Corporate Controller

From doorstep to supply depot, this EV truck maker aims to tackle both. Harbinger's first defense contract puts its commercial truck platform on the U.S. Army's last tactical mile. · Monday, August 24, 2026 Across the U.S., a final-mile network operates in a similar yet predictable manner: a small truck, a short route, one person in the cab. The U.S. Army runs that same network, except it has more challenges for the person in the cab and the route. Harbinger, the Garden Grove, Calif., builder of electric and hybrid medium-duty chassis, is supplying prototype trucks to tackle what the Army refers to as the last tactical mile. It started with American Rheinmetall, which was awarded an 18-month Army contract on July 31 for Project Sustainment. It is an effort to field hybrid-powered uncrewed ground vehicles that move supplies to and from the forward line of troops. American Rheinmetall holds the award as prime contractor, and Harbinger is a tier-one supplier building the platform. It is Harbinger's first defense contract. What Harbinger is shipping is not a truck with the driver removed. There is no cab, no steering wheel and no pedals, so no Soldier is available to take over when the autonomy quits. "This is an AGV product. There's no steering wheel, there's no pedals. It is not optionally manned. It is a moving trailer-like platform," said John Harris, co-founder and CEO of Harbinger, in an interview with FreightWaves. From the doorstep to the last tactical mile. The Army's resupply architecture already maps onto a distribution network. Main trains haul bulk to the brigade or battalion, those stocks get pushed down to company-level formations, and what runs the final leg today is a five-ton or a deuce-and-a-half with Soldiers in it. "They're really looking at how do we take that five-ton, deuce-and-a-half type size vehicle and how do we remove some of the Soldiers from doing that very exposed mission set," said Adam Horton, director of business development at American Rheinmetall, in an interview with FreightWaves. That errand is one of the dull, dangerous and dirty jobs the Army wants automated. To copy it, the military supply network is taking a page from civilian commercial last-mile applications. "It's taking a lot of cues from what Amazon, UPS, FedEx are doing where you have those smaller trucks that are getting out there to go that last delivery mile if you will," Horton said. Harbinger builds Class 4 through Class 6 chassis, and Chris Haag, vice president for business development and strategy at American Rheinmetall, described the Project Sustainment vehicle as built off "kind of a Class 5 / Class 6 type truck which does door-to-door delivery at that last tactical mile commercially." Silent running inside the drone kill zone. The first key clarification: these are hybrid drivetrains. "There's no EVs in this contract, only hybrids," Harris said. The architecture is a series hybrid that runs in either mode. The reason is geography paired with range. Harbinger's plug-in hybrid chassis is rated up to 500 miles commercially, and that number sets how far behind the front the supply node can sit. "When we're within the sort of drone kill zone, the 20 to 30 miles of the front line, it's very compelling to be able to run as an EV, but we also don't want to have to refuel or reload the vehicle only 30 miles out," Harris said. Electric mode buys concealment, something the modern combat zone makes challenging because of the constant contest between thermal imagery and electronic warfare capabilities. "We can have near-zero noise, near-zero thermal signature, all of these things that make it a really compelling platform to move up to the front line for sustainment purposes without being a huge obvious target because it's an engine running," Harris said. The receiving unit has no fuel, no maintenance bay and no recovery asset, so a vehicle that breaks at the company formation stays broken. "You're not going on hardball roads with lanes and markers," Horton said. "So the autonomy has to be much more robust in order to accomplish that mission." Built by-wire from day one. Harbinger's claim on the platform work rests on decisions made before it had a defense customer. The chassis was specified steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire with redundant power from the start. Vertical integration bought both the cost and the capability, and the actuation hardware that autonomy needs is already on the vehicle. "If we hadn't vertically integrated, if we'd said we'll just go to a big steering supplier and buy what they've got, it would have been more expensive and dramatically less capable, because there just aren't systems off the shelf that have this kind of by-wire functionality, in particular in the commercial vehicle segment," Harris said. Everybody's Piece of the Puzzle. Four companies are on the contract. Each carries a different problem to solve. Forterra supplies cross-country Level 5 autonomy for terrain with no roads or lane markings. Primordial Labs supplies Anura, a natural-language interface that enables hands-free operation and is intended to improve the Soldier-to-robot ratio. American Rheinmetall adds the defense-specific hardware and carries the contract. That division of labor is why a commercial truck builder could take Army work without standing up a defense arm to do it. "There's a lot that goes into a defense contract besides just making stuff," Harris said. "We have this contract set up in a way that has allowed Harbinger to focus on the part that we know how to do, which is make vehicle platforms." The award moved through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium under other transaction authority, a pathway built for prototypes and faster than a traditional FAR-based contract. Haag put it in freight terms: "like a prequalified