EV Maker Coda Automotive Files For Bankruptcy

The bell has tolled for electric vehicle maker Coda Automotive, which earlier this year laid off almost all of its employees following dismal sales for their all-electric Coda Sedan. Today the EV maker filed for bankruptcy, and going forward will focus on “energy storage solutions” according to its website. In other words, Coda, as a carmaker, no longer exists.

There was never really any excitement regarding Coda Automotive or its sedan, which offered adequete range in a very boring, Chinese-built package. Coda struggled from beginning to end, with the launch of its $37,250 electric sedan severely delayed and barely reported. Rumors suggest that less than 100 Coda sedans were ever even sold, and the company closed up its only retail locations late last year. The writing has been on the wall for awhile.

Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court, Coda will attempt to reorganize itself around an energy storage solutions plan. The company will use the same battery packs, but will forgo the whole car part, entering a far less capital-intensive (but some would argue still over-saturated) marketplace.

Coda joins Fisker as another “loser” in the green energy market, taking with it numerous jobs, though Coda was denied a $334 million Department of Energy loan. Even without the loan, Coda managed to raise $300 million in private capital, though as Fisker found out building a new car costs a lot of money.

So long Coda Automotive, we barely knew ye.

Source: Automotive News

2012 Coda Sedan Electric Car Price Slashed to $25,000

Coda Automotive, the startup maker that builds the 2012 Coda Sedan electric car, is going through some very tough times.

But it looks like one of its three dealers is trying to figure out the right price point for the all-electriccompact sedan--which was originally priced at$38,145, including a destination charge of $895.

Several days ago, Coda Silicon Valley advertised five brand-new Coda Sedans for $24,995 the price of after a "dealer discount" of $14,744 (buyers still likely have to add the $895).

That offer actually expired on Sunday, and we were unable to reach Silicon Valley Coda at any of the numbers listed on its website.

But it looks like this fire-sale price may be the dealer's way of getting rid of the few Coda Sedans it has in stock.

The company has been, at best, in retrenchment mode over the last few months, after rumors spread that it had sold fewer than 100 of its cars after it put the car into production last March.

In early December, Coda laid off 15 percent of its staff.

The day after Christmas, the company said it hadclosed its Coda Experience Center in the Westfield Mall in Century City, California.

Ten days later, Coda laid off another 15 percent of its staff.

And the company has never released any sales figures.

The competition will only get tougher now that the 2013 Nissan Leaf, a high-volume electric car from a known global automaker, carries a list price for the new Leaf S base model of just $28,800.

Indeed, commentator and analyst Brad Berman wrote in December that he expects Coda to turn its energies toward "Coda Energy, its spin-off focusing on stationary grid storage [battery] systems."

Meanwhile, if you have better luck than we do in contacting Coda Silicon Valley--or if you bought one of those five Coda Sedans listed on the website--let us know!

Source: Green Car Reports

CODA Announces Layoffs, Struggles To Make Any Sales

The Internet has a penchant for drama, and so it was yesterday that a story made the rounds that electric car maker CODA had announced “massive” layoffs…of 50 people. Ok, maybe not so massive, but things are still looking grim for the struggling EV maker and their bland sedan.

Plugin Cars was the first to report the layoffs of 50 people, or 15% of CODA’s workforce, most of them reportedly from the sales and marketing department. I think some bloggers really need to tone down the hyperbole though; last week CitiBank announced that they would be laying off 11,000 people. That is a massive layoff. 50 people? Not so much. Let’s keep it in perspective people.

Granted, 50 people is 15% of CODA’s total workforce, and executives came with with quotes about “rightsizing” the company. I don’t know many successful automakers that have less than 500 employees though, and with sales of the CODA sedan reportedly stalled around just 100 units, it looks like the beginning of the end for California-based CODA despite calls for an expanded dealer network and supposed pre-orders of 1,000 cars.

Not that there was ever that much promise for CODA to begin with. A boring, Chinese-built body coupled with a high sticker price and almost no viral “buzz” meant CODA was facing an uphill struggle to begin with. Despite being rated at 88 miles per charge, sales have been slow to non-existent. Hell, who even knew CODA had a marketing department? I haven’t seen one advertisement about it, and the only interesting thing written about CODA in the past year was a concept sketch found last week.

In another six months, CODA will probably join the likes of Think and Aptera in the EV graveyard of good intentions.

Source: Plugin Cars

Coda approaches 110 miles in Bay Area test drive

At least one person – a New York Times reviewer – has found that the Coda Sedan gets pretty impressive mileage out of a single charge. The tester reported reaching almost 110 miles on a single charge during a test drive.

The Coda was driven on a 79-mile round trip on one day, and had almost 20 percent of its battery power left over, and was driven 103 miles the following day, with "a few miles" worth of battery charge remaining, the Times reported. The Sedan had consistently better range than the Nissan Leaf the reviewer was leasing, though the car lacks amenities such as keyless entry, cruise control and a push-button starter.

The EPA in March estimated the Coda would get 88 miles on a single charge, the longest outside of Tesla Motors and 14 miles more than the Leaf. The Sedan was also given a 73-miles-per-gallon-equivalent rating.

Coda sold its first Sedans in March and opened its Los Angeles headquarters late last year.


Source: Autoblog Green

IBM names Coda a 'GOOD' company

Well, it can't be a bad thing to be mentioned in the same breath as the Green Bay Packers, though last year would've been better timing.

Electric-vehicle maker Coda Automotive was named in an IBM-led survey as one of 40 so-called "GOOD" companies for its innovations, environmental emphasis and social responsibility.

