JINHUA, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2008 – Here’s a stumper – who killed the electric car? No it’s not GM – the blame probably has to go to the Rockefellers and all the other oilmen who struck oil and made gasoline so cheap in the early 20th century that no one wanted any of the quiet, efficient little electric cars that prowled the streets in the pioneering days of the car business.
Gasoline is no longer cheap and global warming has made driving a gas-guzzler socially unacceptable. Sensing a shift, a California company announced that it’s teaming with a Chinese automaker to revive one of the fabled electric brands of yore – the Detroit Electric, and introduce a line of electric cars and buses in 2009.
The collaborators, the US electric car pioneer ZAP and China Youngman Automotive Group announced that the ZAP Alias, which is currently under development, will be one of several vehicles now being planned to carry the Detroit Electric brand.
The Detroit Electric is one of the storied brands of the American auto industry. It was probably the most popular electric car in history. It became an American icon that attracted customers like Thomas Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, and ironically both Henry Ford's Wife Clara, and oil billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Detroit Electric said they plan to build a special edition electric vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric as a tribute for the new name of the joint venture.
The Anderson Electric Car Company started building the cars under the Detroit Electric brand over 100 years ago. Anderson of Detroit, Michigan was the longest running electric car company in history, operating between 1907 and 1939. Surviving long after its competitors like Baker, succumbed to the onslaught of the gasoline powered buggies.
These cars won’t be built in Detroit though. California and China will be the beneficiaries of the new vehicle technologies and gain any “green collar jobs” that the joint venture produces.
Management will be opening offices in California and evaluating manufacturing opportunities for economic development within the state.
"We see California as a launch pad. It is one of the most ready markets to adopt these new green vehicle solutions," said Detroit Electric Chairman Albert Lam. "The governor and his leadership here have created a fertile environment for us to create and grow. Many are talking about the future of the auto industry and Detroit Electric is a name that will speak to generations about the past and the future of automobiles."
Lam is no stranger to the auto industry. A British national, Mr. Lam left his position as CEO of Lotus Engineering in October 2007 to pursue the new business opportunity with Detroit Electric. He was responsible for bringing Youngman, ZAP and Lotus Engineering together.
Since 2003, Mr. Lam served as the CEO for Lotus Engineering as well as Executive Director for Lotus Group International (2003-2006). Mr. Lam has 20 years of relevant industrial experience serving companies like Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford and others. His experience spans across Automotive, Consultancy and IT. He’s spent 13 years at senior management/leadership positions, including Managing Director for Apple Computer Asia and Sun Professional Services. Lam also has experience with startup companies and a track record in growing and expanding businesses. He attended Coventry University in the UK where he earned a Masters of Science degree in robotics and manufacturing, and registered for a PhD program in Complex Knowledge Systems.
"Detroit Electric has already completed a five year business plan and mapped out the ten year product plan," said Mr. Lam. "It is our intention to introduce affordable and practical everyday electric vehicles, working with our technology partners to deliver some of the leading edge technology in motor drive, battery and hydrogen fuel cells. Our plan is to launch with a 12-meter pure electric transit bus, the ZAP Alias, and two family sedans as early as the summer of 2009. This is no longer a wish list but an eventuality; it is a matter of willingness to change."
According to the company, Detroit Electric plans to build an array of cars, trucks and buses with the latest automotive technologies. The vehicles will be manufactured under the supervision of Youngman Automotive, one of China's newest automotive manufacturers and a leading manufacturer of buses and trucks. Youngman is a government-sanctioned, private holding company with 12 manufacturing subsidiaries. Youngman is expanding it manufacturing in China, which covers an area over four million square feet. Youngman employs 4,000 workers, including 700 in-house research and development staff. With seven new production facilities in process, Youngman expects to soon have the capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles per year, including more than 10,000 buses annually.
"We are proud to have a chance to re-build this great car name after 100 years," said Youngman Chairman Mr. Pang Qingnian.
ZAP will manage the sales, marketing and distribution of the joint venture products. ZAP is already selling a line of electric vehicles through a number of dealerships in the United States. ZAP is also working on international distribution for its current and future vehicles.
"Attitudes are changing around the world and in California I believe there is a growing awareness that environmental health and economic prosperity go hand-in-hand," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "Green-collar jobs and innovative fuel efficient vehicles will be a win-win for California's environment and economy."
For more information about Detroit Electric, visit its website at www.detroit-electric.com.
For more information about Youngman Automotive Group, visit www.youngman-bus.com .
For product, dealer and investor information, visit www.zapworld.com.
Learn more about the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and exhibition, February 9-12, 2008 in San Francisco at http://expo.nada.org .
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