carrier network," where the government posts a requirement into a membership pool and members answer with solution write-ups and a price proposal. From a handful of prototypes to 5,000. The order book is purposefully small by design. This is a low-volume prototype demonstrator phase, typically three to 10 units, and the Department of War moves from that stage to low-rate initial production before anything reaches high volume. Low-rate production tests whether the thing can be built the same way twice. "We're going to buy a hundred and not 5,000 to make sure that they all come out and do the same thing as we expect them to," Harris said. What the Army is buying right now is information. "This prototyping phase is typically about figuring out what you actually want. This is where the requirements are evolving, the approaches are evolving," Harris said. It is a deliberate posture, reflecting a new trend: a Department of War that hands industry a problem and asks what it has that can solve it. The next milestone is a National Training Center demonstration in six to 12 months, Horton said, after which the Army returns with requirement changes. The contract carries potential for follow-on orders, according to the announcement. American Rheinmetall and Harbinger announced the partnership itself on May 27. Cost is the whole bet, and it is a bet on commerciality. "The real uniqueness of our offering is that it is foundationally a commercial vehicle," Horton said. "So there are some things that are not fully militarized, but I think that allows a lower cost of entry for the Army to get these mass-produced." Looking ahead, the demonstration is where the program converts or stalls. "What we want to make sure we have is Soldier input into the platform, into the Graphical User Interface and how you interact with it, ," Haag said. "Not just demos, but try to real-world use it as best you can so that it's like, 'Wow, this is the thing I'm looking for and it can do all these things and we're 95% of the way so here's the other 5%, let's see if we can get it.'" Upcoming FreightWaves Events Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo - Chattanooga, TN F3 Awards Dinner The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo - Chattanooga, TN FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals. October 27, 2026 - October 28, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo - Chattanooga, TN

American Rheinmetall awarded U.S. Army contract for Project Sustainment to advance autonomous logistics capabilities, progressing new partnership with Harbinger. Business · JUL 31, 2026 PR Newswire American Rheinmetall received an 18-month U.S. Army contract to deliver autonomous, hybrid-powered uncrewed ground vehicles Project Sustainment advances Ar... American Rheinmetall received an 18-month U.S. Army contract to deliver autonomous, hybrid-powered uncrewed ground vehicles Project Sustainment advances Army logistics modernization by providing autonomous load-handling and transport capabilities As the prime contractor, American Rheinmetall leads a team including Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs GARDEN GROVE, Calif. and HOUSTON, July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - American Rheinmetall has been awarded an 18-month contract for the U.S. Army's Project Sustainment effort, executed through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC). As the prime contractor, American Rheinmetall will deliver next-generation uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) capabilities that strengthen the Army's tactical sustainment operations and support its broader modernization objectives. Under Project Sustainment, American Rheinmetall will provide hybrid-powered, autonomous UGVs designed to support company-sized element sustainment missions. These vehicles will autonomously transport supplies to and from the forward line of troops, reducing risk to Soldiers and increasing operational efficiency in contested environments. The program emphasizes advancements in autonomy, commerciality, and hybrid power integration, and incorporates innovative features such as voice control to enhance Soldier-system interaction. Work will be conducted across U.S. facilities and test ranges. American Rheinmetall is executing this effort in collaboration with key partners, including Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs. The partnership with Harbinger brings significant commercial technology and vehicle expertise to the program, enabling rapid development and scalable production pathways. Forterra provides the autonomous capabilities that enable distributed, mission-aware, and resilient military operations in contested environments. These capabilities strengthen the solution's ability to operate with minimal human intervention while further reducing risk to Soldiers. Primordial Labs' next-generation human-machine interface, Anura, transforms robotic systems into battlefield teammates. By distilling commander's intent through intuitive, natural language commands, Anura scales the Soldier-to-robot ratio, reduces cognitive burden, accelerates training timelines, and enables heads-up, hands-free operation. "This award expands American Rheinmetall's growing portfolio of uncrewed ground systems within the U.S. market and reinforces our position as a leader in ground robotics and autonomous technologies," said Jim Schirmer, VP of Sales & Marketing, American Rheinmetall. "Project Sustainment directly supports the Army's modernization priorities by delivering autonomous load-handling and transport capabilities that increase readiness and reduce the burden on Soldiers." The contract includes the potential for follow-on orders as the Army continues to evolve and modernize its autonomous logistics fleet. American Rheinmetall remains committed to delivering