Coda was recognized among mid-sized (that is, 100 to 1,000 workers) companies as representing a combination of sustainable and creative business practices that further diversity and social good. Other notable companies on the list include Cascade Engineering, Patagonia, Zipcar and, yes, the Green Bay Packers, winners of the 2011 Super Bowl.

Coda, which opened its Los Angeles headquarters late last year, sold its first Coda Sedan EVs in March. The company sells the Sedan with an official 88-mile single-charge range for $39,900. Coda late last month reached a deal with China-based Great Wall Motors to make a vehicle for Europe, China and North America that would undercut most other electric vehicles, pricewise.

Source: Autoblog Green

Coda Sedan EV Arriving at California Dealerships this Week

Sure, Coda Automotive happily announced its first real deliveries of its all-electric Sedan two months ago, but its been quieter since then about the problems it has had with some damaged parts were shipped over from China. A new report from Automotive News says that Coda is repairing the "minor" damage to those parts and that Coda's dealership in Los Angeles should be getting ten EVs to sell by the middle of this week.

From there, production and deliveries will increase, said Coda AUtomotive CEO Phil Murtaugh. While Coda assembles the Sedan in California, the bodies and powertrains are made in China. Murtaugh also said in a statement sent to AN that, "We have opted for a slow production acceleration in order to ensure flawless execution at every step of our operating system, which includes component supply from four continents, manufacturing operations at two locations in China and one location in the U.S., logistics pipeline and dealer delivery process."

 Coda has four dealerships, all of which have vehicles for test drives, located in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Orange County and San Diego.


 Source: Autoblog Green

CODA Holdings and Great Wall Motors to jointly co-develop global entry-level EV

CODA Holdings, a developer of battery-electric vehicles (CODA Sedan) and advanced battery systems signed a contract with Great Wall Motors Company to co-develop a lower-cost, entry-level battery-electric vehicle for worldwide distribution. The two had signed a Letter of Intent in August 2011.
Designed for the North American, Chinese, and European markets, this co-developed EV--which will be the second in CODA’s portfolio—is intended to be the most affordable EV on the market, comparable to entry-level internal combustion engine vehicles.
The joint effort will blend CODA’s battery technology, knowledge of the US market and experience with global joint ventures with the expertise of China's fastest growing and most profitable automotive producer. Great Wall Motors delivered nearly 500,000 vehicles in 2011 worldwide.
Products will be developed by employees of both companies in their research facilities in LA and Baoding, China. Vehicles will be sub-assembled in Great Wall’s manufacturing facilities in Baoding. Final assembly of US destined vehicles will take place in Coda’s facility in the US.


Source: Green Car Congress

Detroit-Hamtramck will resume Volt production a week early as sales rise

Chevrolet’s Volt could be considered a grandfather among a yet-small but growing segment of plug-in vehicles that rely on electric power as a source of propulsion.

We’ve heard all about how the Volt has been targeted by opponents to what it could all lead to – and can do now – to wean away from petroleum reliance, but the Volt has shaken off many of the malignant allegations, and enthusiasm for it is growing.

Following another record sales month in March, General Motors has said it will cut the time out it has given its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant from five weeks down to four.

GM North America President Mark Reuss told the Detroit News the company is heartened by 2,289 Volts sold in March, and expects the higher average momentum to continue, but he will not forecast actual numbers.

The company’s CEO, Dan Akerson, has been quoted as saying he’s looking for 2,000-3,000 per month, but GM’s official posture is it will manage inventory closely to match supply to demand.

The five-week closure now shortened by one week had been from Mar. 19-April 23, and had been just for this reason in light of negative press and nationwide inventory considered excessive.

Industry watchers also note the company is continuing with a favorable lease package, and wants and needs the positive press to continue.

In rather a unique category as a “plug-in car,” the Volt, launched December 2010 – as was the Nissan Leaf battery electric vehicle – has not been threatened to date by the Leaf’s month after month sales.

And while the tide is seemingly turning further for the politicized Volt, and some Republicans have been very conspicuously featured lately as endorsing the car, eyes also are on the Prius plug-in hybrid, which scored 911 units sold its first partial month in March.

For its first sales month, the Prius PHV made a sizable splash into what is a small but growing pond of plug-in electric cars tracked by the HybridCars.com Dashboard. Sales of all brands combined in February added up to 1,662 units, with a total market share or “take rate” of 0.15 percent , and in March this jumped to 4,161 total vehicles with a take rate of 0.30 percent.

There is a proverb that says people ought not to look down upon “small beginnings” and fact is, everyone has to start somewhere. This industry has many players posturing and preparing for growth, and the Dashboard’s plug-in numbers do not count Coda and Fisker which do not regularly report sales, or Tesla which when last we checked, said it has over 12,000 pre-orders for its Model S.

As for the Volt vs. Prius vs. Leaf question – three different kinds of technology with the common denominator of ability to plug into the electricity grid – a sense of rivalry will always be there, but the big picture is the market is growing with major commitment and sentiment expressed by respective plug-in automakers ranging from mildly bullish to fully optimistic.

Source: GM-Volt.com

Coda Abandons Plan to Build Li Ion Plant in Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Coda Automotive is abandoning plans to build a Li-ion battery factory in Columbus. The company has been waiting for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to act on its $500-million loan application to help pay for construction.

Since Coda applied for the loan, the Department of Energy has come under fire for its loan to Solyndra, a maker of solar panels that later went bankrupt, and for aid to other electric car companies. Amid this criticism, the agency has made almost no new loans, and some lawmakers have called for changes to the programs.

...Coda leaders said in recent months that they remained hopeful about the loan, but that they had developed a business plan that would work without the Ohio plant.

