Munro Vehicles, manufacturer of the world’s ultimate specialist electric 4×4 vehicles, has announced the next stage of its global business strategy.
Image: Munro Vehicles
Munro has completed an intensive 18-month accelerated durability off-road test programme of the all-electric Series M. Uniquely within the automotive sector, the testing has been conducted almost entirely off-road. Trials have focused strenuously on task-specific objectives to meet the requirements of the brand’s customers in industries such as mining, defence, emergency response, and utilities as they transition to net zero.
Following the sale of four vehicles in 2024, Munro holds a growing £17m order book for its zero-emission Series M Utility, Truck and Chassis models.
Executive Appointment to Power Strategic Growth
Munro co-founders Russ Peterson (CEO) and Ross Anderson (Head of Powertrain) have appointed Avinash Rugoobur as company chairman. Rugoobur graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 with a degree in mechanical engineering and computer science, Mechatronics.
Image: Munro Vehicles
Rugoobur has held senior leadership positions with global automotive OEMs, including Arrival Ltd and General Motors. He has also launched several enterprises, including Aviate Group Ltd, a company specialising in driving innovation and shaping strategy to foster sustainable business growth, and Curve Tomorrow, a respected organisation creating innovative digital solutions for healthcare providers.
Russ Peterson, Munro CEO and Co-Founder, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Avinash Rugoobur as Munro Chairman. Avinash brings a wealth of experience from the global automotive and technology sectors and proven expertise in delivering sustainable, strategic growth for start-up and scale-up businesses.
Image: Munro Vehicles
“We are confident that Avinash possesses the skill set, drive and passion to build upon Munro’s success to date. Together, we will establish Munro as the global leader in sustainable specialist 4×4 vehicles built for the world’s toughest industries and exploit the $337 billion global electric SUV market, which is expected to grow to $13.9 trillion by 2030*.”
Avinash Rugoobur, Munro Chairman, said: “It is an honour to accept the position of Munro Chairman and join co-founders Russ Peterson and Ross Anderson and the rest of the dedicated team as we prepare to take the company to the next strategic level.
“All the components are there to ensure success. The Munro Series M has been painstakingly designed to deliver class-leading, customer-centric, zero-emission off-road capability in the most demanding terrain and circumstances. There is a clear need for such a specialist vehicle from customers in industries such as agriculture, emergency response, defence, infrastructure and mining, targeting net zero. And Munro holds a full and healthy $17m order book for 246 vehicles until 2027.”
Image: Munro Vehicles
Munro Series M – Innovatively Engineered In Scotland to Master Any Environment
The Munro M-series is unique. No production vehicle, let alone an EV, can match its combination of off-road capability, durability, and load-carrying capacity while still being driven on a standard car licence.
The Munro M-series will never be tested at the Nürburgring, it is road legal and usable, but the absolute priority in development has been its capability off-road, where it can exceed the performance of the most capable diesel off-road vehicles on gradients, breakover, ramp and departure angles.
Ross Anderson, Munro Head of Powertrain and co-founder, said: “Most vehicles in the SUV and Truck segments are now designed with road use as their primary function; those attributes often compromise their suitability in off-road and commercial environments.
“Our products have market-leading off-road attributes, an underlying platform that can be adapted to specialist applications, and a unique safety strategy designed to address the risks light vehicles face in extreme and unpredictable environments. By producing durable, long-lasting, and serviceable electric vehicles, Munro offers a clean alternative for sectors that traditionally rely on fuel-hungry 4x4s to operate.”
Priced from £63,000+VAT, the all-electric Munro Series M is offered with a choice of two powertrains. The M170 is powered by an 85kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Producing 170kW of power and 600Nm of torque, the vehicle has a 2,250kg towing capability and a 1,050kg payload.
The more powerful M170 variant features an 85 kWh LFP battery pack and musters 280kW of power and 700Nm of torque. Its 3,500Kg towing capacity and 1050kg payload give it a competitive advantage over road oriented electric 4x4s.
Three body configurations are offered. The enclosed-bed Utility model can effortlessly transport a fully equipped crew to even the most remote sites safely and comfortably. The open-bed Truck combines impressive space with exceptional cargo practicality. Munro’s Chassis model is engineered to combine the unmatched off-road ability of its counterparts with complete versatility, giving buyers the freedom to create custom bodies to meet their mission-specific needs.
* Analysis by Fortune Business Insights
