Chip Motors Unveils $15,000 Low-Speed EV with Remote Parking Capabilities
The Chip Motors ‘Chip’ vehicle offers remote parking via teleoperation and aims for Level 4 autonomy, with deliveries scheduled for 2027.
Miami-based startup Chip Motors has launched its first electric vehicle, a low-speed model priced from $15,000. The company, which describes the vehicle as a “life utility vehicle” (LUV), positions the product as a solution for short local trips on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or below. With a top speed of 25 mph, the vehicle is designed to complement traditional automobiles rather than replace them for highway travel.
The vehicle features remote parking functionality through teleoperation, a system that CEO Jameson Detweiler states the company will take legal responsibility for while in use. This capability serves as a stepping stone toward the company’s goal of achieving Level 4 autonomous driving. Detweiler, a serial entrepreneur who previously sold a camera technology firm, argues that the vehicle removes the “mental overhead” associated with traditional car ownership, particularly regarding parking and navigation in dense urban environments.
Hardware specifications include in-wheel motors and a 15 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The battery can recharge overnight on a standard 110-volt household outlet or in approximately four hours using a Level 2/240-volt charger via a NACS port. The company estimates a range of 100 miles, though it notes that final specifications are pending. The vehicle also includes an LED screen on the front bumper that acts as a digital face, capable of displaying expressions and responding to verbal commands.
Chip Motors offers the vehicle in four-seat and six-seat configurations, with prices starting at $15,000 and $18,000 respectively. Reservations can be secured for $250, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. The company highlights the potential for lower ownership costs, including zero fuel expenses and reduced insurance premiums, as key selling points for consumers seeking a second vehicle for errands and school runs.
Detweiler suggests that the market for small vehicles is growing, citing a 50 percent annual increase in the segment since 2021. He notes that while microcar sales in the US remain small, golf cart sales have risen steadily since the pandemic, particularly among young families in warm weather markets. Chip Motors intends to expand its lineup in the future to include more weatherproofed versions and highway-capable models, though the current launch focuses on the low-speed utility segment.