First Coda EV Rolls Off Assembly Line, EPA Rated At 88-Miles

Despite reservations from the buying public, and withering attacks from anti-EV advocates, the march of progress rolls on. California-based Coda, a start-up EV maker with high aspirations for its all-electric sedan, has finally recieved its official EPA ratings just as production of the first model begins. And the numbers look good; an 88-mile EPA-rated range and an MSRP of $37,250.

Of course, that doesn’t belay the fact that underneath the Coda’s bland exterior is a Chinese-manufactured car based on an old platform. That’s why the cost is so low, with most of the money being poured into the 31 kWh battery system that Coda claims can deliver up to 125 miles of range. The EPA thinks the Coda is only good for 88 miles on electricity, though that is better than EV’s from any other major auto manufacturer.

For comparison, the Nissan Leaf is rated at 73 miles per charge, the Ford Focus Electric at 76 miles per charge, and the Mitsubishi i at just 62 miles. Priced at $37,250, the Coda sedan falls right in between the Leaf and Focus (before rebates) and comes with a 10-year/100,000 mile drivetrain warranty. The rest of the car gets just a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.

A significant backlog of orders means that it will take a while for these sedans to hit the road en masse. even though production has just begun. Coda’s path has been a long one, and not always easy…do they really stand a chance in the marketplace? I have to admit, the price is right, and if the 125-mile range is to be believed, that’s quite reasonable for the cost. But I still have my reservations that Coda will even be around in five years.

For now though, I am just happy to have another non-petroleum alternative. Check out the next page for the press release.

Source: Coda

John Anderson Joins CODA Automotive as Vice President of Aftersales and Customer Quality Experience

PRESS RELEASE

CODA Holdings, a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems, today announced automotive professional John Anderson as its vice president of aftersales and customer quality experience for CODA Automotive.

"With such a rich automotive background, we're excited to have John Anderson join our executive team," said Thomas Hausch, SVP of sales, marketing and aftersales, CODA Holdings. "With John's extensive experience in both large and small OEM aftermarket environments, we're confident that he will help us fulfill CODA's commitment to our customers and dealers, and ultimately help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles."

Anderson has more than 30 years of aftersales experience in corporate and retail environments. During his tenure at Saab, Anderson supported numerous new vehicle and new dealer launches with comprehensive aftermarket strategies. He held numerous positions at Saab's corporate headquarters in Sweden and was most recently responsible for aftersales operations for both US and Canadian markets. Anderson also held various positions at General Motors, where he successfully developed and implemented key initiatives for Opel, Chevrolet and Saab – from a comprehensive aftersales channel marketing strategy to wholesale and retail training curriculums – for the North American and European markets.

"I'm excited to be a part of the CODA team," said Anderson. "The opportunity to join an all-EV brand as it is launching is a rare opportunity that I'm thrilled to be a part of. I look forward to helping the brand quickly grow and working closely with dealers on delivering an exceptional CODA customer experience."

About CODA Holdings
Headquartered in Los Angeles, CODA Holdings is a leading developer of advanced Lithium-ion power battery systems comprised of three key business lines: CODA Automotive, CODA EV Propulsion Systems and CODA Energy. Together with its JV partners, CODA is working to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and leading the way to a cleaner future through its electric vehicles and stationary energy storage products. The first consumer product available will be a zero emission four-door, five-passenger EV sedan with a full-size trunk that is designed to meet American drivers' daily transportation needs. For more information on the CODA sedan, visit www.codaautomotive.com.

Coda will start selling Sedan in February, report says

Coda Automotive will finally start selling its battery-electric sedan by the end of February, Coda CEO Phil Murtaugh told the Detroit News.

The Los Angeles-based company will soon have five dealers – one in San Diego, one in the San Francisco Bay Area and three others in locations that haven't been disclosed – the newspaper said, adding that Coda plans to have 40 dealers in 25 cities by year end. The company hasn't disclosed how many vehicles it plans to sell this year.

The company, which opened its Los Angeles headquarters in November, said last September that it raised $147 million in its fourth round of financing to bring its total to more than $300 million since the company's 2009 founding. Coda will sell its 150-mile-range Sedan for $39,900 and said earlier this month that it would offer a version with a slightly shorter range for $2,650 less.

Coda Automotive parent company Coda Holdings said last week that it would launch a division specializing in energy storage, as the company looks to cash in on what many believe will be a rapidly growing market for secondary use of electric-vehicle batteries. The new company, Coda Energy, will specialize in designing battery systems that may be used for on-site power supply as well as a backup power source in the event of a grid outage. Coda has an existing business partnership with its car-battery supplier Lishen, which also makes lithium-ion batteries for companies such as Apple and Samsung.



Source: Autoblog Green

Will Coda Make Its Committment For Delivery of EV Sedan in February

Earlier this month at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Californian startup Coda Automotive promised that it would begin sales of its first car -- the all-electric 2012 Coda Sedan -- in February.

However, with just a week to go before the end of January and very little news to go on about the impending launch, you’d be forgiven for thinking Coda was on track to miss yet another deadline.

Not so, says Coda CEO Philip Murtaugh. Talking with The Detroit News yesterday, Murtaugh said sales of the $37,250 five seat sedan would start just as soon as final certification on the car has been completed.

That, he says, should happen before the end of February.

But final certification -- which includes obtaining official efficiency ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and completing mandatory crash testing -- isn’t a process with a time-frame that can be easily guessed.

Without final certification, a car can’t legally be sold in the U.S.

