Norwegian electric car manufacturer Think announced yesterday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that it is planning to open a factory in the United States to supply North America with up to 60,000 small city cars per year. The automaker says it is talking to eight states about the assembly plant, which would initially employ about 300 workers with a starting capacity of 16,000 TH!NK City vehicles.
“The U.S. is quickly overtaking Europe as an attractive market for EVs and is an ideal location to engineer and build EVs,” Think CEO Richard Canny said in a statement released to the media.
“We see ourselves playing a small but potentially growing role in re-inventing the U.S. auto industry by bringing back new manufacturing jobs to the U.S. to replace internal combustion engine vehicles that are expensive to operate and maintain with clean, efficient electric vehicles.”
The automaker, which was owned by Ford until 2003, intends to launch its City in the United States in 2010 with fleet customers and pilot projects before moving on to full retail sales in 2011.
Site selections will be whittled down to one or two states by March 31, but it’s expected that Michigan, with its strong manufacturing base and low cost of business, is the likely location, especially given Canny’s announcement took place in Ann Arbor.
Think says it is hoping to use part of the $25 billion the Department of Energy has allocated to automotive retooling and advanced technology programs. The company didn’t say how much of the $25 billion it wants, but it did say that its North American program depends on the U.S. government’s willingness to help.
The automaker has not been without its difficulties overseas. In December, it went into Norway’s version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after just two months of building the City. Canny says that he expects the Norwegian assembly plant, which halted production in December, to be back up and running in May.
The TH!NK City is a little larger than a Smart fortwo, but it can seat up to four people. In European configuration, it has a top speed of 62 mph and a 112-mile range. The automaker intends to offer the City in the U.S. for under $20,000 with a $90 monthly lease for its batteries.
03/13, 9:30 AM
posted by:
zfenderguy
This car is definitely better looking than the Smart. Plus, these little things could have a huge impact in our major urban centers, which if it does, it could create a new segment immediately for other automakers to play and profit in. I really like this idea.
03/13, 9:33 AM
posted by:
carstuff
Sorry, but I do not see anyway this company can build this vehicle in the US at anywhere near the price it needs to be with 60,000 units/year.
2nd, there is no to little market here for a small city electric. Yes there will be a few greenies that will be cool and drive it but beyond that I doubt there are enough sales.
Then again if they get $2 billion from the US to build it here they might be able to get a plant built and therefore greatly reduce the investment.
03/13, 9:33 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
Look! It’s the front half of a VW beetle.
03/13, 10:48 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I Think I would rather buy something like a Hyundai Accent and use the money I saved to pay for gas for the next however many years and not be scared or embarrassed to actually venture beyond city limits once in a while.
03/13, 1:53 PM
posted by:
sellers
Odd, I just saw this car coming back from Panera on the south side of A^2. Thought it was a Smart car, but now that I see the pick above, it was that car.
03/13, 7:46 PM
posted by:
orangecones
johny….this car is meant as a 2nd (or even 3rd) car for an urban/suburban family. If you ever have the urge to go cross-country, use one of your other vehicles. This car is to make short sprints to work/school and the local grocery story. With a range of about 100mi it is more than enough for most people (I dont drive 100mi in a week!). I would of course rather have a Smart Fortwo (electric if possible) or Danki Cube
03/13, 10:39 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Looks like a G-Wiz…
03/14, 12:43 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
I got to drive an earlier version of the Ford Think City and it was a very quick, spunky little EV. It parks in very small spaces and was quite easy to charge and operate. This little car will sell well and it gets to drive in diamond lanes with only one passenger. Also, as time goes on, businesses will be offering free recharges for shopping with them….parking close up near the front of store, etc… In small numbers this car has legs.
03/14, 10:06 AM
posted by:
jayjc08
Nice little car. Ithaca just started a car share program, with Nissan Versa’s and a few small trucks. I think it would be neat if they could buy up 15 of these in a relatively small city like Ithaca. Then again, all the hills and everything will most definitely suck up all of the battery quickly.
03/14, 2:27 PM
posted by:
Borat
orangecones, most families in NYC don’t have 2 cars – insurance is high and parking cost as much as an apartment or house payment in the rest of the country. In Boston and Philly it’s not as bad, but not enough space for families to have 2 or 3 cars. The reason people live in cities to be closer to other people, not to drive to them. This thing is good for deliveries not as a family transportation.