and seamless as possible.”

Overall adoption of Zero Emission Trucks (ZET) is increasing, according to CALSTART, as the result of increasing numbers and diversity of vehicle options, decreasing battery costs and the availability of state and federal incentives as well as regulations. Now more than ever, fleets seeking to electrify have attractive options. Motiv offers fleets a range of safe, reliable and cost-competitive zero-emission vehicles, backed by an iron-clad warranty and a team of transition guides that help ensure a seamless experience for fleet managers.

The CALSTART report notes that: “While medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles represent only 10 percent of vehicles on the road, they are responsible for almost 30 percent of all transportation-related GHG emissions, 45 percent of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and more than half of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions for all vehicles.”

“Transitioning to zero-emission trucks (ZETs) can substantially reduce harmful environmental impacts from the trucking industry, help to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect public health,” said John Boesel, Chief Executive Officer of CALSTART.

More information about how Motiv can help a company electrify its fleet is available at: motivtrucks.com

About Motiv

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv is the leading OEM of medium-duty electric trucks and buses. Specializing in electric step vans, shuttle buses, box trucks and work trucks, Motiv guides fleets on their journey to electrification. Hundreds of Motiv vehicles are on the road daily, providing fleets best-in-class performance, range and reliability.

The company’s solutions offer fleets up to 85 percent operations and maintenance cost savings, in addition to providing operators and riders a healthier and more comfortable experience while reducing pollution in the communities they serve. More information about the company’s products, services or career opportunities, is available at motivtrucks.com.

About CALSTART

A mission-driven, industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART has more than 280 member companies and manages more than $500 million in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States.  More information is available at https://calstart.org/