NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BRAIN) — Light Electric Vehicles Manufacturing, part of the Life EV Group that acquired Rad Power Bikes in March, purchased a 100,000-square-foot facility in Algood that will serve as the assembly, distribution, and eventually the manufacturing center for the brand.
The acquisition is expected to create 288 jobs and invest $7 million in Algood, about 85 miles east of Nashville, according to a joint news release issued Friday by LEV Manufacturing and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
"One of the top questions Rad receives from our more than 680,000 riders is, 'Where is my e-bike made?'" said Jim Brown, Rad Life Mobility CEO and president. "With this announcement, we're excited that the answer will soon start with 'right here in the U.S.' We hope it inspires continued investment across the micromobility industry in American jobs and innovation."
Rad Life Mobility is a subsidiary of Life Electric Vehicles Holdings.
"This location will serve as a central hub for distributing and future assembly of leading electric mobility brands, including Rad Power Bikes, Serial 1, and Life EV," said Life Electric Vehicles CEO Rob Provost. "By bringing operations closer to our customers and investing in U.S.-based manufacturing, we are building a scalable platform to support long-term growth, innovation and job creation."
The facility will collaborate with Tennessee's research institutions "to better support product innovation, battery technology, advanced manufacturing processes and workforce development initiatives," according to the news release.
Also, according to a news release issued in February by Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc. and published on its OTC Markets page, the company plans to designate the facility as a Foreign Trade Zone site, which it says will enhance supply chain efficiency, reduce tariff exposure, and improve working capital management.
"Tennessee's strong, business-friendly climate makes our state one of the best places to live, work and raise a family, and investments like this one from LEV Manufacturing underscore the strength of that foundation we've built statewide," said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. "I'm looking forward to seeing how these 300 new jobs create greater opportunity for nearly 300 families across the Upper Cumberland."
In March, Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc. completed the purchase of Rad Power Bikes' assets for $13.2 million, outbidding four other companies during an auction for the e-bike brand that declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Life EV agreed to acquire Rad Power's assets for $13,276,102 in cash.
In an interview with BRAIN in March, Provost said he's planning to acquire another struggling e-bike brand. It would be Life EV's third acquisition since 2023 following Harley-Davidson's Serial 1 brand.
