Detroit-based mobility and advanced manufacturing company Grounded has raised $5 million in seed funding as it expands its modular vehicle platform and opens a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Detroit.
The funding round includes repeat investments from existing backers Also Capital and The 81 Collection, along with participation from Animal Capital, the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund and various SpaceX alumni.
Founded in 2022 by Sam Shapiro, Grounded initially focused on customizing electric vans for the recreational “van life” market. The company later shifted its focus toward commercial and fleet customers.
Grounded Expands Beyond Electric Vehicles
Grounded’s strategy has evolved as the electric vehicle market and commercial van landscape have changed.
Following General Motors’ decision to discontinue BrightDrop and Ford’s changes to its electric Transit plans, Grounded began expanding its platform to support both electric and combustion-powered commercial vehicles.
The company is now building a vehicle-agnostic modular system that can be customized for different fleet requirements.
This approach allows businesses and institutions to configure vehicles for applications such as mobile healthcare, food service, field operations and other commercial needs.
“This new facility is a turning point for Grounded,” Shapiro said in a statement. “We built this company to bring smart, modular electric vehicles to the businesses and institutions that keep our cities running. With this expansion, we can finally build at the scale our fleet customers need and bring our platform to an entirely new class of commercial vehicles.”
New 50,000-Square-Foot Detroit Facility
Grounded has opened a new 50,000-square-foot production facility in Detroit, where it plans to scale manufacturing of its modular vehicle platform.
Production is expected to begin this month, with capacity planned to increase next year.
The company will use the new funding to establish its box platform manufacturing line, including tooling, equipment and research and development. Grounded also plans to expand its manufacturing, engineering and sales teams.
Growing Commercial Customer Base
Grounded has already attracted customers across several industries, including Colgate, Nokia, Coffee Fellows, Wayne State University Medical, PetEvolution and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies.
The company says it is also seeing growing demand from food and beverage businesses and public safety customers.
Its vehicles support applications including mobile medical and dental services, food service, veterinary operations and other field-based work.
Modular Platform for Diverse Fleet Needs
Grounded’s platform uses a software-defined and modular vehicle architecture that allows a common vehicle platform to be configured for different commercial applications.
The company combines modular hardware with connected software for remote monitoring and fleet management.
By making its platform compatible with different types of vehicles and powertrains, Grounded aims to serve businesses that are ready for electric vehicles as well as customers that continue to rely on combustion-powered fleets.
The latest funding and new manufacturing facility are expected to help Grounded increase production and expand its customer base as it targets a broader commercial vehicle market.
About Grounded
Grounded is a Detroit-based advanced manufacturing and mobility company developing modular electric and commercial vehicles for adventure, commercial and municipal applications. Founded in 2022 by Sam Shapiro, the company builds customizable vehicle platforms supported by connected software for remote monitoring and fleet management.
