REPORT: New auto assembly plant to be announced this week... perhaps for Th!nk?
Financially struggling Norwegian EV maker Th!nk has been saying for some time that it wants to build some of its cars in in the United States. That announcement could come as soon as this week in Louisana. In a report published in Louisiana newspaper The News Star, factory owner Jim Davison will make an announcement on Wednesday of this week. Davison owns a factory that was formerly part of Guide, previously a General Motors lighting division.
While Davison declines to give details of the project or what cars will be built there, some hints are available. The project reportedly includes Silicon Valley venture capitalists Ray Lane and John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. KPC&B has made a lot of green technology investments in recent years, including Th!nk and Fisker Automotive. While Fisker is certainly a possibility, it's less likely since the California-based company already has a deal with Finland's Valmet for production of the new Karma. Th!nk has been showing its electric city car in the U.S. recently, so we figure their products are the most likely ones to emerge from Ouachita Parish (about midway between Shreveport and Jackson, Mississippi). Thanks to Justin for the tip!
Gallery: Th!nk City
[Source: The News-Star]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rboyett 8:10AM (6/15/2009)
That would be the old GM Guide plant on I-20 in Monroe, LA.
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Tohe 8:49AM (6/15/2009)
Yeah an exit past the mall. Funny that a green company is about to establish themselves there, were the air is pretty polluted by the nearby paper mill plant, that place smells.
Rboyett 9:17AM (6/15/2009)
@Tohe
Yes, on bad days it smells like all of West Monroe took a big fart.
You need the smell of a Johnny's Pizza Sweep the Kitchen to resuscitate your sense of smell.
geo.stewart 9:40AM (6/15/2009)
and what does it say about the state of our auto mftrs that a new mftr will come in and rather pick a plant in LA with little native talent (relative %) rather than an abandoned plant in the middle of the rust belt teeming with unemployed workers.
1) that Michigan couldnt get nailed at a hammer convention
2) that Union is seen as death to anyone with brains, so that says something about a government that would set up a bankruptcy specifically to preserve the union.
adrenalnjunky 9:50AM (6/15/2009)
I'm impressed that I'm not the only Monore/West Monroe reader Autoblog has.
adrenalnjunky 9:51AM (6/15/2009)
I'd be even more impressed if I could spell "Monroe" properly. /notenoughcoffeeyet
MajorGeek 8:27AM (6/15/2009)
I don't Th!nk so, but thanks.
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Andrew 8:51AM (6/15/2009)
No, thanks, I don't want a job? I'm sure there are plenty of former GM/Chrysler employees that would be happy to find work again!
Th!nk's cars are safe and effective, I see them all of the time here in my city. If only they were a bit cheaper I would buy one on the spot. Th!nk Ox is my dream car!
MajorGeek 9:01AM (6/15/2009)
It was a joke you troll.
Andrew 12:52PM (6/15/2009)
You're the troll here. That was a rather lame joke.
imoore 8:53AM (6/15/2009)
If this is indeed Think, then congratulations. I'm suprised, though, that the Alabama contingent didn't get in on this, or the Carbon Motors deal.
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Redeemed 9:00AM (6/15/2009)
It looks tiny, almost like the SMART. Would hate to be in one of these during rush hour with a F250 bearing down on me.
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UltimoDragon 11:10AM (6/16/2009)
It's a city car at its core. If you choose to take it out on suburban highways, dummy on you and not the car.
Smegley 9:33AM (6/15/2009)
I th!nk, therefore I am ...... never going to buy a POS electric crap car.
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opiespank 10:14AM (6/15/2009)
If this indeed goes though, It will be a great boost to the Monroe/West Monroe economy.
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Richard S. 2:51PM (6/15/2009)
Just build the car already. We need such cars to help us reduce our dependency on the Persian Gulf, Russia and Venezuela. Seeing Obama bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia as a groveler is demeaning to our nation.
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