Strutt ev¹ Surpasses Sales Targets, Apparently Invents a Whole New Vehicle Category

Somewhere in Singapore, a supply chain team just looked at a spreadsheet, blinked twice, and whispered, “Well… that escalated quickly.”

That’s because Strutt Inc. has announced that early-bird pre-orders for its flagship Strutt ev¹ — billed as the world’s first Smart Everyday Vehicle — have already surpassed initial projections within weeks of launch. In press release language, that’s “global demand outpacing expectations.” In normal human language, that’s “we did not think this many people would throw down deposits this fast.”

And honestly? Good for them.

Let’s unpack what’s happening here — and why the Strutt ev¹ might actually represent something interesting in the increasingly crowded world of personal mobility.

The Rise of the “Smart Everyday Vehicle”

The Strutt ev¹ debuted globally at CES 2026 and has been positioned as something between a high-end personal mobility device and a compact, intelligent electric vehicle. Strutt describes it as harmonizing “advanced engineering with standout industrial design,” which is corporate for: it looks cool and it’s packed with sensors.

At its core, the ev¹ is built around:

• Advanced sensing
• Self-driving technology
• Over-the-air (OTA) updates
• Vehicle-grade safety and control

This isn’t just another electric scooter with an app. Strutt is trying to carve out a new category: intelligent personal transport with the safety expectations of a car but the footprint of something much smaller and more flexible.

And clearly, something about that pitch is landing.

According to CEO Tony Hong, about 75% of test-drive participants either placed a new order or secured an existing pre-order immediately after their ride. If accurate, that’s an eye-popping conversion rate. In startup math, 75% conversion after a physical demo is the kind of number you print out and frame.

Now, we don’t know the absolute number of pre-orders — and yes, that matters. “Surpassed projections” is technically possible if your projection was 37 units and you sold 38. But given the urgency in the operational scaling described in the release, it’s safe to assume this isn’t a rounding error.

Red Dot Awards, CES Glow, and Design-First Mobility

Strutt isn’t positioning itself as a scrappy gadget startup. It leans heavily on its credentials — including recognition from the Red Dot: Luminary and the CES Innovation Award. Those badges matter in the design-forward segment of the market, especially when you’re selling something that lives at the intersection of robotics, EV tech, and lifestyle.

And that’s the real play here: lifestyle mobility.

Traditional micromobility has always struggled with perception. Scooters feel temporary. E-bikes feel utilitarian. Small personal transport devices often feel like accessories.

Strutt is aiming for something more aspirational. The ev¹ isn’t just supposed to get you from Point A to Point B — it’s supposed to make you feel like you’re piloting a piece of the future.

The fact that early adopters and tech enthusiasts are responding suggests that the market for “premium compact intelligent transport” might be more real than previously assumed.

The “Co-Designer Edition”: Startup Theater, But Make It Community

Here’s where things get interesting (and slightly theatrical in the best way).

All customers in the first production batch will receive a Co-Designer Edition of the ev¹, complete with an official Co-Designer Certificate.

Yes. A certificate.

Is this clever branding? Absolutely. Is it also a subtle psychological masterstroke? Also yes.

By labeling early buyers as “foundational contributors,” Strutt reframes early adoption from risk to prestige. You’re not just buying version 1.0 of a new mobility platform — you’re shaping the future of the category.

And thanks to OTA updates, that’s not entirely fluff. Early customers will, in fact, influence feature refinement and platform evolution over time. In the era of software-defined vehicles, that matters. Hardware may ship once, but software keeps rewriting the experience.

It’s a smart way to convert early adopters into evangelists.

Scaling With “Discipline” (The Hard Part)

The press release shifts tone when it gets to production.

After the dopamine rush of pre-orders comes the sobering reality: manufacturing.

Strutt says it’s accelerating capacity adjustments and expects first customer deliveries in Q2 2026. That’s soon — dangerously soon — for a company scaling a hardware product in a complex supply chain environment.

They’re reinforcing upstream component sourcing, deepening collaboration with manufacturing partners, and implementing logistics measures to mitigate bottlenecks. Translation: they are doing everything in their power to avoid becoming the next “we promise delivery next year” cautionary tale.

CEO Tony Hong emphasized durability, reliability, and operational backbone over raw speed. That’s the right messaging. The personal mobility graveyard is filled with companies that nailed design and demand but stumbled on execution.

If Strutt can ship on time and maintain quality while scaling, that’s where the real credibility gets built.

Pre-Orders Reopened: Scarcity as Strategy

After the initial run sold out, Strutt reopened pre-orders with additional allocation through the end of February.

Scarcity is one of the oldest growth tactics in the book — but it only works if demand is real. In this case, reopening deposits suggests either:

1. The initial batch truly filled up quickly, or
2. The company is leaning into momentum to accelerate pipeline build.

Either way, the move keeps the narrative alive: high demand, limited allocation, act now.

For a brand trying to define a new category, momentum is oxygen.

Is This a Shift in Personal Mobility?

Strutt’s press release claims that pre-orders signal a shift in expectations for high-end personal mobility. That’s a bold statement. But it’s not entirely unreasonable.

Urban density is increasing. Car ownership costs remain high. E-scooters solved convenience but not safety or durability. E-bikes solved range but not intelligence. Compact EVs solve safety but not footprint.

The Strutt ev¹ appears to be targeting the overlap: compact, electric, intelligent, safe, and software-driven.

If consumers truly want something that feels like a “vehicle” rather than a gadget — and are willing to pay for it — that’s a meaningful shift.

We won’t know for sure until Q2 deliveries begin and real-world reviews hit. Pre-orders are enthusiasm. Deliveries are validation.

The Bottom Line on Strutt ev¹ Pre-Orders

Here’s the snark-free takeaway: hardware startups rarely get to brag about exceeding projections within weeks. When they do, it’s worth paying attention.

Strutt ev¹ pre-orders outpacing expectations suggests there’s genuine appetite for smarter, more refined personal mobility solutions. The Co-Designer Edition strategy cleverly builds community. The operational scaling plan sounds serious. The timeline is ambitious but not absurd.

Now comes the hardest phase: execution.

If Strutt delivers on quality, safety, and reliability — and the ev¹ performs as well outside a controlled roadshow as it apparently does during test drives — this could mark the beginning of a new premium micro-vehicle category.

If not, well… there’s always a very nice certificate.

Either way, the world is clearly ready to Strutt.