One of the biggest 'what ifs' in automotive history was a radical EV that was about to come for Tesla
- Dyson nearly gave Tesla a run for its money by developing its own EV
- Millions of dollars were sunk into the project
- In the end, building an electric car proved harder than expected
Published on May 09, 2025 at 12:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on May 09, 2025 at 5:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
In 2017, a Dyson EV almost became reality, when the British company famed for its cordless vacuum cleaners announced plans to build an electric car.
Founder Sir James Dyson spent millions of dollars developing a radical SUV, internally dubbed the N526.
However, in 2019, after just two short years, the company pulled the plug on the project.
So, what happened?
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Dyson’s engineers designed the car from scratch, building it without borrowing parts from other manufacturers.
The design was innovative, featuring a flat underbody, large wheels for better comfort, and a spacious interior.
It also used its own air filtration technology in the car to control the environment, ensuring that the air quality in the car remains fresh.
To ensure drivers never have to take their eyes off the road, Dyson installed the heads-up display and other controls on the steering wheel.
At the time, the design seemed revolutionary, even compared to pioneers like Tesla.
Things were going so smoothly that there were plans for the car to be a platform for future models.
However, the project faced significant challenges.
One issue was that the household appliances giant lacked experience in the automotive industry, leading to multiple delays and escalating costs.
The company had invested heavily in research and development, reportedly setting aside some £2.5 billion (USD $3.2 billion).
But it was not enough.
Competitors like Volkswagen invested more than £50 billion ($64 billion) into developing their own EV.
Even with Volkswagen’s existing experience manufacturing cars, it still decided not to fly solo, partnering with Ford to share costs.
Developing an electric car turned out to be really impractical for the company more accustomed to producing bladeless fans.
Finding investors for the project proved difficult, and the company eventually concluded that it was not commercially viable.
Dyson’s venture into EVs highlighted the complexities of entering the automotive industry, serving as a cautionary tale for other companies.
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