Mullen Automotive Has Been on a Heater, but Big Questions Still Loom

David Shultz

David Shultz reports on clean technology and electric vehicles, among other industries, for dot.LA. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Outside, Nautilus and many other publications.

Mullen Automotive Has Been on a Heater, but Big Questions Still Loom
Photo by Ringo Chiu/ Shutterstock

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Over the past week Mullen Automotive has released several pieces of promising news.

For starters, Mullen’s pilot program with aviation services company Menzies wrapped up at LAX on Monday this week. Mullen has declared the trial a success, boasting that its two electric cargo vans achieved 100% uptime over the course of 1,500 miles driven while reducing costs by an estimated 66% and carbon emissions by 83% compared to gas-equivalent vehicles. As dot.LA noted back when the pilot was announced, airport services are an ideal use case for electrification due to the short trip distance and ease of charging as the vehicles can remain close to charging infrastructure installed at the airport. As part of the press release, Mullen said that Menzies has requested modifications to the vans in the form of increased seating and more windows. Neither of which seem like particularly heavy lifts.


What the press release doesn’t include is any details about whether Menzies actually intends to purchase any vans from Mullen. Menzies did not respond to requests for comment.

It’s also important to note that Mullen did not manufacture the vans used in the pilot program. The vehicles were acquired from Electric Last Mile Solutions when Mullen purchased the company in October 2022 after it declared bankruptcy. If Menzies eventually does decide to buy more vans, Mullen would need to figure out a way to actually build the vehicles themselves at scale. As the owners of the IP, the SoCal EV company would have every right—as well as the factory—necessary to begin manufacturing. But as is the case with virtually every EV start up from Rivian to Lucid, manufacturing is very difficult, and Mullen, so far, has yet to manufacture a production vehicle themselves.

Again, all of this hinges on Menzies actually placing an order with Mullen, and due to Menzies’s radio silence, we don’t know how many other electric vans it’s currently demoing or how Mullen’s product stacks up against the competition. The Ford E-Transit, for instance, is already selling as fast as the company can manufacture it, and Ford just invested 100 million dollars in the platform with plans to reach a 600,000 unit manufacturing capacity by the end of 2023. All of which is to say, though a successful pilot is good news for Mullen, it doesn’t necessarily equate to eventual revenue for the SoCal EV company.

Next, on March 31st, Mullen announced that it had delivered several of its vans to The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where the university will use them for campus delivery and facility services. The deal was only for seven vans. But Government Fleet reported that more deliveries are expected. UNC Charlotte was unable to provide any additional details by press time despite repeated requests for comment.

Finally, Mullen announced yesterday that it has integrated a solid state polymer battery into its cargo vans, with testing to begin in Q4 of this year. If successful, Mullen says the tech would improve the vans’ range from 110 miles per charge to over 200. That said, details about this news are scarce.. What we do know is that the battery will come through a partnership with Chinese company Linghang Guochuang Group (LGG). Mullen, however, has previously been accused of misrepresenting its progress on solid state batteries in partnership with “a Chinese battery company” as part of last year’s Hindenburg report. Because the report doesn’t name the Chinese company it’s unclear whether this is the same partnership or a new one.

To that end, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about this promise of solid state battery tech: Storedot, an industry leader in the field, has claimed that the tech is still a decade away, and most of the other big names appear to be operating on similar timelines. If LGG has somehow cracked this nut a decade ahead of time with a tiny fraction of the operating budget, it would be monumental news and could catapult the company’s value into the billions. Currently, however, it doesn’t appear that the Chinese company has a website.

Despite all the good news, Mullen’s stock price remains abysmal, currently trading at just $0.10. Over the last five days shares have declined 18.2%. Short interest remains high at around 9% of the float, according to Fintel. Which suggests that Mullen still has a long road ahead if it wants to organically move its share price above $1 to avoid delisting on the Nasdaq. - David Shultz

Disclaimer: Mullen Automotive has previously filed a civil complaint for defamation against dot.LA. The legal proceedings are ongoing at this time. dot.LA’s editorial guidelines can be found here.

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⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles,

The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

LA Venture Funds
  • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
  • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

    Download the dot.LA App

    🌴🧑‍💻 Your Guide to LA Tech Week 2024

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Friday Los Angeles,

    As many of you know, LA Tech Week is right around the corner, kicking off next Monday October 14th bringing together founders, creatives, investors, and engineers for a week of immersive events, panels, and socials across the city. From blockchain and AI to biotech and design, LA Tech Week is a chance to dive into the ideas shaping today’s technology landscape.


    What to Look Forward To

    Insights from Visionary Leaders: Hear firsthand from industry trailblazers as they share stories, challenges, and key lessons from their experiences. Expect fresh perspectives on AI, venture capital, biotech, and the ethical questions around emerging technologies.

    Interactive Panels: This week isn’t about watching from the sidelines; it’s about engaging directly with the tech community. Participate in hands-on panels discussing everything from startup scaling to ethical AI, with honest insights from those actively shaping these fields.

