Dyson definite on “radical” electric car

Vacuum cleaner company Dyson confirms plans to spend £2 billion (NZ$3.7b) developing a “radical” electric car.

The all-electric vehicle is expected to be launched in 2020.

Dyson says 400 staff have been working on the secret project for the past two years at its headquarters in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, BBC News reports.

However, the car does not yet exist with no prototype built, and a factory site is being chosen.

EVtalk mentioned last month reports that Dyson was suspected of working on autonomous electric vehicles after attracting former automotive employees and Tesla’s former communications head, and had bought a battery developer two years prior.

Sir James Dyson declined to give further details of the project. “Competition for new technology in the automotive industry is fierce and we must do everything we can to keep the specifics of our vehicle confidential,” he told staff in an email, BBC News says.

Important points that are undecided or secret include the firm’s expected annual production total, the cost of the car, its range and top speed.

Sir James says about £1b (NZ$1.8b) will be spent on developing the car, with another £1bn on making the battery.

He promises it will be radical and different.

Further development work will be at a former RAF base at Hullavington in Wiltshire, where staff will move to in February.