Autoblog

Coda Automotive undergoes "massive layoffs" *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:14:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials, Electric

Plug In Cars is reporting that there have been "massive layoffs" at California electric vehicle startup Coda Automotive. Apparently, more than 50 employees, "including a substantial part of its sales and marketing staff," were let go according to an anonymous source. The source said the situation was a "real mess," and that, "They just cut everybody they possibly could."

That things have come to this is perhaps not exactly a surprise. Sales have been slow - not even 100 units of the company's $37,250 all-electric sedan have been sold since it went on sale in March, then there was a safety recall and reviews haven't been kind. Last week, the vehicle scored just two stars in frontal crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We have reached out to Coda to confirm Plug In Cars' report, but have yet to hear back.

*UPDATE: Coda sent us this statement, from Forrest Beanum, SVP of Government Relations & External Affairs:

CODA has released approximately 50 employees or 15% of our workforce across all functions to streamline our operations and right-size the Company. The Company is taking this action to better position our business going forward. We remain committed to the continued development and distribution of our products. The quality and safety of our products is of paramount importance. CODA vehicles meet all applicable U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and achieved an overall 4-star rating in National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing.

Coda Automotive undergoes "massive layoffs" *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

All-electric Coda Sedan gets crashed, earns just two stars in frontal test [w/videos]

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Videos, Electric, MISC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested the 2012 Coda electric sedan, and here is the good news about the results: the Coda scored five stars for the side crash and rollover tests, and four stars overall. What kept it from a five-star overall score is the bad news: a two-star result for its frontal impact test.

NHTSA issued a recall for the 2012 Coda over its side and window airbags, so there are two Codas listed in the test results - a pre-recall sedan that got no rating for the side impact test and no overall rating, and the post-recall sedan that was rated in every category.

To be even more precise on that frontal impact rating, the male crash dummy driver was left with a two-star score, the female crash dummy passenger got four stars. Judging from the videos, the frontal impact doesn't look like a two-star catastrophe, but NHTSA knows better than us and all of the deceleration and injury details are in these reports if you want to know everything.

If you just want to watch, however, videos of the crash tests can be found just below.

Continue reading All-electric Coda Sedan gets crashed, earns just two stars in frontal test [w/videos]

All-electric Coda Sedan gets crashed, earns just two stars in frontal test [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coda announces "price drop," starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Electric

Coda may not have a new model to show off at the 2011 LA Auto Show, but the company can still make news with a price drop. Or with something that is a price drop in all but name.

In September 2010, Coda said its all-electric Sedan would cost $44,900. Today, that was refined downward to a more-reasonable $39,900, putting the car somewhat closer to parity with the Ford Focus Electric (which starts at $39,200). The Mitsubishi i ($29,125) and the Nissan Leaf ($35,200) are both cheaper options for smaller all-electric vehicles. Coda's Thomas Hausch told AutoblogGreen that, since Coda hasn't actually sold any of the Sedans for the previously announced price, the new base price isn't a drop. More of a readjustment.

This is just one change that has happened since former GM exec Phil Murtaugh became Coda CEO. Hausch wouldn't give us specific details, but said that Murtaugh instituted "significant cost reductions" all along the development chain to make the car more robust and simple. One minor change that Coda weirdly isn't touting but could be due to the company talking about things a bit prematurely last year, as PluginCars' Brad Berman noticed, is that the Sedan will come with a 36-kWh battery pack instead of the 34-kWh pack that had previously been announced. Estimated range is still 150 miles. The change doesn't negatively affect the pack's stated reliability. Coda today announced an "industry leading" battery warranty that lasts for ten years and 100,000 miles.

One other thing: Coda has started production, and Hausch said that the car is "sold out" until March or April of next year. All that means, though, is that enough people have paid the $99 reservation fee to claim a spot in line once the vehicles become available. The first deliveries should take place in January.

Continue reading Coda announces "price drop," starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery

Coda announces "price drop," starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2012 Coda Sedan

Michael Harley — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Electric, Quick Spins

A Chinese EV From California's Newest Automaker

"Simple."

The word floated around the room and landed gently on our notepad during the morning press conference. Initially, it seemed like a perfect fit. But the more we learned about the new all-electric 2012 Coda sedan, the more we realized that "simple" was nothing but a misunderstood first impression.

Strictly discussing physical appearances, the Coda four-door is easily the least interesting vehicle we have set our eyes on in years - "unassuming" is an understatement. Yet an in-depth look reveals the plain-Jane façade is deceiving. Hidden beneath the ho-hum sheetmetal, under the hard plastic dash and below the thin-pile carpet is an ingenious all-electric propulsion system. Not just forward thinking, it shows genuine promise and innovation.

