Arrivo

Arrivo Corporation was a Los Angeles-based transportation-technology startup founded in 2016 by Brogan BamBrogan, a former Hyperloop One founder and chief engineer who had also worked at SpaceX. The company emerged after an acrimonious departure by much of Arrivo's eventual management team from Hyperloop One; a related lawsuit was later settled. Arrivo initially presented itself as a competitor in the emerging hyperloop sector, seeking to commercialize very high-speed transport systems for passengers, vehicles, and freight. The company's early concept involved a sled or platform capable of carrying automobiles through a dedicated guideway. In its initial hyperloop-oriented form, Arrivo discussed operating within an evacuated tube and stated in 2017 that it could have an operational hyperloop within three years. The company was described in contemporary reporting as one of the leading contenders in the hyperloop field, although it remained a small startup. BamBrogan said in June 2017 that Arrivo had approximately twenty employees. In November 2017, Arrivo abandoned development of the vacuum-tube element associated with the original hyperloop concept and shifted toward established maglev transportation technology. The change repositioned the company from a speculative tube-based system toward an infrastructure concept based on magnetic levitation without the same evacuated-tube architecture. Arrivo proposed a 200-mile-per-hour maglev system in Colorado intended to transport automobiles between the Denver area and Denver International Airport. The Colorado proposal centered on a potential facility near the E-470 corridor. Arrivo agreed to lease offices in an unused toll plaza in Commerce City and intended to employ about forty engineers. A later phase was expected to involve construction of a half-mile test track. The proposed commercial route would initially have linked Aurora and the airport, with the company targeting a 2019 construction start and a 2021 opening. BamBrogan described a service that would carry automobiles from downtown Denver to the airport at a price comparable to the tolls on Peña Boulevard and claimed that the project could have a ten-year payback period. Colorado offered $760,000 in tax incentives to attract the company. Arrivo also said in 2017 that it had initial funding in place, but it did not disclose the amount or source. In July 2018, the company announced that it had received a $1 billion credit facility from Genertec America. The available reference material does not establish how much of that facility was drawn, whether it represented equity or debt financing, or whether it funded construction. Arrivo's plans ultimately did not reach commercial operation. On December 14, 2018, the company was reportedly shut down after failing to secure Series A funding. No operating commercial maglev route, public test track, or production transportation product is identified in the available material. Arrivo is therefore best understood as a defunct transportation-infrastructure startup whose principal legacy was its attempted transition from hyperloop development to a more conventional maglev model and its unsuccessful Colorado airport-connection proposal.

Arrivo was founded in Los Angeles in 2016 by Brogan BamBrogan following his departure from Hyperloop One. BamBrogan had been associated with Hyperloop One as a founder and chief engineer and had previously worked at SpaceX. The formation of Arrivo followed an acrimonious management dispute at Hyperloop One involving several departing executives. A resulting lawsuit was settled, although the available reference does not provide detailed legal findings or settlement terms. Arrivo's original business objective was to commercialize high-speed transportation technology, initially using a hyperloop-style system. Its proposed vehicle concept included a sled or platform for automobiles, suggesting that the company intended to move vehicles as well as conventional passengers or freight. In March 2017, the company claimed that an operational hyperloop could be delivered within three years. By June of that year, BamBrogan described the company as having roughly twenty employees. Contemporary reporting later identified Arrivo as one of three leading contenders in the hyperloop sector. The company changed direction in November 2017. Rather than continuing to develop the evacuated tubes associated with the original hyperloop proposal, Arrivo said it would concentrate on established magnetic-levitation rail technology. The shift was significant: it moved the company away from the most speculative part of the hyperloop concept while retaining high-speed, electronically controlled guideways as the core technology. Arrivo's principal public project was a proposed Colorado maglev system connecting the Denver metropolitan area with Denver International Airport. The proposed system was expected to operate at approximately 200 miles per hour and carry automobiles to and from the airport. Arrivo agreed to lease offices in an unused toll plaza on E-470 in Commerce City and planned to employ approximately forty engineers. The company also contemplated a half-mile test track, although the available material does not indicate that the track was built. The proposed commercial development was to begin with a route from Aurora to the airport. Arrivo discussed breaking ground in 2019 and opening the line in 2021. BamBrogan said the service could charge about the same as the toll on Peña Boulevard and estimated a ten-year payback period. Colorado offered $760,000 in tax incentives to attract the project. These plans remained proposals and did not result in an identified commercial operating system. Arrivo stated in 2017 that it had initial funding but did not disclose the amount or source. In July 2018, the company announced a $1 billion credit facility from Genertec America. The available reference does not establish whether the credit was drawn, how it was structured, or whether it was sufficient to support the Colorado project. On December 14, 2018, Arrivo reportedly shut down because it could not secure Series A funding. The company therefore ended before delivering a commercial product, completing the announced test track, or opening the planned airport connection.

