Nobe shows off retro EV ute, suggests Aussie launch

UPDATE, October 1: Nobe Cars told WhichCar it plans to bring the 500 ute to Australia.

Nobe board secretary Andrus Viirg said the company plans to have a prototype 500 ute and 600 van assembled by April 2022, followed by testing and homologation later that year. A number of vehicles will be manufactured and in right-hand-drive layout for the UK market, which Nobe intends to also offer in the Australian market.

6

According to Viirg, it’s too early to forecast when the 500 will be offered in Australia, though it will “not be before 2023”. Nobe is currently searching for a local dealer or partner to offer the its EV range.

The story to here

October 29: Estonian EV start-up Nobe has revealed its second design, a compact ute visually inspired by the iconic Ford F100.

Something of an antithesis to Tesla’s brutalist Cybertruck, the Nobe 500 Ago was first teased in late 2019. Described by Nobe as “a light EV truck with classic nostalgic style”, the tiny ute is due to hit US shores in mid-2022 with a US$20,000 (AU$27,654).

6

Nobe has not confirmed specifics around the 500’s drivetrain, though it’s expected to be a derivative of the Nobe GT100’s 72kW electric motor. That vehicle features a 25 or 34kWh battery for a 257km range, but the larger, heavier 500 may use a bigger battery. Drive type is also unconfirmed, as the GT100 uses a three-wheel-drive system.

Unlike the GT100, which counts as a motorcycle under US law, the 500 will be classed as a fully-fledged car and thus face stringent crash-testing requirements. The ute will feature a carbon fibre ‘tub’, similar to that used by Lotus to minimise weight and boost crash safety. UK speciality firm Far was been contracted to design the tub.

6

Smooth guards, an embossed tailgate and wooden bed extensions all reference 50s utilities

While the GT100 uses all-carbon fibre panels, it’s not yet clear if the same bodywork will feature on the 500. In an August interview with Shark Invest, Nobe CEO Roman Muljar said the small ute bed will have a capacity of “over 1000lb”, or 453kg. Muljar also said that while the 500 chassis has been driven, “it’s very rough.”

6

The Nobe GT100's interior

The interior of the 500 is also yet to be revealed, but it’s slated to use a similar analog dash layout to the GT100. As with the three-wheeler, Nobe says inflating seatbelt airbags will be used to protect occupants.

6

Nobe staff alongside CEO Roman Muljar (right)

Nobe — Estonian for ‘agile’ — was founded in 2017, and has since launched a number of crowdfunding campaigns to help bring the GT100 to fruition. Two driving prototypes were produced in 2019, but both were destroyed in a major workshop fire.