UK-based company Morris Commercial Cars was founded in 1924 and shut down half a century later, having earned some fame as a manufacturer of practical and affordable vans for shops and businesses. The brand’s revival was announced in 2017, but there were some financing troubles, so the company has been mostly radio-silent – until now, that is.
In its latest communication, Morris confirmed plans to start producing the vintage-inspired minivan in 2027 and begin deliveries in 2028. It also posted some fresh pics of the vehicle, revealing that it hasn’t changed much at all since the original announcement nine years ago.
Known as the Morris JE, the van rides on a proprietary electric skateboard chassis made of aluminum and carbon fiber. Its body also makes use of carbon-fiber panels, but the result still manages to tip the scales at 2.5 metric tons (~5,500 pounds).
The exterior looks all cute, toy-like and smooth, and for a good reason. Even with a newly announced 83-kWh battery pack on board, the JE won’t deliver much more than the manufacturer-rated 483 kilometers (300 miles) of range per charge. We still don’t know anything about the electric motors and their output, but Morris claims owners will be able to carry up to six cubic meters (211.9 cubic feet) of cargo weighing up a ton (~2,200 lbs). That should be enough for most city-based delivery services.
The production is supposed to be localized in the UK, the company claims. The starting price is expected to be close to £69,000, or U.S. $91,300 at the current conversion rate. Later on, Morris Commercial plans to produce a passenger variant of the van and a pickup truck on the same chassis.