Factories are independently owned. Most BUV micro-factories will use 2000 - 5000 square feet of space. Typical production
volumes range from 1 unit per week to 1 vehicle per day. Small by western standards, this is a sizable business for many impoverished areas of the world. Handtools are required for the "Assembly Only" (AO) version of the BUV. The AO version takes 50-60 hours to build. Power tools reduce the time required. BUVs can be built by connecting the front half (made locally) to the rear clip (frame, axle, leaf springs) of a small truck. Small Investment. Small Facility. Simple Handtools. These are the ingredients to a starter BUV factory that produces 100-200 units per year.
The first overseas BUV factory is in Honduras. Five other groups (all independent) are planning to launch in Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Haiti, Ethiopia and D.R. Congo. Each of these 5 groups have initiated BUV pilot projects (sending 1 to 8 units to the market to study the application of BUVs in the respective countries.) Most groups spend at least a year in preparing to launch their factory.
BUV Assembly
Raw Material
Employee Stephen Scharer refurbishes a truck frame (to be connected to a BUV front end.)
Typical Facility
Cinder block building
Tin roof
Open air ventilation
Cement floor
Florescent lighting
Capabilities
3 Assembly Bays
Hand tool / Power Tool tradeoff
Overhead air & power drops
Simple in-house fixtures (90%)
Roll-carts w/hardware & parts
easy to reconfigure on volume
Rear Frame Preparation
Remove excess parts
New brake parts
New seals & oil
New shocks
Pressure wash & paint
Common “off-the-shelf” parts
Cargo Bed Assembly
Treated lumber
Deck Board & 3/4" plywood
72" length, 42" wide
Steel corner reinforcement
Carriage bolts & locknuts
We encourage users to build the bed overseas.
Common Parts
“Off-the-shelf” parts
Easy access to engine/drivetrain
95% less parts than a typical car
Rear section can be made independent of front section
Pressure Washing
Remove rust from rear frame
Takes 1 hr with 4000 psi
prep for rust converter paint
Investment
$50,000 US$ minimum
varies according to what assets the owner has available
$20k for equipment
working capital decreases as more parts are sourced locally
Power Deck
Self-fixturing
CNC cut & tabs
Fits many truck models
Accepts over 20 different engines w/o modification
Factories are independently owned. Most BUV micro-factories will use 2000 - 5000 square feet of space. Typical production
