Munro Vehicles has appointed former GM and Arrival executive Avinash Rugoobur as chairman as the UK firm prepares for major expansion of its purpose-built Series M electric 4×4.
The Glasgow-based company aims to fulfill almost 250 existing orders worth over £17 million during the next 18 months. Rugoobur joins the original leadership team of Russ Peterson and Ross Anderson as the off-road specialist completes testing of its utility vehicle.
Building for the World’s Toughest Jobs
Munro Vehicles launched in 2019 with a clear mission – developing dedicated off-road electric vehicles for challenging applications. The Series M targets infrastructure, agriculture, military and mining sectors.
The vehicle has undergone intensive testing over the last 18 months, with only a handful of customer deliveries supporting the development program.
“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,” said Munro CEO and co-founder Russ Peterson.
Peterson emphasized their goal of establishing Munro as the global leader in sustainable specialist 4×4 vehicles. The company is targeting the $337 billion global electric SUV market, which is expected to grow to $13.9 trillion by 2030.
Off-Road Performance Focus
The Series M starts at £63,000 before VAT and offers three body configurations – an SUV-style Utility, pick-up Truck and bare Chassis for custom builds.
Two powertrain options both use an 85kWh battery pack:
- Standard: 228bhp and 343lb ft torque
- High-performance: 375bhp and 516lb ft torque
Both versions deliver a 1,050kg payload capacity. Towing capacity varies from 2,250kg for the standard model to 3,500kg for the high-performance variant.
While road-legal, the Series M was designed primarily for off-road use. Munro claims it exceeds the performance of the most capable diesel off-roaders on gradients, breakover, ramp and departure angles.
“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,” noted Ross Anderson, Munro’s head of powertrain.
The company’s products feature market-leading off-road capabilities and an adaptable platform for specialist applications. Anderson highlighted their unique safety strategy designed to address risks light vehicles face in extreme environments.
“It is an honour to accept the position of Munro chairman. All the components are there to ensure success. 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,” said Rugoobur.
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.
