Chip Motors' $15,000 EV puts a TV in the trunk

A $15,000 electric vehicle with a washable interior and an optional TV with speakers in the front trunk is the pitch from US startup Chip Motors, which has unveiled a compact electric LUV aimed at urban utility use. The company says first deliveries will begin in 2027, while the six-seat version starts at $18,000.

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The vehicle uses an LFP battery with a range of up to 100 miles — about 160 km — and a top speed capped at 25 mph, or roughly 40 km/h. That puts it squarely in low-speed environments such as campuses, resort areas, suburbs, small towns, and short daily trips, rather than highways. Charging is handled through NACS, with support for both 110 V household outlets and 240 V service.

Chip Motors is positioning the LUV less as another cheap EV and more as a modular platform for specific use cases. It will be offered in four-seat and six-seat versions, and buyers will be able to configure body color, seats, roof, doors, and accessories through an online configurator. Inside, there is a vertical central display, while cameras and radars monitor the surroundings.

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Key specs and features include:

• LFP battery with up to 160 km of range
• Top speed of about 40 km/h
• NACS charging from 110 V and 240 V
• 4-seat and 6-seat versions
• Washable interior
• Front trunk with optional TV and speakers
• Cameras and radars for situational monitoring

Chip Go remote driving plans

The startup is also promoting a service called Chip Go. In some scenarios, a remote operator would be able to take control of the vehicle to park it, bring it to the owner, or handle simple deliveries.

That idea is not entirely new. Vay already operates remote vehicle relocation in Europe without a driver in the cabin, while Tesla and several Chinese brands have long offered remote parking features. Still, a full robotaxi at the push of a button remains far off.

Chip Motors has also mentioned a future move toward Level 4 autonomy. But that would require far more than sensors and software: certification, remote operations centers, insurance models, and regulatory work would all have to fall into place. For a small startup, that path looks significantly harder than building a compact EV.

Pricing and preorder details

On price, Chip Motors is targeting a very narrow slice of the US market. According to Cox Automotive, the average actual transaction price for EVs in recent years has remained above $50,000. Even lower-cost mass-market models such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Equinox EV sit in a different category in terms of speed, safety, and road legality.

That makes Chip Motors closer to a new generation of golf carts, low-speed utility vehicles, and small commercial platforms than to a typical passenger EV. Preorders are already open, and reserving one requires a refundable $250 deposit. The real test now is whether Chip Motors can turn the concept into volume production by 2027.