Coda Delays Electric Sedan Launch

Of the companies set on taking a considerable share of the electric vehicle market, Coda announced today it is postponing for a short time the introduction of the Electric sedan model, due to the need to “build buffer time into the schedule” as the company's CEO Mac Heller told Autonews.

The model was scheduled for launch this December and the delay is not a sign that there is any problem with the car, says Heller. The new release date is now the middle of next year.

The Coda sedan, an electric vehicle which uses some Chinese-made parts, like the chassis, is a five-passenger EV based on a former Mitsubishi model sold in Asia. It comes powered by an all-electric drive system which includes a 33.8 kWh Lithium-ion battery. The pack gives the car a range of 120 miles (193 km).

The Coda sedan will be equipped with 6 airbags, satellite-ready AM/FM/XM radio, QuickLink Feeds and Level II charging with 6.6kWh on-board vehicle charger.

From 2011, the car will also be available from Hertz rental locations in Southern California. The agreement between Hertz and Coda was signed earlier this month, but the size of the Hertz order was not disclosed.

Coda has priced its electric vehicle at $37,400, including federal tax credits. In some states, because of the local tax credits, the price for the model might be lower. The Coda comes with a 3-year/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty and the same battery warranty as its single rivals yet, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt: 8 years/100,000 miles.