Detroit startup Grounded pivots to modular interiors as EV van market stalls

Grounded closed a $5M seed round on August 18, 2026, opening a 50,000-sq-ft Detroit facility. The company is pivoting from EV-only customization to vehicle-agnostic modular interiors — building smart workspace or living-space modules that mount on any chassis. CEO Sam Shapiro says Grounded builds spaces, not vehicles. The shift follows GM killing BrightDrop and Ford scrapping next-gen electric Transit plans.