During the the Future of the Automobile at the Petersen Museum in Los Angles, I had the honor of interviewing Dakota Semler. Semler is the CEO of Xos of Trucks (formerly Thor trucks). During Automobilty LA Thor trucks won the best new automotive startup award. At the time Dakota Semler was not able to attend to the event because he was dealing with the damages from the Woolsey Fire that swept through Malibu, causing great destruction.
What’s interesting about Semler and Xos Trucks is that the company, has contracts with UPS and Loomis to make mid-size electric trucks. The company is headquartered here in North Hollywood, in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, County.
Thor changed it’s name because “We see Xos as the ‘os’ for fleets—the intersection between energy and software,” said Dakota Semler, CEO and co-founder of the company.
The company was ordered to change its name after a trademark infringement lawsuit from RV-maker Thor Industries. Thor Industries noted that it the name resulted in confusion since Thor Trucks released its prototype in 2017. Thor Trucks was “permanently restrained” from using the name as of April 23.
The latest Xos trucks were shown at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, California.
During the interview for Auto Futures Semler told me how the batteries are made and where the chassis are assembled.
However, what I wanted to know most was
- “How is Stanley the Giraffe?,
- “What does Stanely the Giraffe like to eat?” and
- “What kind of vehicle does Stanely ride around in at Malibu Wine Safari?”
Semler answers all these questions and more in the article I wrote for Auto Futures
Xos Trucks has a connected car model in which the data and the software are also part of the package. The trucks are much cleaner than diesel trucks. Diesel trucking in the Los Angeles basin is one of the major causes of pollution. It would be really nice if more mid-range delivery trucks would be electric–especially UPS—
I divide my time between writing for Auto Futures and Auto Connected Car News—you are welcome to read my feature writing.