Canoo Brings World’s First Subscription-Only EV, a “Loft on Wheels”

In the process, L.A.-based Canoo will free them from the burdens of car ownership, which implies anything from shopping for the right car at various dealerships, to paying taxes and insurance, and maintenance. Their proposal is called canoo, the world’s first subscription-only electric vehicle, which is both convenient and comfortable.

canoo looks like the cutest minivan but has the spacious interior of an SUV, Canoo says in the press release. It is built on a “skateboard” chassis with all the components below, which offers more interior space and plenty of customization possibilities.

Whereas many carmakers focus on EVs that still look like the cars we drive today, Canoo looks to a future where the concept of a personal vehicle has been abolished and replaced with something that would best be described as a “loft on wheels.” canoo sits 7 passengers in total, with the backseat resembling a sofa and the front seats resemble mid-century modern chairs.

The usual infotainment system will be replaced by passengers’ personal phones, so they can just plug them in and listen to or watch whatever they want. This way, canoo will deliver ultimate comfort without cluster and extra options that sound awesome on paper but no one really ends up using either way.

canoo will launch with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring, and be equipped with 7 cameras, 5 radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Canoo promises that the technology will be updated as it evolves, so that riders are guaranteed safety. Estimated range is of 250 miles, with DC fast charging of 80% done in 30 minutes.

“We believe that the potential of EV architecture can enable a post-SUV era that addresses the ever-growing desire for space and value,” Ulrich Kranz, In Charge at Canoo, says. “We promised a truly different approach for EVs, and our canoo proves that we can deliver on that vision. The unveiling also kicks off the period of beta testing, meaning we are on track for our launch date in 2021. We are very proud of the team. In my 30 years' experience, I have never seen so many quality achievements in such a short time.”

The monthly service will launch in 2021 in Los Angeles, come to San Francisco at a later date and then extend throughout the U.S. Pricing will be announced closer to the release date.