Protean Electric CEO Andrew Whitehead and Bedeo CEO Osman Boyer pose with a diesel van that has been converted into an electric hybrid by Bedeo using Protean in-wheel motors, in Farhnam, Britain, September 26, 2023. In order to qualify for French subsidies Bedeo, which makes electric powertrains for vans for world No. Bedeo acquired Protean Electric in 2022 from a unit of China Evergrande Group. Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor (0489.HK) has built small tests fleets using Protean in-wheel motors and is looking at launching new models with them around the middle of the decade, Protean CEO Andrew Whitehead said. Whitehead said a couple of other Chinese carmakers and three major European carmakers are also looking at using Protean's in-wheel motors.

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Persons: Andrew Whitehead, Osman Boyer, Nick Carey, Bedeo, Boyer, Stellantis, Whitehead, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Protean, REUTERS, EV retrofitters, Reuters, Protean Electric, China Evergrande Group, HK, Thomson Locations: Farhnam, Britain, France, China