2011 Coda Sedan electric car, lithium-ion battery pack, 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

Last year, Californian electric automaker Fisker Automotive took much longer than anticipated to obtain all of the necessary certification paperwork for its first car, the 2012 Fisker Karma range-extended luxury sedan.

As a consequence, despite starting production last spring, it was October of 2011 before Fisker could legally sell its car.

With just one month to go, time is running out for Coda’s promise to deliver its first car by February 28, but will it make its latest deadline?

Source: Green Car Reports

San Diego Dealers Delivers First Coda Sedan

The long-awaited Coda electric sedan finally has its first confirmed dealership, located in San Diego, California.

Marvin K. Brown Auto Center in the heart of San Diego is expected to be the first retailer to sell the 2012 Coda Sedan, when deliveries commence this year.

According to Automotive News, the dealership is set to open to the public in February, and is located in the heart of San Diego. Coda sees the location as a good move for the company, and the car should sit well alongside other low-emissions vehicles at Marvin K. Brown, who also sell Fisker vehicles.

"It's clear San Diegans are increasingly interested in zero-emission vehicles and the Coda sedan will resonate with the local community," explained David Grundstrom, CEO at Marvin K. Brown.

When it eventually hits the road, the Coda Sedan will mingle with other electric cars, like Car2Go's Smart ForTwo Electric Drives, and back in 2010 the region committed to 2,500 charging stations.

The city's suitability for EVs should make the $39,900 Coda Sedan an easy choice to live with, as should the Leaf-beating 150-mile claimed range. Whether image-conscious buyers will fall for the car's plain looks will be another matter, but it may suit buyers looking for a more understated vehicle. The Sedan has also just been named "Best Green Vehicle" at the 2011 San Diego Auto Show.

As well as the San Diego dealership, Coda has already signed agreements with dealers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Honolulu, details of which should be confirmed soon.

So now we have the dealerships - all we need is for Coda to finally release its sedan into the market...



Source: Green Car Reports

Fisker and Coda News Roundup

As Fisker has begun rolling out its first Karmas, it has brushed off critics and is hiring key executives while again raising its prices, but will it now be Coda’s turn to be scrutinized?

According to an opinion piece by the LA Times, Coda Holdings is a “Trojan horse” for communist China to infiltrate America’s soft underbelly, but advises the writers, “before considering a Coda as a means of going green, remember all the red blood shed by Coda’s real backers.”

2012 Coda electric sedan.

Scary stuff. Will anything come of it? We’ll have more below.

Fisker

First though, our favorite maker of six-figure EVers – OK, the only maker thus far – Fisker, snapped up two former Detroit auto industry executives to help with its plans while also deciding to levy a 6-percent price increase effective Dec. 15.

The base-level EcoStandard will now cost $102,000 and the top-drawer EcoChic model will command $116,000.

Fisker reportedly will not penalize those who already paid a $5,000 deposit and these customers have until January 15 to acquire their new Karmas at an already agreed upon price.

The latest increase follows one in January 2011 in which the EcoStandard increased to $95,900, the EcoSport was increased to $103,900 and the EcoChic rose to $108,900.

Reportedly Fisker once said it would price its entry level model at $80,000.

What ever anyone thinks of that, BBC’s Top Gear otherwise thinks the Karma is swell.

Or rather, the UK car reviewers that were once accused of staging a push-it-to-the-charger scene with the Tesla Roadster named the Karma the “Luxury Car of the Year” last month.

“Cleverness abounds in the Fisker and adds to the air of intelligent luxury. It works well, it looks good and it must be a genuinely exciting thing to own, said Top Gear magazine editor Charlie Turner, “It’s the top-of-the-line spec that features no leather, just textiles and reclaimed wood. And it’s more convincing than it sounds, managing to look, feel and smell premium without any cow peel in it at all.”

To keep selling these vehicles, the aspiring American startup announced Wednesday that former Ford Motor Co. executive Richard Beattie will head up its global sales and marketing as its Chief Commercial Officer.

From 2002-2007, Beattie, 57, was responsible for sales and marketing at Jaguar Land Rover North America and in 2009 he was promoted to Jaguar North America’s executive vice president of marketing and sales.

Previously, Beattie was vice president of marketing, sales, and service at Lincoln Mercury, and held senior management positions with Ford of Europe and Mazda Motor Corp.’s North American operations.

We don’t know if more Fisker hiring is on its way, but just yesterday, Fisker announced former Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda will also join it as vice chairman.

LaSorda’s advisory position will be relied upon a day-to-day basis said Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker, as the company prepares its former GM plant in Wilmington to produce extended-range Project Ninas over the coming year.

Automotive News reported LaSorda will be chairman of the company’s strategy council.

“This is a huge coup for us,” Henrik Fisker said. “Tom is going to be a bit more hands-on than you would expect of a board member. He understands what it takes to be a high-volume manufacturer.”

LaSorda, 57, started with Chrysler in 2000 after having worked on the manufacturing side for GM for 23 years. He was named COO of Chrysler Group in 2004, and CEO in 2005.

This latest move to fortify itself with American executives is an indicator of Fisker’s stated commitment to grow as an America car company.

As you may recall, Fisker was loosely accused in a spate of reports for allegedly using taxpayer money to bring the Karma in from Finland, but those allegations have died down, and Fisker has rebutted them all.

Coda has in common with Fisker that it a striving startup based in California. Now also in common is its sedan – as has the Volt – has been added to the club of advanced-tech vehicles whose makers’ integrity has been questioned on political grounds.

And at the moment, what a couple of opinion writers are heaping on Coda sounds the most severe.

Coda

Yes, the allegations are positively sinister as written by China watchdogs Greg Autry and Peter Navarro and published by the LA Times.

