CT&T Chooses South Carolina For EV Production Facility

After looking at a number of different cities and states over the past year, CT&T has chosen the city of Duncan in Spartanburg Count, South Carolina for their first US based production facility.  Korea-based CT&T is partnering with the 2AM Group of South Carolina to develop the electric vehicle production facility.   Operating under the name CT&T Southeast LLC, the joint venture will produce CT&T’s eZone and cZone electric vehicles.  The vehicles will target the NEV market as well as commercial uses such as security, maintenance and utility applications.  CT&T will invest $21 million and create 370 new jobs to support its production over the next five years and expects the facility to be operational in the fourth quarter of this year.

2AM Group, LLC is a premium technical service provider in the fields of project management, engineering, assembly, quality assurance and logistic services for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers in the Automotive, Aerospace, and Marine Industries.

Learn more:  Businesswire.com

CT&T Adds Georgia To List Of Potential Plant Sites

Korea-based LSV manufacturer CT&T has added Georgia to the list of states that could potentially host a vehicle assembly plant.  In the past year the company has also named Hawaii, South Carolina and Pennsylvania as potential locations.  The company expects to select a site by the end of the year and start production in 2011.  Learn more:  Bizjournals.com/atlanta/

New Electric Vehicle Dealerships Open

While last month I noted the closing of some electric vehicle dealerships in the  San Francisco area, this month openings are the story.  In Fresno, Ca a new Tomberlin dealership has opened.  Valelectricar is the official authorized Tomberlin dealer for central California.  The Tomberlin vehicles are eligible for the 10% Federal tax credit.  Learn more:  thebusinessjournal.com

Meanwhile in Charleston, South Carolina Current Electric Vehicles opened.  They will be  offering Korean made CT&T’s e-Zone and c-Zone vehicles.   The dealership currently has a dozen vehicles in stock now and expects to carry up to 60 vehicles in inventory eventually.  They have already received an order for 20 vehicles from a local tourist business and the local police department was presented with a vehicle.  CT&T is looking into opening an assembly plant in nearby Duncan, NC.  Learn more:  Postandcourier.com

CT&T Inks Deal To Supply Spanish Firm With NEVs

South Korean electric vehicle manufacturer CT&T has signed an agreement with the Ficosa Group of Spain to supply 10,000 NEVs.  No other information was provided regarding when deliveries will start, production rates or the value of the deal.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Blogs.edmunds.com

Company News

Global Electric Motorcars – Has produced a commercial to promote their vehicles and the federal tax incentives that are currently available for them.  Learn more & see the commercial:  Zachmarion.com

Valence Technology - Has won a $3.1 million contract to supply the Tanfield Group’s Smith Electric Vehicles with lithium iron magnesium phosphate batteries for their electric trucks.  The company also supplies batteries for Tanfield’s joint venture in the US, Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation, that makes similar trucks.  Learn more:  Streetinsider.com

CT&T – Bavarian Luxury Auto Sales LLC has become the first dealer to carry their vehicles in South Carolina, the e-Zone LSV.  Learn more:  Poastandcourier.com Comment: – What is interesting is that while CT&T has generated a lot of press I have not come across too much hard evidence related to actual vehicle sales.  This may be  a start. – Marc Cesare

CT&T Still Looking For Plant Sites

Korean neighborhood electric vehicle manufacturer CT&T is still looking for plant sites in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas.  The company plans to open 30 to 40 sales and assembly locations throughout the US eventually but has not yet broken ground on the first one.  Previously the company had announced orders for 4,000 of their vehicles for California police departments and another 27,000 bound for the US in the short term. Learn more:  PittsburghLive.com

Comment: It remains to be seen if these various plans and vehicle sales come to fruition.  I recently checked the SEC filings of T3 Motion, the exclusive distributor for CT&T vehicles for the security market segment, and their most recent quarterly findings indicated no significant revenue from CT&T vehicles.  I followed up with a phone call to T3 Motion’s CEO and founder Ki Nam.  He confirmed that there have been no significant vehicle sales and that they have received only a small number of vehicles.  They are currently working with CT&T to make some vehicle modifications to better meet the needs of the security market customer. – Marc Cesare

CT&T Reports $400M In Orders For 38,000 EVs

At the Tokyo Motor Show last week South Korea based CT&T announced orders and distribution agreements worth $400 million for 38,000 of its e-Zone EVs.  The e-Zone is configured as an LSV for the US market but can have a top speed of 44 mph. The vehicle’s range is 41 and 68 miles with the lead-acid and lithium in battery packs respectively.

The vehicles are expected to begin shipping next month with 27,000 bound for the US.  Another 5,000 are headed for Canada, 4,000 for Japan and 2,000 for Taiwan.  This production volume is expected to be fulfilled at the end of first quarter 2010.  The vehicles will be delivered as complete units until CT&T’s Regional Assembly and Sales Systems(RAS) are developed.  The company is currently looking in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas to locate two such regional assembly and distribution centers.  Learn more:  Greencarcongress.com

Supply Chain News

LG Chem of South Korea will be supplying lithium-ion batteries to CT&T, the South Korean based LSV manufacturer.  CT&T last year won a contract to supply 4,000 LSVs to California police departments, and is currently looking around the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas for locations to build assembly plants.  Learn more:  Tradingmarkets.com

Zytek of Great Britain will be providing the Navistar and Modec joint venture with a 70kw electric powertrain for the venture’s commercial electric trucks being marketed in the Americas.  Four hundred of the trucks will be produced in 2010 using $39 million in grant money from the US government.  Learn more:  Autoevolution.com

Electric Vehicle Manufacturer CT&T To Open Plants In Pennsylvania

CT&T LSV

Korean electric vehicle maker CT&T plans to open manufacturing and distribution facilities in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.  The company will be making LSVs, which retail for about $12,000, at each of the locations.  The company expects to employ about 200 people at each facility.   In Philadelphia the company is looking at locations along the Delaware river and in Pittsburgh they have toured five sites in around the city.

CT&T’s long term strategy is to open 40 regional assembly and sales  systems in North America as they target city and municipal fleets in particular.  They currently have a contract to supply California police departments with 4,000 vehicles for use in parking enforcement.

Learn more:  SOAWorldMagazine

CT&T Announces Manufacturing & Distribution Approach To US Market

CT&T, manufacturer of the eZone NEV, recently announced their Regional Assembly and Sales System (RASS) approach for selling electric vehicles in the US.  RASS will utilize multiple assembly plants, each located near key electric vehicle markets.  Vehicles will be  assembled using parts sourced by CT&T.  Retail networks will be developed by each RASS for their designated region.  Each RASS is expected to cost between $8-$10 million to create according to management.  Learn more:  www.prweb.com

Comment: BG Automotive has also talked about building multiple assembly plants near key markets but has not mentioned separate retail networks as well. They are also still looking for funding to carry this out. – mc