The newly inaugurated plant will initially deliver a small batch of fleet vehicles, with production levels to be increased as of next year from 2,000 to 3,000 cars. Currently, only a third of the 205,000 square foot assembly plant is utilized, with production to be scaled up in the years to come. At the moment, the facility is only carrying out assembly of the vehicles, with parts sourced from Europe and the US.
The City EV is built for Think by contract builder Valmet Automotive, which is also responsible for building the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, and shipped to North America, where the electric drivetrain and battery packs are installed.
The company will supply electric vehicles to the State of Indiana, several colleges, a car rental company and Duke Energy in North Carolina, among others, with more than two hundred vehicles already lined up in various phases of their assembly, awaiting completion.
Think hopes to deliver at least 300 units by the end of the year with fleet sales to continue in 2011, while setting up a retail network. According to Think's new global marketing director, Michael Lock, deliveries to retail customers should begin in late 2012.
A price for the upcoming City EV hasn't been specified but company officials aim to bring the Think City to the American market at under $34,000 before incentives.
Google News