Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Dominik Ashkar, E-Works Mobility: We are on the Development of electric drives We specialize in this field. Our goal is to build resource-efficient and future-proof commercial vehicles. Our proprietary hardware and software developments enable high-quality conversion of existing vehicles, as the components can be perfectly matched. Our development is intended to simplify the path to electromobility for companies and give customers the feeling of purchasing a new, modern vehicle from us.
The Heero from E-Works Mobility
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Dominik Ashkar: Electric commercial vehicles, yes, but we're currently developing the most powerful electric van with Heero. With 245 hp and a 400 km range, and a 180 kW motor that can climb (almost) any slope, we're currently ahead of everyone else. Our Heero is also the first electric van with enough power to be used for trailer towing. Our motto is: Maximum customer satisfaction through maximum customer benefit from our products.
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
(Image: E-Works Mobility)
Dominik Ashkar: As the manager of a car repair shop at the time, I was particularly bothered by the waste of resources. The idea came to me while working in my first electric car repair shop – I asked myself, "Why stop here?" The idea was to bring low-maintenance, powerful solutions to the road without having to compromise on the performance of combustion-engine vehicles. The main goal was to develop vehicles with maximum mileage while being as resource-efficient as possible. We initially started with the drive concept for sports cars, but then we quickly realized that the impact of commercial vehicles is greater, in terms of added value for customers and CO2 savings.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Dominik Ashkar: We were able to implement such a big vision with a very small team to begin with, by leveraging each individual's strengths.
“The order books are filling up”
Munich Startup: How are things going?
Dominik Ashkar: Demand for our product is currently growing exponentially. Every day, we receive new inquiries from interested parties who want to test drive it. The decision to purchase a product that requires detailed explanation requires careful consideration, even from our customers, and requires a lengthy consultation and decision-making process. However, the response so far has been consistently positive, and order books are filling up.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Dominik Ashkar: Positive – Munich is a highly networked high-tech location with many companies and Elite universitiesthat we can incorporate into our processes and developments. With its high quality of life, the city of Munich naturally also attracts skilled workers of all kinds. In Munich, you can easily find many people with the necessary know-how who are open to anything.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
Dominik Ashkar: Electric vehicle safety and passenger safety are our top priorities. This is also reflected in our corporate strategy. As a startup in our industry, you always have to take certain risks, but these are carefully considered, discussed within the team, and then decided upon jointly.
