Bollinger Motors announced leadership changes. (From left) Siva Kumar has been named Chief Strategy Officer and Senior VP of Finance, James Taylor has been named CEO, and Bryan Chambers has been named Chief Operating Officer.
Commercial electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Bollinger Motors has named a new CEO. Former General Motors executive James Taylor will take over for company founder Robert Bollinger, who will remain on the company’s Board of Directors and a major shareholder.
Bringing EV Industry Experience
Taylor has worked closely with Robert Bollinger to bring the company’s all-electric Bollinger B4 Class 4 Chassis Cab to market.
According to a news release, Taylor is a veteran automotive executive who has held leadership positions with Cadillac and Hummer and has deep electric vehicle experience with Electric Last Mile Solutions, Workhorse, Karma, SF Motors, and Mullen Automotive for the last two years.
“I am grateful and excited for this opportunity to continue moving Bollinger Motors toward a leadership role in the electric vehicle industry,” Taylor said. “Robert and his team have done an incredible job of creating a world-class electric truck with the Bollinger B4, and the upcoming Bollinger B5. The response from the market has been very encouraging and we are well-positioned to disrupt the Class 4 trucking market.”
Bollinger Motors plans to launch the Bollinger B4 Chassis Cab in the second half of 2024.
The Class 4 commercial truck was designed from the ground up with extensive fleet and upfitter input. Bollinger’s unique chassis design protects the 800-volt battery and components to offer capability, flexibility, and performance in the commercial market.
Bollinger Motors recently qualified for federal clean vehicle purchasing incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides $40,000 in refundable tax credits per truck.
Other Major C-Level Changes to Bollinger’s Leadership
Bollinger also promoted Bryan Chambers to President and Chief Operating Officer and Siva Kumar to Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance.
Chambers has over 35 years in automotive leadership and joined Bollinger Motors in 2018 as Program Director and rose to Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to Bollinger Motors, Chambers operated Chambers Services, LLC, a manufacturing consulting firm. He also has held positions with Alternative Automotive Technologies, Saleen, MSX International, and Allied Signal.
Kumar joined Bollinger Motors in 2022 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Bollinger Motors, he was CFO for Optimal EV. He also has held positions with Skanda Capital, Ford, Meritor, and Tenneco Automotive.
“The leadership changes position Bollinger Motors for continued success, as these three executives have, and will continue to have, a profound impact on our trajectory,” Robert Bollinger said. “I have benefitted from my collaboration with Jim and his deep industry experience. Now is the right time, and Jim is the right person to build on our momentum and get Bollinger to its ultimate goal.”
The Latest at Bollinger
Bollinger Motors has reached several milestones in recent months, including:
- receiving the Certificate of Conformity from the Environmental Protection Agency
- an 80-vehicle sale to Momentum Groups and a 50-vehicle sale to EnviroCharge
- the addition of Nacarato Truck Centers, Nuss Truck & Equipment, and LaFontaine Auto Group as dealers and service centers
- naming Next Energy as a battery pack supplier and Roush Industries to manage vehicle assembly operations
- selecting Syncron as its warranty administration partner
- choosing Amerit Fleet Solutions as its mobile service provider
Bollinger is a subsidiary of Mullen Automotive.
