Detroit company Grounded shifts strategy as electric van market struggles

Grounded raised $5M in seed funding on August 18, 2026, and opened a 50,000-square-foot Detroit facility. Instead of customizing electric vans, the company now builds removable interiors — workspaces or living quarters — that fit any truck. CEO Sam Shapiro says Grounded builds spaces, not vehicles. The change comes after GM and Ford both cancelled their electric van projects.