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Monday, September 21, 2009

Korean electric-car maker considers Philadelphia assembly plant

Philadelphia is trying hard to attract a South Korean electric-car maker.

Representatives of CT&T Co. Ltd. met with Mayor Nutter last week in an effort to bring a “regional assembly and sales” operation to Philadelphia, said Curt Westlake, the company’s senior director of marketing.

In essence, it would be a final-assembly operation with a retail location where people could buy the electric car called the eZone. Founded in 2002, CT&T now makes its vehicles in South Korea. But its plan to expand in the United States calls for the company to establish RAS sites around the nation.

So far, it has set up joint ventures to do so in Greenville, S.C., and Riverside, Calif., Westlake said. The typical RAS will employ 90 to 125 people.

CT&T intends to make its U.S.-market cars entirely in this country within 18 to 24 months. To do so, it will set up a central manufacturing location to make frames and other key parts, Westlake said. States in the running for that factory are South Carolina, Georgia, California and Alabama. The decision time for that is in the next 30 days, he said.

Though we’ve heard a lot of hype about various plans for electric vehicles, CT&T fully hopes to be selling its first eZones in the United States before year’s end, Westlake said.

However, the company has a bit of a problem. Right now, it can’t import anything that can go faster than 25 m.p.h., he said. Then, there is the matter of where consumers can drive what is considered a “neighborhood electric vehicle” or “low-speed vehicle” with a range of 70 miles. Some states don’t permit them on the road. Others allow them only on streets with posted speeds as high as 35 m.p.h.

That could make some commutes tricky, but not impossible, said Westlake, who said he’s able to do about 80 percent of his errands driving a two-passenger eZone around Greenville.

The eZone looks like a cousin of Daimler’s Smart Fortwo. With a retail price projected to be under $15,000, the eZone would be comparable to the gasoline-fueled Fortwo, which has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting from $11,990.

Westlake said CT&T will be showing off its cars at events associated with the Group of 20 Summit in Pittsburgh later this week at the invitation of Gov. Rendell.
Posted by Mike Armstrong @ 2:05 AM  Permalink | File Under: Economic Development | | Manufacturing | 8 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:37 AM, 09/21/2009
    I'd like some yoga, granola and tofu to go with my electric car. Revenge of Ecology Coop, finally! Oh yea, more self esteem and less wacko bible science.
    — Fernando08
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:28 PM, 09/21/2009
    at least the Smart cars can get on the highway, this thing sounds like it would only be usable if you have a garage in the city, because in the suburbs you'd never be able to get anywhere without hitting a 45mph main road, and you need to charge in every day which I doubt you'd want to do on the street. It's literally a street-legal golf cart, but it might be good for people who do little but short trips.
    — Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:52 PM, 09/21/2009
    Yeah, great opportunity for Philadelphia. Unfortunately the union mafias will drive them away.
    — Philatonian
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:20 PM, 09/21/2009
    Why would they come here? So they can overpay for Union workers?
    — ALJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:40 PM, 09/21/2009
    Ha ha ha! A new manufacturing plant in Philadelphia? What are you smoking!?!?!?!
    — jowillia1
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:27 PM, 09/23/2009
    Haters are always worth ignoring.
    — Wurm


8 comments
About Mike Armstrong
Mike Armstrong, a business editor and writer for nearly two decades, is the Inquirer's business columnist and PhillyInc blog editor. Contact Mike via e-mail or at 215-854-2980
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