REPORT: New Louisiana auto plant not for Th!nk, will make high-mpg gas-powered cars [UPDATED]
Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery
Plans for a new auto plant will be unveiled later this morning in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana. We guessed earlier that the plant would be for the Th!nk CIty EV, but a new report from local newspaper The News Star indicates otherwise. The paper writes, "The new company will manufacture high-mileage gas-powered cars, not electric or hybrids as some reports have suggested." Another possibility is that the plant will be used by Fisker, but their only vehicles right now - the Karma and the Karma S - are plug-in hybrids. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret said that the plant will put the region "at the forefront of the effort to re-energize the American auto industry. This is a next generation manufacturing facility."
Whoever the plant is for, it will be welcome news for local workers. The News Stars says that the new plant will create 1,400 new jobs and pay an average of $40,000 a year. An official announcement should come down the wire soon, so stay tuned. Thanks to Mart for the tip!
UPDATE: The News Stars just Twittered that the company name is V-vehicle Co.
LATER UPDATE: As many details as we now have are available here.
Gallery: Fisker Karma
[Source: The News Star]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 11:42AM (6/17/2009)
Oh, sweet irony... the worlds most advanced vehicles are to be built by a bunch of [ DELETED ]. Of course, I live near the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, AL so I can't really talk. It is an interesting trend, though. The center of the automotive universe in the US is shifting rapidly; the UAW had better get their head in the game because unions traditionally don't do well in the South and they may soon find themselves in the heat.
Tupelo, MS - Toyota (hopefully x2 sometime soon)
Canton, MS - Nissan
Tuscaloosa, AL - Mercedes
Hope Hull, AL - Hyundai
Lincoln, AL - Honda
West Point, GA - Kia
Pooler, GA - Chrysler
Doraville, GA - GM
Spartanburg, SC - BMW
Charleston, SC - Chrysler
Timmonsville, SC - Honda
Chattanooga, TN - VW
WHEW....
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Sebastian 11:56AM (6/17/2009)
Matt,
we appreciate your comments, but let's not go overboard with the regional slurs. I know you covered it a bit, but still. i'll edit your comment. thanks.
Matt 2:00PM (6/17/2009)
I hope I didn't offend anyone; I think of that word in the same way I think of "redneck" or "hillbilly" and didn't realize it was offensive, save the three letter suffix. As a southerner I myself am generally referred to as a redneck and think of it as a term of endearment. Please accept my appology, and thank you for continuing to bring us the latest in green automotive news.
markr 1:32PM (6/17/2009)
So the company is V-Vehicle Company out of San Diego. They apparently have backing from Kleiner Perkins and T. Boone Pickens. I can't see as they've built anything before, and the announcement is vague about exactly what they intend to build. Anyone dig up something further than this?
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Mart 1:44PM (6/17/2009)
They've got Tom Matano (Miata designer) on staff, but no car, photographs, drawings, estimated mpg, etc that I've seen. CEO Frank Varasano came from Oracle.
Louisiana Economic Development has a video promo.
http://www.ledlouisiana.com/
Brian 1:45PM (6/17/2009)
Here's the story at NOLA.com with a bit more info:
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/startup_car_company_locating_i.html
The car's designer is Tom Matano, who also designed the Mazda Miata.
susanna 5:54PM (6/21/2009)
Oh no here we go again. How long did GM string us along about the new Camero. I would say with Pickins involved it will be something to cut into the oil business even though that is how he made his billions. With Gore it will have to do with the enviorement.
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