“A Los Angeles firm has quietly assembled a Trojan horse electric car designed to carry the Chinese military-industrial complex deep into America’s auto market,” the writers offered in their introduction. “Detroit should be afraid, very afraid.”

Without pulling any punches, the op-ed piece goes on to say that a whole lot of misrepresenting is going on for an allegedly 65-percent Chinese-manufactured electric car being presented as “All American.”

“From a jobs perspective, the Coda’s arrival means this: American electric carmakers such as California-based Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors, along with the GM Volt and Ford’s Focus Electric, will compete on home soil with a company benefiting from all of the unfair trade practices China has used to bury so many other American industries — from toys, textiles and machine tools to electronic assemblers and, most recently, solar panels. These practices range from currency manipulation to reported illegal export subsidies, counterfeiting, pollution and widespread worker abuses.

Taxpayers should be outraged because the Coda is eligible for the combined federal and state tax rebates on electric vehicles of $10,000 a vehicle, while China blatantly blocked the Volt from its Chinese green subsidy unless GM manufactured it in Shanghai and turned over design secrets.

These economic considerations notwithstanding, a closer look at Coda’s supply chain reveals a darker truth. The ‘new’ Coda is actually an updated variation on the 6-year-old Saibao from China’s state-owned Hafei Motor Co. Hafei is a division of Changan Automobile Group, which in turn is controlled by China Weaponry Equipment Group. This state-owned enterprise supplies China’s aggressively expanding military, and its parent, China South Industries Group, owns half of arms dealer Norinco, which reportedly tried to smuggle guns to Libya during the last days of the Kadafi regime …

The piece goes on to allege “Coda’s real backers” have transferred missile technology to Iran and tried to sell AK-47s to U.S. street gangs – and on behalf of its alleged front company, Coda CEO Phil Murtaugh, formerly head of GM of China, has raised more than $300 million.

The writers allege the car company working for those with blood on their hands has raked in money from banks such as Morgan Stanley, other private investors including former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty and former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson.

As Bush administration Treasury secretary, Paulson was allegedly complicit in “saddling up the Coda Trojan horse,” the writers contend, and his repeatedly refusing to call China a currency manipulator effectively shut down American businesses, and cost as many as three million American jobs.

What’s more, the writers allege Paulson is poised to profit from investments he made that will benefit from China’s currency manipulation and unfair trade practices while exacerbating the U.S. trade deficit and unemployment.

Whew! Yes a 530-word piece that started with a car seen at the LA Auto Show in a few short strokes made the leap to how America will be taken down. If it seems like a stretch, no doubt you could learn more by buying the writers’ book aptly called, “Death By China.”

For its part, Coda denies the allegations aimed directly at it as “grossly inaccurate,” and while not denying its Chinese sourcing, says nothing illegal or unethical is taking place.

The company’s Director of Corporate Communications, Larkin Hill spoke to us yesterday and said the op-ed was wrong about who owns or controls Coda, adding that by the end of the year the company will have 300 U.S. employees and like Tesla and Fisker, has been working under a “capital light business model.”

“We are not in any way owned by Changan Hefei,” Hill said.

Instead, she said, Coda’s aim is to benefit the U.S. people and to keep intellectual property in the country, but “being privately funded, the company has leveraged global relationships in order to bring a reasonably priced all-electric vehicle to market.”

And aside from answering queries about conspiracies, Hill said Coda is attempting to do business as usual.

The 2012 CODA is now available for $39,900 in California, and is indeed eligible for up to a $7,500 federal tax savings and California vehicle rebate of $2,500.

The battery electric sedan is speed limited to 85 mph and not as aesthetically thrilling as some other EVs, but its 36-kwh battery provides a class-leading 90-120 miles range on average, Hill said, and has been known to travel as far as 150 miles on a charge.

Hill said the imported cars receive final assembly in Benicia, Northern California and Coda intends to start delivering them in West Coast launch markets in the first quarter of 2012.

Meanwhile, Forbes Magazine just named Coda Holdings “One of America’s most promising companies.”

Source: GM-Volt.com

CODA Automotive Announces Start of Production of Zero Emission All-Electric Flagship Sedan

PRESS RELEASE

CODA Holdings, a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems, today announced that it started production of its zero emission flagship vehicle. Representing the company's commitment to deliver accessible, safe and reliable electric vehicles and clean technology to its customers, CODA will offer an industry leading 10-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty and starting US base price of $39,900 for their zero emission 2012 model year CODA sedan.

"We are excited to announce that we have started production of our all-electric CODA sedan," said Phil Murtaugh, CEO of CODA Holdings. "We dedicated this year to increasing efficiencies in order to bring down costs and as we go to market, we are committed to passing these savings to our customers. These progressions align with our mission of putting an electric vehicle into every garage and adding further confidence that CODA will provide dependable electric vehicles for generations to come."

The 2012 CODA sedan now combines an industry leading EV battery warranty with the best range per dollar of any electric vehicle on the market. To achieve this best value per dollar range, the CODA team leveraged its long-standing relationships within the industry and extensive production experience to create more efficient production processes. The 2012 model year CODA is now available for $29,900(i) in California, after federal tax savings up to $7,500(ii) and CA vehicle rebate of $2,500.

Through robust technology, durable battery chemistry and Active Thermal Management system, the CODA executive management team has also set the battery warranty to 10-years, 100,000-miles.

