Gibbs Technologies, makers of vehicles like the Aquada seen above, has managed to snag tax breaks from both the state of Michigan and the city of Auburn Hills to open its world headquarters near Detroit, the U.S. capitol for automakers. While we're sure that Michigan's Oakland County is happy to see Gibbs' investment in the area and the additional jobs it'll bring along with it, one must wonder just how many $85,000 aquatic vehicles the company plans to sell to sustain itself. Though it's headquartering itself in the Detroit area, manufacturing may be done elsewhere. Michigan is still reportedly in the running, but we'd imagine a less seasonal climate may prove beneficial for the research, development and testing of its upcoming amphibious line of vehicles.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brent @ Jul 19th 2008 11:53AM
Sweet another one of these things to fail. Why do they even bother?
James K. @ Jul 19th 2008 11:53AM
Just think about it... 35 minutes away from Auburn Hills is Harrison Twp... Boat Town USA. (More boats are owned and operated here than anywhere else in the USA)
Flashpoint @ Jul 19th 2008 12:06PM
This is so "Bondish" its just too cool.
MajorGeek @ Jul 19th 2008 12:12PM
More boats you see, the less likely this thing will appear becauase this isnt a boat and they never really work well. Each application always fails in some way. I have a place on the water and would never even consider this. Aside from the fact that it would be best having launch sites near where you want to go, I just dont know what I would do with this on the water? Fish like a fishing boat, no. Sleep in bunks like a crusier, no. Rip around wave jumping at 70 mph like my jet skis, no. Have a bbq like on a pontoon, no. Only application I can see is where your on the road and need to cross water. Otherwise, cars are on dry land, boats are on water, the 2 don't mesh well.
tankd0g @ Jul 19th 2008 1:09PM
There might be 3 or 4 people in the world with big yachts that would see this as an appropriate launch....but those people can probably afford a helicopter and a Lotus Elise.
DS @ Jul 19th 2008 1:31PM
I have seen videos of this thing out on the water and it actually performed quite well. Someone with the company said it was designed to hold 3 passengers so you could drive, bring a water skier/wakeboarder, and another passenger
of course then you'd have to store the skis/wakeboard...
but if anything besides crossing water it could be used for that
MajorGeek @ Jul 19th 2008 1:49PM
Interesting. I guess I figured it just fails at one or the other. You sacrafice a lot of creature comforts in the car so boating end works well and vice versa making both of them fall short whatever your doing. Sort of like the Icon, though would rather get my hands on that.
http://www.iconaircraft.com/
ale @ Jul 19th 2008 2:05PM
Eh, whatever, any one that has the money to buy this, would buy it because it's as cool as hell. HA! I got one, maybe they should move their facilities to New Orleans! They'd have a market (just maybe no one be able to afford it), but they could easily test there.. haha
Joe K. @ Jul 19th 2008 1:15PM
Why would MI be such a bad place for research? There are so many lakes in MI, standing at one lake in MI you are practically within 8 miles of another lake. With that they could practically own a private test lake...
cameron42985 @ Jul 19th 2008 2:38PM
Gay! Yep.
Mal Fuller @ Jul 19th 2008 7:23PM
Just give global warming a few more years and Michigan's lakes won't freeze and inhibit year 'round testing.
G-Meister @ Jul 20th 2008 3:04PM
I still think these make great yacht tenders, or even a complement to a house boat.
Toy Yoda @ Jul 20th 2008 3:47PM
Could make commuting to and from Manhattan, or to and from Long Island to New England a lot faster.