An American Invader on the German Autobahn? Now I've Seen Everything
Image Credit: Mullen Automotive.
Every now and then, a story lands on my desk that makes me spit out my coffee. Usually, it's a car company announcing another beige SUV with a focus on "synergistic lifestyle integration." But today was different. Today, I learned that an American electric car startup, a company a lot of people in America have heard of (not always good), is launching its first halo car… in Germany.
Mullen, an automaker from the land of the free and the home of the brave, has decided its 1,100-horsepower electric monster, the FIVE RS, should make its grand debut on the one battlefield you don't enter unless you're absolutely sure of yourself: the German autobahn. This literally feels like a high school quarterback walking into a Munich beer hall and announcing he can drink everyone under the table. It's bold, it's brave, and it's completely bonkers. I am, of course, absolutely here for it.
Image Credit: Mullen Automotive.
Let's talk about the car itself, because the claims are ambitious. Mullen says this family-friendly crossover will rocket from a dead stop to 60 mph in "under two seconds." They also claim it will have a top speed of "over 200 mph." Right. In a crossover. A car designed, in theory, to take little Timmy to soccer practice. That's not just fast; that's rearranging-your-internal-organs fast. We're talking about performance figures that would make a Bugatti blush, all wrapped up in a package that probably has cupholders and excellent trunk space.
How do they plan on achieving this face-melting performance? Thankfully, they're not just winging it with a couple of electric motors and a big battery. The FIVE RS is built on a proper 800-volt architecture. For those of you who don't speak "electric," a higher voltage is like having a bigger pipe for your electricity to flow through. It means more efficient power delivery and, crucially, much faster charging times. It's the sort of tech you see in high-end Porsches and Audis, so it's a serious statement of intent.
Image Credit: Mullen Automotive.
On top of that, they've given it a two-speed gearbox. Most EVs make do with just one gear, which is fine, but when you're chasing speeds north of 200 mph, having a second gear is helpful. This, combined with an all-wheel-drive system, is how Mullen plans to wrangle all 1,100 of those electric horses and turn them into forward motion without simply shredding the tires into a cloud of very expensive confetti.
Now, if you're still skeptical - and you have every right to be - here's the part where the plot thickens. To make sure their German invasion goes off without a hitch, Mullen has hired some Germans. They've partnered with Faissner Petermeier Fahrzeugtechnik, or FPF, an engineering firm that has previously worked with the likes of BMW and Gumpert. These are not people who mess around. Hiring a serious German engineering firm to build your car in Germany is a very promising sign. It suggests Mullen isn't just building a concept car for a motor show; they're trying to build a proper, high-quality machine that can survive the scrutiny of the world's most demanding drivers.
Image Credit: Mullen Automotive.
This brings me to the launch plan, which is perhaps the most bewildering part of this whole tale. The FIVE RS will go on sale in Germany in December 2025. Fantastic. Then, in early 2026, it will roll out to other EU countries, the UAE, and South Africa. And what about its home market, the United States? It will arrive… eventually. Maybe. Only after it has proven itself everywhere else on the planet, it seems.
Honestly, you have to admire Mullen. An American company is telling its American customers, "Sorry, you'll have to wait. We're going to see if the Germans like our car first." It's like a Hollywood movie premiering in a tiny European village before it ever shows in Los Angeles. I can't figure out if it's a stroke of marketing genius or if someone at Mullen headquarters simply put the launch plan up on the dartboard backward.
Image Credit: Mullen Automotive.
Of course, there's the small matter of price. Mullen hasn't announced one yet, but let's be realistic. A 1,100-horsepower, 200-mph electric crossover with an 800-volt system and German engineering isn't going to be cheap. Expect a price tag with a lot of zeros. You'll likely need to have a very friendly bank manager or have recently discovered a pirate's treasure chest in your backyard.
What are we to make of the Mullen FIVE RS? It's a magnificent contradiction. It's an American underdog story that starts in the champion's backyard. It's a family car with the soul of a hypercar. It's a hugely ambitious project that seems, on the surface, a little bit mad.
And yet, I find myself rooting for it. The car world needs more madness, more ambition, more companies willing to try something so daring it borders on the absurd. Will the Mullen FIVE RS conquer the autobahn and win over the notoriously picky German driver? I have no idea. But I'll be watching. Good luck, you crazy diamonds.
