Detroit's Grounded bets modular interiors can outrun the stalled EV van market

Grounded closed a $5M seed round on August 18, 2026, opening a 50,000-sq-ft Detroit facility as it pivots from EV-only customization to vehicle-agnostic modular interiors. CEO Sam Shapiro says Grounded builds "the smart modular workspace or living space on top of the chassis," not vehicles. The pivot follows GM killing BrightDrop and Ford scrapping next-gen electric Transit plans.