Chinese Cars? CODA Wants To Be First
For years. American and Chinese companies have talked about bringing Chinese cars to America. So far, a lot of talk, little action. Even perennial announcer BYD has not progressed beyond the test phase. Santa Monica’s CODA wants to be the first one. Honestly now.
According to NPR, CODA plans to sell a Made in China electric four-door sedan in the second half of the year. CODA expects to sell 10,000 to 14,000 vehicles in its first 12 months.
The car is based on a conventional vehicle made by Chang’an Hafei Auto, a subsidiary of Chang’an Auto Co. The car is adapted to electric drive and outfitted with batteries manufactured in a joint venture with Tianjin LiShen Miles Power Battery Systems Co.
In a telling characterization of the state of the EV market, CODA’s CEO, Philip F. Murtaugh said:
“We won’t be perfect but we will certainly be class-leading.”
Murtaugh is a former chairman of General Motors China who joined CODA last month.
CODA’s sedan will retail for $44,900, or $32,400 after a $7,500 federal tax credit and a $5,000 state government credit, Forrest Beanum, CODA’s vice president for communications told NPR. What ever happened to those dirt cheap Chinese cars that will wreak havoc in the American market?
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Bertel, why did you write America with a 'k' ?
I saw this car at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica last year. It looked interesting, until I saw the price. Seriously??? It was sitting inside the hall looking kind of plain and uninteresting, especially when the Nissan Leaf was outside zipping around the parking lot, with people lined up for test drives, and priced ten grand less.
I think that Mr. Murtaugh is delusional. Absolutely delusional. Maybe for $15,000, even then it probably won't sell in big numbers. BTW, Mr. Murtaugh, if you're reading this, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell...
I can’t wait to see the crash test footage… who sang the song " great balls of fire" , jerry lee Lewis? U need this song to enhance the effect. At this price is not going to last or is going to fly off the shelf or sold like hot cakes.