    Networking Mixers & Social Events: Meet and connect with founders, VCs, developers, designers, and fellow techies across LA. Rooftop mixers, lunch meetups, and creative gatherings offer the perfect chance to spark ideas and collaborate.

    Plan your week with the daily lineup, organized by location for easy navigation:

    For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

    Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!!


    🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • Clout Kitchen, a Los Angeles and Manila based startup, has raised $4.45M in seed funding, co-led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge, to develop AI-powered digital twins, which enables gaming creators to produce realistic virtual avatars for content and fan engagement. - learn more
    • MeWe, a privacy-focused social media platform, has raised an initial $6M in Series B funding led by McCourt Global to support Web3 integration and expand its decentralized network for 20 millions users. - learn more

      LA Venture Funds
      • EGB Capital participated in a $10M Series A funding round for MiLaboratories, which develops software that enables biologists to independently analyze complex genomic data, accelerating research and discovery in fields like drug development. - learn more
      • Crosscut Ventures participated in the $13.75M seed round for Airloom Energy, a company focused on developing airborne wind energy technology to harness high-altitude winds, with plans to accelerate a pilot project in Wyoming. - learn more
      • Overture VC participated in a $5.5M Seed funding round for Molg Inc., a company developing robotics and software for circular manufacturing, designed to disassemble electronics efficiently and recover valuable materials to reduce e-waste and support sustainable production. - learn more


        LA Exits

        • Options MD, a Los Angeles based telemedicine platform that provides care for people suffering from severe and treatment-resistant mental illness, is set to be acquired by Resilience Lab, an AI-driven provider focused on enhancing mental health care access. - learn more

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        LA Tech Week 2024: Saturday-Sunday Event Lineup
        tech-week

        Here’s what’s happening during the closing weekend (Oct 19 - Oct 20) of LA Tech Week 2024! Events are organized by location so you can easily catch the sessions that interest you most.

        SATURDAY EVENTS

        BEVERLY HILLS

        12:00 PM

        • BIG Showcase (Invite Only):

        BIG Showcase (Invite Only)

        2:00 PM

        Light Dao

        Struck Capital, Seahorse Express

        EAGLE ROCK

        12:00 PM

        Sunrise Integration, Shopify

        EL SEGUNDO

        9:00 PM

        Administratum, Valar Atomics

        HOLLYWOOD

        10:00 AM

        Passes

        MALIBU

        6:00 PM

        • Malibu Beachfront Investors Networking & Wine Tasting:See Details

        Gaya Ventures

        MARINA DEL RAY

        6:00 PM

        • Awaken Your Spirit: A Journey of Transformation (Invite Only)

        Sagos Distro, Alma Wellness

        SANTA MONICA

        7:00 AM

        Founders Running Club

        8:30 AM

        Techstars

        9:00 AM

        Magic Mind

        StartupStarter, Inc., City of Santa Monica

        10:00 AM

        Gen She

        AI LA

        Crea, Barry's, Unsubscribe

        10:30 AM

        Plantologist

        11:30 AM

        • Pickleball Palooza (Invite Only)

        YouTube

        1:00 PM

        • Realfren Games: From strangers to an inner Realfren within 52 weekends: See Details

        Office for Humanity and Circuit Works

        • Talking blockchain technology with special guests: See Details

        LadyDayDao

        5:00 PM

        KARD, What's Plots

        THE VALLEY

        7:00 AM

        Camino5

        VENICE

        9:00 AM

        Westside Yogis

        11:00 AM

        Open App

        1:00 PM

        Ripe and Teddy's Hot House

        4:00 PM

        • Fashion Forward: How AI is Redefining the Fashion Industry: See Details

        VIAVIA, BNTO.RENT, ALMA.AI

        VIRTUAL

        11:00 AM

        BLCK UNICRN

        WEST HOLLYWOOD

        7:00 PM

        Next Sequence

        SUNDAY EVENTS

        INGLEWOOD

        12:00 PM

        Entrepreneur Ventures, VCPE GROUPS

        PLAYA DEL RAY

        2:00 PM

        AI LA, DELL, NVIDIA

        SANTA MONICA

        10:00 AM

        • Women Founders, Cold Brew & Beach View, Rooftop: See Details

        Clutch Talent

        11:00 AM

        11DollarSunglasses.com, Less Litter Foundation

        12:00 PM

        Data in LA, Amplitude

        12:30 AM

        New Moon, Warner UK Innovations

        TOPANGA CANYON

        3:00 PM

        Dreamore

        VENICE

        8:00 AM

        • Surf session with founders, investors, creators: See Details

        Surfed Club, Bow Shock

        12:00 PM

        • Podcast Panel and Brunch: LA Tech Community Builders: See Details

        WeAreLATech.com, Blankspaces.com

        VIRTUAL

        2:00 PM

        BLCK UNICRN


        For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

        Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!


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