The CODA is the first all-electric five-passenger, mid-size sedan with full rear seating and trunk space that meets American drivers' daily transportation needs without an ounce of gasoline:

Delivers the longest range of any all-electric vehicle: A class-leading battery pack enables a fully charged CODA to go up to 150 miles(iii), almost five times the average daily commute.
Fast and Easy Recharging: Twice as fast as the leading competitor, a 6.6kW onboard charger provides 4 hours for 100 mile charge, 2 hours for 50 miles (6 hours for full charge).
Accelerates up to 85 mph with ease: the CODA features 134 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, a regenerative braking system, and an air-cooled active thermal management system.

The first CODA Sedans are on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show from Nov. 18 through Nov. 27. More information and reservations for the CODA are available at www.codaautomotive.com.

About CODA Holdings

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CODA Holdings is a leading developer of advanced Lithium-ion power battery systems comprised of three key divisions: CODA Automotive, CODA EV Propulsion Systems and CODA Energy. Together with its JV partners, CODA is working to reduce dependence on oil and leading the way to a cleaner future through its electric vehicles and stationary energy storage products. The first consumer product available will be a zero emission four-door, five-passenger EV sedan with a full-size trunk that is designed to meet American drivers' daily transportation needs. For more information on the CODA sedan, visit www.codaautomotive.com.

(i) After state and federal tax savings, net as low as $29,900. MSRP $39,900, with federal tax savings from 0-$7,500. CA State rebate of $2500 – some states have higher rebates. Excludes tax, title and license. Initially available through online reservation process. Subject to change.

(ii) To help determine rebate eligibility, please visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206871,00.html/.

(iii) Actual range and vehicle performance will vary depending on personal driving and charging style, speed, conditions, weather and cargo load.

Another Look At the 2012 Coda Sedan

"Simple."

The word floated around the room and landed gently on our notepad during the morning press conference. Initially, it seemed like a perfect fit. But the more we learned about the new all-electric 2012 Coda sedan, the more we realized that "simple" was nothing but a misunderstood first impression.

Strictly discussing physical appearances, the Coda four-door is easily the least interesting vehicle we have set our eyes on in years - unassuming is an understatement. Yet an in-depth look reveals the plain-Jane façade is deceiving. Hidden beneath the ho-hum sheetmetal, under the hard plastic dash materials and below the thin-pile carpet is an ingenious all-electric propulsion system. Not just forward thinking, it shows promise and innovation too.

We recently spent several hours with Coda, visiting its first retail store, learning about the technology inside that uninspiring bodywork and taking an hour-long test drive in the Los Angeles Basin. Our visit answered a lot of questions. Who is behind Coda? What is the Chinese connection? How does the Coda sedan drive? Most importantly, how does newcomer Coda expect to compete against other EVs in the segment?


Based in Southern California, CODA Automotive is a privately held American company that was established in 2009 (the name was apparently chosen because Coda automotive says its technology represents the end of combustion vehicles - a "coda" is the concluding passage of a musical movement or composition). Operating out of its headquarters in Santa Monica, the company designs, manufactures and sells battery systems that are purpose-built for transportation and utility. Its first vehicle, the pure-EV Coda sedan, is a five-place four-door sedan with a promised 150-mile range.

However, let's back up a bit. A historical search of AutoblogGreen reveals the Miles Javlon XS500, an EV introduced in late 2006 by Miles Electric Vehicles (founded by entrepreneur Miles Rubin), looks strikingly similar to the Coda - because it is. That early sedan was made in China on a Hafei-sourced platform using a modified 90s-era Mitsubishi Lancer chassis. Three years later, after multiple development and safety hurdles, Miles announced that its finished product was being re-released under the new Coda Automotive brand. Within two years, the new company had secured more than $300 million in private funding from both U.S. and European corporations. Today, the well-funded operation has just over 150 employees in California and a few dozen in China. It is moving ahead rapidly.

Despite being flush with cash, the company deliberately decided to retain the old XS500 platform to save capital and instead focus on the EV technology. While the business decision delivered one far too ordinary looking vehicle, the technology beneath is impressive.



Let's start with the batteries. Arranged nearly flat beneath the sedan's floor pan, completely within the wheelbase, are 728 lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO) cells. Coda says this type of cell promises a very long life, and its engineers have provided data that says the cells will still retain 93 percent of their original capacity after 100,000 miles. They are physically arranged in 104 groups of seven, all along the same plane. Combined, the batteries deliver 36 kilowatt-hours worth of energy, with nominal 333-volts. Sophisticated direct-current converters are located at the rear of the Coda sedan, beneath the trunk, with the plug-in spot located high on the left rear quarter panel just like it is on most small Japanese cars. With a 6.6 kilowatt 240-volt charger, the batteries recover fully in about six hours. The back-up charger, a 1.3 kilowatt 110-volt unit, does the same task in about 12 hours.

The batteries are kept at their optimal operating temperature via a closed-loop system of ducts that are fed cool or warm air from the vehicle's own HVAC system - deliberately oversized for double-duty. The closed-loop thermal management system is not only unique, but it provides advantages. First, running the air through an evaporator and heat exchanger dehumidifies it, which reduces the opportunity for corrosion. Second, the closed-loop means the system only has to dehumidify the air once. This allows the system to significantly reduce its workload and energy consumption on longer trips. Coda has reportedly tested the sedan in torturous Death Valley, without overheating the system.

The electric motor is a 100 kilowatt (134 horsepower) unit, with a single-speed gear reduction, developing 221 pound-feet of torque (electric motors develop their torque immediately). The powerplant is packaged up front, where one would expect the combustion engine to be found in a traditional compact sedan, driving the two front wheels.



Thankfully, nobody at Coda is suffering from delusions of grandeur when it comes to the seemingly 1990's sedan riding atop its ingenious technology. About the same overall size as a first-generation Nissan Altima, the Coda has a 102.4-inch wheelbase that allows ample room inside for four passengers. Thanks to having all the batteries flush under the floor, there is even generous room for luggage without having to fold the rear seats down.