advanced, mission-focused solutions that enhance the effectiveness, safety, and operational reach of the U.S. military. About Rheinmetall in the U.S. The Rheinmetall family of U.S. companies includes American Rheinmetall in Auburn Hills, MI (HQ), Biddeford, ME, Lansing, MI, Lapeer, MI, Plymouth, MI, and St. Marys, OH, Vienna, VA, and American Rheinmetall Munitions in Camden, AR, Texarkana, TX (Expal USA), Vienna, VA (HQ), and Windham, ME. About Harbinger Harbinger is an American industrial manufacturer of advanced electrification technologies, including all-electric and hybrid medium-duty vehicle platforms, battery and drivetrain systems, and auxiliary power solutions. Harbinger has an industry-leading team of battery, electric vehicle (EV), and drivetrain experts. The company designs and builds proprietary, vertically integrated systems in-house for commercial and specialty applications, such as medium-duty commercial vehicles, work trucks, defense vehicles, recreational vehicles (RVs), mobile healthcare units, and power and energy storage. Harbinger's EV chassis delivers electric and hybrid vehicles priced competitively with traditional diesel counterparts, removing a key barrier to adoption. The company has acquired Phantom AI to integrate advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) into its commercial vehicles and extend this technology to third-party passenger vehicle applications. Harbinger is on a mission to transform industries long underserved by innovation. Harbinger: Familiar Form. Revolutionary Foundation. To learn more about Harbinger, please visit www.harbingermotors.com. You can find the company newsroom HERE. Harbinger Media Contact Kylee Keskerian PR Manager SOURCE Harbinger Published by News Desk · WeeklyReviewer The WeeklyReviewer news desk monitors breaking developments around the clock - sourcing, verifying, and publishing real-time industry news across business, technology, politics, science, sports, and world affairs. Every story that comes through the Live Wire is reviewed for accuracy before publication, keeping our readers ahead of the curve without the noise.

Harbinger creates hybrid-electric unmanned vehicle platform for defense use. The platform is based on the company's medium-duty plug-in hybrid chassis, which is also used in commercial vehicles. June 11, 2026 3 min to read * The hybrid-electric unmanned vehicle platform is designed for defense use, providing advanced operational capabilities and efficiency. * The platform offers enhanced fuel efficiency and potentially lower operational costs *Summarized by AI Harbinger has introduced an unmanned hybrid-electric vehicle platform for military and government fleets while In-Q-Tel (IQT), the strategic investment organization supporting the U.S. national security industry and allied nations, is investing in the company. The new platform will be marketed through Harbinger Praesidia, the company's defense business unit based in Garden Grove, California. Harbinger is working with government agencies and defense contractors to configure the vehicle for usages such as logistics, field communications, troop transport, perimeter security, and counter-drone operations. Ad Loading... The platform is based on the company's medium-duty plug-in hybrid chassis, which is also used in commercial vehicles. The vehicle is designed for remote operation and can be integrated into autonomous systems. The chassis is available in 158-inch, 178-inch and 208-inch wheelbases. Gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) range from 16,000 to 26,000 pounds, with payload capacity of up to 18,000 pounds. The vehicle uses a series-hybrid powertrain that combines an electric motor with a gasoline engine and generator. The system is designed to provide more than 500 miles of hybrid range and about 105 miles of all-electric range in the company's standard configuration. The battery system can power vehicle propulsion and external equipment. The platform can export up to 350 kW of power to external systems and provide 48 kW of continuous power from the onboard gasoline engine. A 15-kW inverter supports split-phase AC power output. Additional specifications include a top speed of 65 mph, a turning radius of 21 feet, more than 30% gradeability and more than 20% side-slope capability. The vehicle is designed to operate in temperatures from -22 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit and at elevations up to 12,000 feet. Ad Loading... AC charging from 10% to 80% state of charge takes about four hours, while DC fast charging to the same level takes about one hour. For remote operation, the platform includes steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire and accelerator-by-wire systems, redundant control systems and a six-camera 360-degree viewing system. Communications options include radio and satellite connectivity. The vehicle supports teleoperation at distances of up to 3.1 miles using mesh radio systems and can operate beyond line of sight through satellite communications. Other features include a mode that disables exterior lighting, acoustic alerts and onboard power generation, as well as remote control of auxiliary functions such as pallet deployment, power export and liftgate operation. Sara Jones, a principal at IQT, said in a June 10 news release that the investment was based on the platform's combination of energy storage, power generation, and vehicle capabilities, as well as its U.S.-based manufacturing. Harbinger CEO and co-founder John Harris said the company developed the platform to support a range of government vehicle applications while maintaining payload capacity, driving range, power export capability, and durability. Harbinger also noted its recently announced partnership with American Rheinmetall to develop and deliver robotic and unmanned ground vehicles for military applications.