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City Welcomes Electric Car Company as a Solution to Smoggy Skies, But Will Its Cars Sell?
Photo of a CODA from the company's website
An electric car company opened its global headquarters in Los Angeles this week at an event that included Governor Jerry Brown and Antonio Villaraigosa.The city lured CODA Automotive (as in: its electric engine will be the coda to gas guzzling) with $1.4 million in financial incentives. The company also liked the idea of making its home in a state that has a $2,500 rebate for electric vehicles, according to the Associated Press.
The independent company is beginning to make a big push to sell its first model, an all-electric sedan that the company says goes 150 miles per charge. At next week's Los Angeles International Auto Show the company will display the 2012 CODA sedan. In September, the company opened a storefront at Westfield Century City, next to a Swatch shop and Godiva. That location should probably clue you in to the fact that the car is kind of pricey — $44,900 (and $34,900 with rebates) — considering it looks like a knock-off Honda Civic.
Experts wonder if the untested independent company will have what it takes to compete against automotive giants. (Despite Villaraigosa's enthusiasm for electric cars in a smoggy city, not all of the companies he supports have been rousing successes.) The website Green Car Reports worried last year that the company was pushing back its first model too far and that there were other bad signs: a lack of enthusiasm from prospective buyers, management turnover and that high price point.
But now the company is making a big push to convince buyers to give their 2012 model a shot: the company has been offering test drives to the media (here and here) who took the car on a test-drive around town. They — like us — are curious to see whether this Los Angeles venture has the key to the ignition.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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