A Walmart wrapped Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle

Walmart Just Bought 4,500 Canoos, so What’s a Canoo?

A bunch of people all of a sudden asked, "What's a Canoo?" after Walmart announced it's buying 4,500 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicles for EV deliveries.

by Dan Mayfield

Published on July 23, 2022 7:40 pm

2 min read

This week, Walmart bought 4,500 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicles. Immediately, that sent a lot of people to their keyboards to search “Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle.” Canoo has been promising that we will start to see its van-like all-electric vehicles soon. But much of what they can do is still a mystery, and many are still unfamiliar with the EV maker Canoo, which aims to be the next Tesla.

Walmart bought 4,500 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicles for EV Deliveries

Walmart said in a news release that it has also signed an option to purchase up to 10,000 more Canoo vehicles for deliveries. The Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle uses steer-by-wire and other electric trickery to maximize the cargo space of the LDV. That means, Walmart can pack in more stuff. In this case, that means each LDV has 120-feet of cargo space.

Walmart says it’ll use the Canoos to fulfill online orders rapidly from its stores. We could start to see a Walmart EV van on the road in 2023.

What is special about Canoo?

Canoo Adventure van lifted kicking up dirt — Canoo EV Adventure van | Canoo

Like Walmart, Canoo’s headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas. Canoo started as Evelozity in 2017 and its founders came from EV maker Faraday Future. Its first vehicle was a cargo van that so impressed Hyundai, the two started collaborating. The Canoo van has a similar footprint and base idea as a VW ID.Buzz EV van, but it looks completely space age and if it weren’t for mirrors showing the front of it, it would be hard to tell if it’s coming or going.

Every Canoo comes in black only, but the company is promising that a multitude of wraps will be available so you can customize yours. Also, unlike many startup manufacturers, Canoo owns a listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the name GOEV. Its stock has trended down since reaching its peak in 2020 after the company spent millions on development.

Does Canoo make a pickup truck?

The 2023 Canoo pickup in the forrest — 2023 Canoo Pickup | Canoo

Canoo is now taking preorders for its simply-named Pickup Truck, which looks like the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle with a bed. Canoo says it will have 500 horsepower, 1,800 pounds of payload capacity, and 200 mile range. You can order it in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. Like other EV trucks, it’s designed for the worksite and will come with several power outlets for tools. But it will also come with several lifestyle accessories for its modular bed, like a tent and rack, and unique flip-down tables

How much is a Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle?

Canoo EV Van off-roading — Canoo EV Van | Canoo

Though the company is making EVs, you can’t buy one. Instead, you buy a subscription to the EV. Think of the subscription really more like a lease with a month-to-month commitment. Canoo also recently won a NASA contract to provide vans for astronauts to the launch site.

That being said, you can still put $100 down on a new Canoo truck, or Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle, and order one today. They’re not expected to begin production until 2023.

Could the Canoo MPDV change cargo vans?

The Canoo MPDV cargo van in grey — Canoo MPDV | Canoo

Canoo takes its simple naming conventions seriously. Its MPDV is simply an acronym for multi-purpose delivery vehicle. The MPDV promises low cost, lots of room, and lots of multi-functional stuff in its cargo hold, from moveable shelfs to added seating. It will face some big competition from the new delivery vans from Ram Ford and Mercedes, however.

Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.