Mullen Automotive has tapped former Normal Motors govt John Schwegman to be the electrical automobile maker’s chief business officer.

Schwegman spent 35 years at GM in quite a lot of marketing-related roles, most not too long ago senior director of world Chevrolet product advertising, in line with his LinkedIn profile.

Mullen, of Brea, Calif., stated Schwegman will primarily concentrate on rising the electrical Class 1 by way of Class 6 light- and medium-duty truck section, together with the Class 1 and Class 2 Mullen One, that are but to be launched.

Schwegman’s expertise in fleet automobile gross sales, significantly when he was GM’s business product director within the 2010s, offers ample background for the duty. Schwegman was a key participant in GM’s bid to compete with Ford within the business fleet market.

“John has super expertise in business automotive gross sales, and this makes him a extremely strategic addition to Mullen,” David Michery, CEO of Mullen Automotive, stated in an announcement.

Mullen final month acquired a controlling curiosity in fellow EV producer Bollinger Motors, of Oak Park, Mich., for $148 million — a part of a bid to piece collectively struggling Detroit-area startups to interrupt right into a crowded EV market.

The acquisition introduced Bollinger’s not too long ago introduced Class 4 chassis cab, the B4, into the Mullen fold. Bollinger has been stricken by issues since its launch in 2015, particularly round launch home windows. The automaker’s B1 SUV and B2 pickup had been indefinitely postponed final January.

Mullen acquired all of the property of Electrical Final Mile Options Inc., of Troy, Mich. — one other struggling electrical fleet startup — final week. Mullen positioned a bid for the bankrupt firm in September of “virtually $100 million in whole consideration.”

Schwegman stated in an announcement that he is trying ahead to his new function.

“I used to be impressed with Mullen’s strategic strategy, together with the portfolio, the vegetation and Mullen’s pace to market,” Schwegman stated. “Mullen’s technique, mixed with my expertise in business autos and powerful relationship with fleets and sellers, will permit us to construct a really aggressive business EV story.”

Regardless of shopping for financially wrought startups, Mullen has had loads of monetary troubles itself, with its inventory declining over 93 p.c within the final yr. The automaker’s share worth is 50 cents.