Filed under: Euro, Green, Plants/Manufacturing
Venturi to set up shop at Le Mans
The reborn Venturi Automobiles may have changed the historic automaker's focus from performance cars to green technology, but back in the day – conceived, as it was, as a French rival to Ferrari – Venturi pulled off some noteworthy performances at Le Mans. Following that tradition, Venturi has now announced that it will establish a new factory in the French town of La Sarthe, home to the famous 24 hour race.
The plant will shift the company's center out of Monaco where it is currently based, and be used to build a new electric city vehicle to be unveiled next week together with Michelin at the Paris motor show, as well, presumably, as the Fetish supercar which is now nearing production. Follow the jump for the press release.
[Source: Venturi]
PRESS RELEASE
Venturi Automobiles to open an assembly plant in La Sarthe
In order to back up its strong development, Venturi Automobiles has launched a study on the creation of an assembly plant for electric vehicles in the Ouest Park zone near Sablé-sur-Sarthe ; the site's opening date is scheduled for the end of 2009.
Based on a highly advanced environmental approach, the plant will assemble in particular a brand new urban electric vehicle which will be presented at the next "Mondial de l'Automobile" (press conference on October 2nd at 5.15 p.m. on the Venturi stand, Hall 5/1 n°101).
Venturi's decision to locate in this region is partly historical, as the brand was created in the Loire Region in 1984, partly logistic and practical due to the proximity of numerous suppliers in the automobile sector.
Since Gildo Pallanca Pastor has bought Venturi Automobiles in 2001, the company has led a sustained innovation drive that has made it an undisputed leader in electric vehicles. Its expertise in the world's most advanced EV technological solutions extend from city quadricycles to high-performance sports cars.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JasonK 8:15AM (9/22/2008)
To be honest, their "Fetish" "Supercar" looks like a wannabe baby Bugatti Veyron knockoff made by some shoddy Chinese company. There. I said it.
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lee 11:57AM (9/22/2008)
The Fetish has been around since 2002, 3 years BEFORE the Veyron was on sale.
I believe the Fetish has been built with a conventional powertrain until now- in unknown quantities... I read elsewhere that some people don't trust that any have actually been built! I personally haven't seen one drive by me- but then I can say the same about a Veyron.
Nicolas 11:08AM (9/22/2008)
They should use the "Vaillant" corporate logo.. now that'd be cool!
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