The cockpit is rather traditional, with a primary instrument cluster directly in front of the driver. Lacking coolant, engine speed or oil pressure to monitor, the analog display is limited to three large dials and a slew of blackened idiot lights. The leftmost gauge is a battery charge indicator, the center is an 80 mph speedometer (the EV tops out at 85 mph) and the far right gauge is the battery draw/regeneration dial. Just to the right, the center console houses the audio and climate controls on the vertical surfaces, and the transmission shifter and an old-school lever-actuated parking brake on the horizontal surface between the seats.

The round transmission shifter looks like it was pulled from a late-model Jaguar, but it doesn't sink down when the vehicle is shut off. Its "P-R-N-D" shift pattern is not only familiar and self-explanatory, but it is also about the most interesting thing to look at with the exception of the outsourced audio and navigation head unit. The balance of the interior is rather boring, lacking any secondary controls on the steering wheel or anything else of interest. Our test model was a pre-production prototype, and a crude one at that. We were promised that the materials and textures would nearly all be different in production, so complaining about panel gaps, rattles or fit and finish on our four-door was futile.



Coda's objective was to deliver an EV that not only looked like a standard combustion-engine vehicle, but drove like one too. The sedan is started with a familiar twist of the key, inserted into a slot on the steering column. Energized, a bright green "READY" appears on the dashboard. Release the parking brake, spin the aforementioned shift knob in to Drive and the four-door is ready to scoot.

Initial acceleration off the line was slightly less than we expected from an EV, but things picked up quickly once under way (the Coda engineer riding in the back seat said the software is still being tuned to mimic a combustion engine response, not an EV response). There is ample torque to enjoy shooting through traffic, and only a mild sense of regenerative braking when the accelerator is lifted. It is quicker than a Nissan Leaf, but much slower than any that Tesla is offering.

Our Coda sedan was shod with a set of 205/45R17 Kumho Ecsta AST tires (classified as high-performance all-season rubber). Despite the soft damping and excessive body roll (both will be changed on production units), the four-door stuck pretty well considering its 3,670-pound curb weight. Credit the low center of gravity and grippy tires rather than trick suspension tuning. The brakes are discs up front and drums in the rear, but they still effectively brought the EV to a quick panic stop one intersection.

Coda is boasting that its new EV will deliver a real-world range of up to 150 miles, but we never even came close to that. When we left the parking garage our Coda was already down to a battery charge of just 40 percent. Loaded with three passengers in stop-and-go traffic with the air conditioning at full blast (and heading up the steep Mulholland grade), we were asking a lot from the batteries. After half-an-hour of full-throttle zipping around and our energy level down in the teens, it was time to head back to the garage. It goes without saying that we will have to wait for an extended test to properly wring out the EV.



The Nissan Leaf is the obvious competitor to the new Coda sedan. Compared to its Japanese adversary, the Coda delivers a better range, better acceleration, more power, quicker charging time and a full size trunk. The Coda will also offer a full suite of electronics, including iPod, MP3 and USB connectivity, Satellite Radio pre-wiring and DVD capabilities. Leather upholstery is even on the options list.

Chinese cars are often mocked for their lackluster crash test performance, but Coda promises to change that perception. The sedan's predecessor, the XS500, did well in simulated IIHS testing a few years back and today's model is fitted with all of the obligatory electronic nannies including ABS, stability control, traction control and six airbags. There is even a standard telematics system that allows passengers to call for help if problems arise - including a roadside battery charge.



Initially, Coda will offer its EV for sale through "Experience Centers," each modeled after the first one that recently opened in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Unlike most retail automotive establishments these days, where the salesmen are left dusting the cars in the showroom, the unique retail stores are positioned for thousands of walk-by customers each day. With illuminated chassis cut-aways and lots of technology on display, the company is hoping to generate interest and sell EVs at the same time.

Even if the Coda sedan delivers on all of its promises, and all indications are that it does, the performance comes at a price. The sticker price is currently a steep $44,900 - well above a Nissan Leaf at $35,200 before a myriad amount of rebates bring it down to $27,700. While federal EV tax credits will offset a nice chunk of the Coda's MSRP too, it is still a lot to swallow for an unproven Chinese vehicle. Unlike most automakers that entice consumers with plush cabins and dazzling infotainment systems, Coda's challenge is to convince buyers that eye candy is but skin-deep and what really matters is buried deeply out of view.



Source: Autoblog Green

Coda teams with Great Wall Motors to develop electric vehicles for global distribution

PRESS RELEASE

CODA Holdings, a California based leading developer of advanced Lithium-ion power battery systems for its all-electric CODA sedan, EV powertrain and stationary energy storage applications, today announced that it has entered into a Letter of Intent to develop electric vehicles with China's Great Wall Motor Company Limited, using Great Wall models, for distribution worldwide.

"CODA is thrilled to be partnering to electrify Great Wall vehicles," said Phil Murtaugh, CEO of CODA Holdings. "With an extensive line of vehicles, and the leading Chinese manufacturer selling in volume in the European Union as well as more than 120 countries globally, our collaboration will enable us to provide our respective customers with a broad selection of high-performing and affordable electric vehicles globally."

The partnership would blend key technology capabilities from China's fastest growing and greatest profit margin automotive producer and the CODA's class leading purpose built Lithium iron phosphate battery system. The agreement also expands CODA's strong relationships with Chinese automakers in the world's largest auto market.