1. 2018Genertec America credit facility announced

   Arrivo announced a $1 billion credit facility from Genertec America, without publicly disclosing in the available reference how much funding was drawn.

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2. 2018Operations reportedly end

   Arrivo reportedly shut down on December 14 after failing to secure Series A financing.

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3. 2017Arrivo pursues hyperloop commercialization

   Arrivo described a high-speed hyperloop concept using a sled for automobiles and claimed that an operational system could be delivered within three years.

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4. 2017Colorado maglev proposal announced

   The company proposed a 200-mile-per-hour maglev system for automobile transport between the Denver area and Denver International Airport.

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5. 2017Strategy shifts from hyperloop tubes to maglev rail

   Arrivo announced that it was abandoning development of vacuum tubes and concentrating on maglev technology.

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6. 2016Arrivo is founded

   Brogan BamBrogan founded Arrivo in Los Angeles after leaving Hyperloop One with much of the company's eventual management team.

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Arrivo positioned itself as a transportation-infrastructure startup seeking to adapt high-speed magnetic-levitation technology for practical passenger, automobile, and freight movement. Its later strategy emphasized established maglev principles rather than a fully evacuated hyperloop tube.

• Automobile transport sledHigh-speed transport vehicle

  Arrivo described a sled or platform intended to carry automobiles through a dedicated high-speed guideway. The concept was associated first with the company's hyperloop plans and later with its maglev-oriented system. No evidence in the available material shows that the sled entered commercial production or regular service.

• Arrivo maglev transportation systemMaglev infrastructure2017

  After abandoning its vacuum-tube development, Arrivo focused on a conventional maglev rail approach. The proposed system was intended to move automobiles at up to 200 miles per hour and was most publicly associated with a planned Denver-area airport connection. It remained a proposed infrastructure project.

• Hyperloop transportation conceptHyperloop infrastructure2016

  Arrivo initially attempted to commercialize a hyperloop-style transportation system involving high-speed movement through a dedicated tube. The company later discontinued the vacuum-tube element and redirected its effort toward maglev technology.

• 2018Announcement of Genertec America credit facilityStrategy

  Arrivo required substantial capital to develop transportation infrastructure and advance its Colorado proposal.

  What changed. The company announced that it had received a $1 billion credit facility from Genertec America.

  Aftermath. Arrivo later reportedly closed after failing to secure Series A funding. The available source does not establish whether the credit facility was drawn or why it did not prevent the shutdown.

  Announced credit facility. $1 billion (July 2018)

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• 2017Abandonment of vacuum-tube hyperloop developmentStrategy

  Arrivo initially sought to commercialize a hyperloop system, but the company reconsidered the role of evacuated tubes in its technology and business plan.

  What changed. In November 2017, Arrivo announced that it would stop developing vacuum tubes and focus on established maglev rail technology.

  Aftermath. The company repositioned its main public project as a Colorado maglev airport connection, but the project did not reach commercial operation before Arrivo reportedly shut down in 2018.

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• 2017Pursuit of the Colorado airport maglev projectStrategy

  Arrivo sought a practical infrastructure application for its transportation technology and proposed moving automobiles between the Denver area and Denver International Airport.

  What changed. The company planned offices in Commerce City, a half-mile test track, and an initial Aurora-to-airport commercial segment.

  Aftermath. Colorado offered tax incentives, but the available material does not indicate that the test track or commercial route was built.

  Colorado tax incentives offered. $760,000 offered (2017)

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• 2018Arrivo announces a $1 billion Genertec America credit facility

  Arrivo announced that it had received a $1 billion credit facility from Genertec America. The available reference does not specify the amount drawn or the facility's subsequent use.

  Other
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• 2018Arrivo reportedly shuts down after failing to secure Series A funding

  Arrivo reportedly ceased operations on December 14 after it was unable to obtain Series A financing.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2017Arrivo proposes a 200 mph Colorado maglev system

  Arrivo proposed a maglev system capable of transporting automobiles between the Denver area and Denver International Airport, with a planned test track and a potential Aurora-to-airport commercial segment.

  Other
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• 2017Arrivo abandons vacuum-tube hyperloop development

  The company announced that it was no longer developing the evacuated-tube component of its original hyperloop concept and would instead focus on maglev rail technology.

  Product generation
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• 2017Colorado offers tax incentives for Arrivo facilities

  Colorado offered Arrivo $760,000 in tax incentives as the company planned offices and a possible maglev test facility in Commerce City.

  Other
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• Lawsuit connected to the departure of Arrivo's management team is settled

  A lawsuit resulting from the acrimonious departure of much of Arrivo's management team from Hyperloop One was reportedly settled. The available reference does not provide the parties, claims, or settlement terms.

  Lawsuit
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1. Arrivo