On November 2025, employees at Bollinger Motors opened their paychecks to find nothing. Two consecutive payrolls had been missed, and no explanation came.
In Michigan, 70 workers filed unpaid wage claims, while factory gates remained shut, silent but heavy with uncertainty.
Inside the company, chaos was unfolding. Was this the end of the promising electric truck maker? And what had driven this sudden collapse?
A Ticking Payroll Time Bomb
Bollinger’s payroll crisis escalated quickly. In Michigan, 70 employees filed unpaid wage claims after weeks of delays. Internal emails revealed that the October 31 payroll couldn’t be met due to severe cash shortages.
With no money available for wages, the company’s future grew uncertain. Employees were left with mounting frustration as internal operations halted, and facilities remained idle, signaling an impending collapse.
The Origins of Bollinger Motors
Founded in 2015, Bollinger Motors initially focused on consumer electric SUVs. However, the company pivoted to commercial electric trucks in 2022, launching the Class 4 B4 in September 2024.
Despite its rugged design aimed at fleet operators, the company struggled with production ramp-up and financial challenges.
The promise of a successful shift to commercial EVs began to falter as the company faced mounting obstacles and the road to profitability grew longer.
The Weight of Rising Costs
Interest rates and inflation weighed heavily on Bollinger Motors. After exiting receivership in June 2025, the company’s new parent, Mullen Automotive, took a 95% stake, but the cash flow never stabilized.
Supplier deals were terminated, and the company encountered financial challenges. Bollinger’s attempt to bounce back quickly found itself buried under rising operational costs and tightening capital, contributing to the company’s eventual collapse.
The Final Shutdown
By November 21, 2025, Bollinger Motors officially ceased all operations. An internal email from HR Director Helen Watson confirmed the shutdown, and an SEC filing outlined workforce reductions and facility closures.
The promising startup had crumbled within months, leaving workers in limbo. Despite efforts to revive the company, the financial pressures and insufficient capital led to an abrupt end for the commercial EV maker.
Fallout in Michigan
With manufacturing facilities in Oak Park and Troy, Michigan, Bollinger’s sudden shutdown left workers without jobs. Employees, already facing unpaid wages, were abruptly laid off.
The company’s cost-reduction plan failed to prevent this outcome, as the facility relationship with Roush Industries in Livonia, which had been terminated in September, indicated the deteriorating situation. The shutdown left workers stranded and local communities grappling with the economic impact of a major employer’s closure.
Workers Share Their Pain
The layoffs blindsided many workers. HR’s email acknowledged the end of an era, but the promise of making employees “whole” on missed wages provided little comfort.
Workers faced immediate hardship as the company shut its doors, and severance was nowhere in sight.
The sudden financial collapse, with no warning, left families in a difficult position, especially with the holidays approaching.
Dealer Struggles
The shutdown left Bollinger’s dealers grappling with unsellable trucks. Without factory service or warranty support, the dealers were left with orphaned vehicles.
The company’s sudden cessation of operations disrupted not only its workforce but also its dealer network.
Parts programs were discontinued, and customers were left stranded with no aftersales support, compounding the sense of chaos following the company’s downfall.
A Sector in Crisis
Bollinger’s collapse marked a significant failure in the commercial EV truck sector alongside other recent setbacks. Fisker filed for bankruptcy in June 2024, Nikola filed for bankruptcy in February 2025, and Ideanomics filed for bankruptcy in December 2024—all facing similar pressures.
These failures pointed to deeper issues in the sector, including high costs, rising inflation, and interest rates. The commercial EV market, once seen as the future of trucking, now faced significant headwinds.
The Larger Economic Picture
Inflation and rising interest rates played a significant role in Bollinger’s struggles. The cost of key materials, especially batteries, soared, and securing funding became increasingly difficult for EV startups.
Bollinger’s cash flow issues mirrored the challenges faced by other companies in the EV transition. As the company’s revenue pipeline dried up, the costs of maintaining operations continued to outpace sales, leading to a financial collapse.
The Stranded Trucks
Bollinger’s fleet of B4 trucks became stranded at dealerships across the country. Without support for repairs or parts, customers were left with unusable vehicles.
The company’s SEC filings stated that business lines would not be discontinued, yet the lack of factory support and communication left the remaining assets in limbo.
With no updates on the development of other models, the company’s shutdown left customers and dealers uncertain of the future.
Growing Frustration Among Workers
As unpaid wages piled up, workers became increasingly frustrated. Legal action was imminent, with 70 wage claims filed against the company.
The lack of communication, along with the September termination of the Roush Industries manufacturing relationship, only fueled distrust among employees.
Many felt betrayed by the company’s promises, and the swift collapse left little hope for any recourse. The anger was palpable as workers saw their livelihoods vanish overnight.
Mullen’s Role in the Collapse
Mullen Automotive’s acquisition of Bollinger in 2025 was meant to provide a lifeline, but just six months later, the company had folded.
Despite taking control and rebranding as Bollinger Innovations in June 2025, Mullen’s failure to stabilize operations raises questions about the management of both companies.
Was Mullen’s investment a strategic move, or did it merely delay the inevitable? The collapse highlights the challenges even major players face in the commercial EV space.
Restructuring or Relinquishing?
On the day of the shutdown, Bollinger filed an SEC Form 8-K detailing a “cost-reduction plan” aimed at preserving liquidity.
However, the plan offered little protection as the company shut down operations entirely. Consolidating to one Oak Park location did little to salvage the company’s prospects.
The question remains: was this a final restructuring attempt, or a last-ditch effort to stave off inevitable closure?
The Future of EV Trucking
The future of the commercial EV sector remains uncertain. Will Bollinger’s remaining designs, like the B5 and B6 trucks, be salvaged by dealers or other companies?
Or will Bollinger’s collapse become a cautionary tale for other startups in the EV space? The rise and fall of Bollinger Motors underscores the volatile realities of the commercial EV market, where rapid growth can lead to sudden and unexpected failure.
Sources:
“Bollinger Motors, EV start-up based in Oak Park, officially closing.” Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov 2025.
“Bollinger Innovations, Inc. Form 8-K Current Report – Cost Reduction Plan and Operational Changes.” U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 21 Nov 2025.
“Mullen Reaches Definitive Agreement to Acquire Additional 21% of Bollinger Motors.” Mullen Automotive Inc. / Bollinger Motors Press Release, 2 Jun 2025.
“Nikola files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.” CNBC, 19 Feb 2025.