Transport Secretary Mark Harper has visited Glasgow-based EV start-up Munro Vehicles as part of his Scottish tour of innovative transport manufacturers.

Munro CEO Russell Peterson with Transport Secretary Mark Harper and the Munro MK_1 pickup

During the visit, Munro showcased its MK_1 all-electric 4×4, aimed at heavy-duty offroad applications. Designed and built in Britain, it’s the first light vehicle to enter production in Scotland in more than four decades.

The MK_1, which was revealed earlier this year and starts deliveries in 2024, is designed to provide a much-needed solution for organisations look to decarbonise in numerous sectors including construction, agriculture, mining, environmental, emergency rescue, remote infrastructure maintenance and recreation. It’s available in two bodystyles – truck and pickup – and three variants, spanning Utility, Performance and Range.

The initial two Munro MK_1 customer vehicles, hand-assembled at the brand’s East Kilbride headquarters in Scotland, are Founder Editions. The first vehicle, a black truck, is being built to Munro’s Range specification, equipped with 300hp of power and 600Nm of torque and a braked towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

The second vehicle is a pickup, constructed in the Performance trim. It delivers 380hp of power, 700Nm of torque and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. Equipped with an 82.4kWh battery, both vehicles have an estimated range of 190 miles.

The two versions together have received more than 250 pre-orders. Thanks to their rugged and durable design, they’re engineered for 50 years of service with routine maintenance and planned refurbishment.

Commenting on his visit, Mark Harper said: “UK manufacturing and innovation is at the heart of our plans to decarbonise transport. It was really encouraging to see the work Munro Vehicles is doing to decarbonise off-road vehicles, helping grow the economy by creating hundreds of skilled jobs.”

Munro co-founder and head of technology Ross Anderson added: “The team and I are proud to showcase the engineering and passion behind the creation of these all-terrain electric vehicles. As a small team we’ve been making strides to begin manufacturing sustainable transport within Scotland.”