ZEV Technologies is packing up and hitting the road, moving operations to a more welcoming and pro-gun climate in Utah.
The maker of performance handguns, AR-style rifles, components, and the new Folding Defensive Platform announced the relocation of its headquarters and manufacturing operations to a 40,000-square-foot facility in Riverton, Utah.
ZEV says the move from its current home in Washington state was driven by the brand's desire to conduct business "in a state that respects Second Amendment rights and fosters a positive business environment for 2A-affiliated brands. For years, no such environment existed in Washington."
The move makes sense as ZEV was acquired by Utah-based SilencerCo in 2024 and is expected to be complete by May 31.
"Due to the evolving political climate in Washington state, our company determined that it could no longer, in good conscience, continue operations in a jurisdiction where law-abiding citizens are restricted from purchasing and owning the products we manufacture," said ZEV Technologies President Taylor Goode. "This transition positions ZEV Technologies to accelerate innovation and more effectively meet the evolving needs of our highly discerning customer base."
ZEV originally started in 2006 in Oxnard, California, as a producer of premium Glock parts, relocated to Centralia, Washington, in 2016, and began manufacturing firearms, producing 2,172 guns in 2017.
According to the latest statistics from federal regulators, in 2022 Zev Tech produced 15,046 pistols and 3,630 miscellaneous firearms – the latter category a catch-all that includes receivers. The company also performed well when it came to exporting firearms, sending some 2,492 handguns and 510 rifles overseas in 2022 alone.
ZEV's catalog features the popular OZ9 Pistol, which is used by the Department of Energy's elite nuclear material escorts. The company has also developed the FDP in conjunction with Magpul, a project that spanned a half-decade.
We covered the release of the innovative platform at SHOT Show earlier this year:
Banner image: Guns.com on the range at the Highbar Homeland Ranch outside of Gillette, Wyoming, in 2024, testing early pre-production FDPs.