"This partnership will allow us to combine CODA's high performance EV propulsion system and understanding of the United States market with Great Wall's extensive vehicle platforms, experience in the China market and leading manufacturing capability," said Wei Jianjun, Chairman of Great Wall Motors. "I'm confident that our combined strengths will ensure us to together become a significant player in the electric vehicle segment worldwide."

The CODA EV propulsion system combines an efficient class leading 36kWh battery pack that sits between the front and rear axle, achieving optimal performance through balanced weight distribution and a low center of gravity. Coupled with a 134 horsepower motor that achieves 221 lb-ft of torque, regenerative braking system, and air-cooled active thermal management system, the CODA sedan is able to provide consumers 120-150 real-world driving miles per charge. Fitted with a class leading 6.6 kW onboard charger, it takes about 6 hours to fully charge from empty and 2 hours to charge for an average 40 mile commute.

About Great Wall Motor Company: Based in Baoding, China, Great Wall Motor Company Limited was the first private vehicle automaker listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and currently has more than 30 subsidiaries and 42,000 employees. Their three primary vehicle lines include the Haval SUV, Voleex Sedan, Wingle Pickup and MPV wagon which accounted for more than 390,000 vehicles sold in 2010, a year-on-year increase of 70%. Year to date, it is the fastest growing and most profitable Chinese OEM and the first Chinese manufacturer to pass the stringent passenger car European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). Among many quality and corporate awards, Great Wall was also listed as a Forbes "Top 100 Chinese Enterprises" twice.

About CODA Holdings: Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, CODA Holdings is a leading developer of advanced Lithium-ion power battery systems comprised of three key divisions: CODA Automotive, CODA EV Propulsion Systems and CODA Energy. Together with its JV partners, CODA is working to reduce dependence on oil and leading the way to a cleaner future through its electric vehicles and stationary energy storage products. The first consumer product available will be a zero emission four-door, five-passenger EV sedan with a full-size trunk that is designed to meet American drivers' daily transportation needs. For more information on the CODA sedan visit www.codaautomotive.com.

Coda sticking with late 2011 launch of electric Sedan

Coda Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery

While speaking at the 2011 Automotive News China Conference back in April, Phil Murtaugh, chief executive officer of Coda Automotive, announced that Coda's electric Sedan would launch in the U.S. in the "late fourth quarter" of 2011. Of course, "late fourth quarter" deliveries represented another delay – last November, Coda's interim chief executive officer, Steven "Mac" Heller, told GigaOM that the battery-powered Sedan would launch in the third quarter of 2011... and the last time we checked, the third quarter came before the fourth quarter. Moving on.

Sean Blankenship, Coda's vice president of automotive marketing, says there will be no more delays. According to Blankenship, Coda is confident that it will meet it latest deadline of launching the $44,9000 electric Sedan by the end of 2011. Blankenship told Plugin Cars that Coda will open its first dealership "multi-channel store" in Los Angeles in August and will have half a dozen electric Sedans there for the public to drive. Following the opening in LA, Coda says that the next store will pop up in San Francisco.

Coda is sticking with its 2012 sales estimate of 14,000 units, but only time will tell if buyers are truly willing to fork over $44,900 for a battery-powered vehicle from a relatively unknown automaker.



Source: Autoblog Green

Coda Automotives Needs a $50M Push to Make it to the Finish Line

2011 Coda Sedan at Hertz Global EV rental launch, New York City, December 2010

What does $50 million buy you? We can think of plenty of good things we could do, but according to Californian electric car firm Coda Automotive, $50 million is how much it needs to bring its four door all-electric sedan to market.

According to The New York Times, Christopher Rose, the company’s senior vice president for corporate development told the paper last weekend that the final stage of investement would be used “to finish the car”.

Finish what now?

Finish the car? Wait a second. You see, we’re a little confused.

This time last year, the Santa Monica based firm was doggedly predicting it would be the first all-electric mainstream car to make it to market, beating both the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt to market.

Exodus

And so it continued. Every few weeks we’d see a new press release from Coda, confidently predicting a Fall 2010 launch, until it became dreadfully obvious that something wasn’t right at the company.

Formeer Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger

First to go in early November was Michael Jakson, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and Distribution. Less than a week later he was followed by former Goldman Sachs executive and company CEO Kevin Czinger.

Jackson and Czinger weren't the only ones to leave either as Coda reformed itself which involved a turnover in publicity staff.

The current company CEO, Philip Murtaugh, joined the firm in January after a CEO hiatus which saw Coda’s board of directors co-chairman Steven Heller take the company reins.

Failed deadline

It was no surprise then, one week after Czinger's departure, the company finally admitted what had become increasingly obvious: it wasn't going to make its own Fall 2010 deadline.

The reason for the delay? Quite simply, Coda admitted that the car wasn’t ready for primetime, a bold move but one which has done nothing to lift its reputation as an automaker.

Second half of 2011?

Surprisingly, Coda remains adamant that it will launch in the second half of 2011. But with funding still needing to be sourced and with the first quarter already a distant memory we’re struggling to see just how it could pull this off.

2011 Coda Sedan electric car, at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

Even automotive giants like General Motors, Ford and Chevrolet would struggle to achieve a lesser goal in such short a time.

That said, $50 million isn’t a huge sum of money when it comes to automotive development. If the Coda Sedan is in its final stages of development, expect the $50 million to go towards tweaks in handling, U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compliance and pre-production runs.

Even if Coda finds investors soon, we remain doubtful.

Is the firm doomed to be another of history’s also-rans, will it disappear without a trace, or will it really pull the metaphorical rabbit out of an ever-shrinking hat?

We’ll have to see.

Source: All Cars Electric