Coda Automotive, an electric car manufacturer announced on Sep 21st 2010 they are taking deposits for the CODA Sedan which will start to be delivered at the end of this year. A refundable 500 dollar deposit is required for reservation. The MSRP is $44,900 but there the price is lower after federal tax savings up to $7,500 with additional $5,000 tax rebate here in California.
"We are excited to begin offering our friends and neighbors a vehicle that meets their day-to-day driving needs, reduces their ownership costs and satisfies their desire to be better stewards of the environment," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, CODA Automotive. "From putting clean, emissions-free miles on our highways, to supporting thousands of new jobs nationwide, our current partners and future customers are uniquely positioned to be a signature catalyst in the electrification movement."
Headquartered in Santa Monica, CODA Automotive is negotiating with Amports, an automotive processing services company that holds the lease on the Benicia wharf. They will use already existing facilities to receive cars made in China from the port of Benicia in the San Francisco bay area. The body and frame of the CODA sedan are made in China and shipped to California where the electrical components, energy storage system and battery are assembled. Approximately 35% of the vehicle’s components are manufactured in the United States. The move to Benicia is expected to be finalized in a few weeks and will bring at least 100 jobs to the city.
CODA cars are completely electric. Lio Energy Systems™ manufactures the lithium-iron phosphate battery used in the CODA sedan in Tianjin, China. A new plant is planned on being built in Ohio within the next two years. Lio Energy Systems™ makes the lithium-ion batteries used by Motorola®, Samsung®, Apple®, and many other electronics and power tool manufacturers.
Two hours of charging will provide 40 miles of driving. It takes 6 hours to charge the battery from 90% discharged so the CODA can go about 120 miles on a full charge. The CODA can be charged in 110V outlets but is recommended to charge in 220V outlets. CODA representatives will take care of the conversion. Electricity costs are under $3.00 per charge. The CODA features regenerative braking as well. Top speed on the CODA sedan is 80mph to maximize performance.
The CODA will be granted HOV lane privileges until 2015 and will be backed by a 3 year/36,000 mile limited warranty and a limited battery warranty of 8 years/100,000 miles. There are 6 airbags, ABS and electronic stability control (ESC) for safety. Here are the other standard features of the CODA sedan:
- Satellite-Ready AM/FM/XM radio
- MP3, iPod®, iPhone® and USB connectivity
- 8-inch color touch-screen
- Turn-by-turn navigation with available real-time weather and traffic updates
- GreenScreen® system that monitors driving efficiency
- One-touch roadside assistance and accident notification system
- Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
- Power windows, door-locks and mirrors
- 17-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels
- More than 14 cubic feet of trunk space
- Interior upholstery featuring environmentally friendly materials
A complete listing of features and technical specifications is available at www.codaautomotive.com.
CODA will be conducting "Ride and Drive" Events throughout California expected to start in October, allowing consumers to experience the CODA firsthand. The CODA Twitter and Facebook pages will be announcing upcoming events and opportunities to see the electric cars. CODA will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto show from November 17 to 28.
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