The commercial EV market has always been a volatile one, and several high-profile startups, including Proterra, have recently gone belly-up. Fortunately, larger (and presumably better-funded) companies have been snapping up their assets.

In the latest rising-from-the-ashes deal, Gillig, one of the largest US manufacturers of transit buses, announced that wholly-owned subsidiary Gerco has acquired select assets from Lightning eMotors and Lightning Systems, which went into receivership in December. Gerco has also hired a number of Lightning’s former engineering employees.

In connection with the acquisition, Gillig will launch a new Colorado Technology Center, which will serve as an engineering hub for the company.

Based in Loveland, Colorado, Lightning specialized in developing electric powertrains and repowering commercial vehicles. With this acquisition, Gillig aims to expand its electric powertrain engineering capacity.

“This acquisition focuses on a talented team of former Lightning employees and the tools they need to support Gillig’s roadmap,” said Derek Maunus, Gillig’s President and CEO. “This acquisition allows us greater engineering capacity to integrate quickly evolving zero-emission technologies. As we look to the future generations of Gillig’s celebrated Battery Electric bus, these additional engineering and technological resources will accelerate Gillig’s leadership in zero-emission buses by increasing our powertrain expertise.”

Source: Gillig