We recently spent several hours with Coda, visiting its first retail store, learning about the technology inside that uninspiring bodywork and taking an hour-long test drive in the Los Angeles Basin. Our visit answered a lot of questions. Who is behind Coda? What is the Chinese connection? How does the Coda sedan drive? Most importantly, how does newcomer Coda expect to compete against other EVs in the segment?

Continue reading 2012 Coda Sedan

2012 Coda Sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Will you have to pay for returning half-charged rental EVs?

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

Enterprise Rent-A-Car will soon offer customers a variety of electric vehicle options, from the Coda sedan and Nissan Leaf to the Chevrolet Volt. Which begs an interesting question posed by our brothers-from-another-mother at Engadget - If an electric car or plug-in hybrid is returned without a full charge, are we going to be charged?

At the present time, Enterprise (the largest rental car company in North America) has no plans to charge for EVs needing a juice boost. Enterprise is going to install charging stations on site and the vehicles will get a fresh batch of electrons upon being returned. Hopefully we'll see other rental companies adopt the same policy, but time will tell.

[Source: Engadget | Image: Enterprise]

Will you have to pay for returning half-charged rental EVs? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coda EV models to be available through Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Electric

All-Electric Coda Sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Want to drive an electric car but not ready to spend the money to own one? EV manufacturer Coda has the perfect solution for you. Coda has teamed up with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to place its all-electric sedan into the rental car company's fleet. The plan is to introduce about 100 sedans across various Enterprise locations throughout 2011.

The Coda Sedan is the company's first vehicle and it will be launched in the coming months. It's a five-passenger sedan with a full-size trunk and a cruising range of between 90 and 120 miles per charge. Coda is utilizing a 6.6 kW on-board charging system which requires six hours for a full charge, however, the system can provide a 40-mile cruising range with just a two hour charging period.

In addition to the Coda Sedan models entering the Enterprise rental fleet, the rental company will serve as a loaner car system for Coda owners. If a Coda vehicle requires service, an Enterprise rental car will be made available during the time the owner's Coda vehicle is in the shop. Read more in the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: All-Electric Coda Sedan

[Source: Coda]

Continue reading Coda EV models to be available through Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Coda EV models to be available through Enterprise Rent-A-Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Coda electric sedan priced at $44,900 - over $12k more than Nissan Leaf

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Electric

Coda Sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

What plug-in car will cost more than a Nissan Leaf or a Chevrolet Volt but is virtually unknown to the American public? The Coda EV Sedan, that's what. Coda Automotive has announced that the price for its all-electric vehicle will be $44,900 - or, $37,400 after the feds chip in $7,500 as a tax credit. To compare, the Leaf costs $25,280 after incentives and the Volt can be had for $33,500 with federal help. So, your options will be to either buy a Volt and get an electric vehicle with a range extender or spend $4,000 more to go gas-free and have a longer EV-only range. Or, spend a lot less on the Leaf ($12,120) and go almost as far on battery power. The Leaf is expected to get around 100 miles to the charge, while Coda is saying that its 33.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery system with active thermal management will provide "a dependable all-weather range of up to 120 miles and at least 30 percent more usable energy than our leading competitor." Here's some of the not-as-good fine print:

After tax savings, net as low as $37,400. MSRP $44,900, with federal tax savings from 0-$7,500. Excludes tax, title and license. Initially available through online reservation process. Deliveries will commence in December 2010. Subject to change. Limited quantities available in California only. Increased availability in Spring 2011 with full market rollout through 2012. Taxpayer must incur federal tax liability to receive full benefits. Consult your tax professional.

Even reserving the car costs more than it does for the Leaf. Coda is asking for a $499 refundable deposit that can be placed here. The Coda will be available in California later this year and Hawaii in 2011.

Gallery: Coda Sedan

[Source: Coda Automotive]

2011 Coda electric sedan priced at $44,900 - over $12k more than Nissan Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Self-inflating tire technology captures innovation award

Michael Harley — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Green, Safety, Technology

The Tire Technology of the Year award, handed out at the Tire Technology Expo in Hamburg, Germany, has been awarded to the creators of the Self-Inflating Tire at Coda Development.

While "self-inflating" tires aren't new to the market (especially in the commercial industry), nearly all of the existing systems utilize compressed air to inflate or maintain tire pressure. This requires a compressor or reservoir tank to feed air to the tires. Coda's "SIT" system uses a peristaltic pump built directly into the tire that uses the spinning wheel to force air through a liquid-filled tube to maintain pressure at a set level. Designed to aid fuel economy and improve safety, the SIT system claims to maintain a constant inflation pressure over the lifetime of the tire. Simple, lightweight, inexpensive, and not requiring any power source, we liked the idea last year. Twelve months later, and now with an award under its belt, we think it's time to get the SIT system rolling. Press release after the jump, gallery below.

Gallery: Coda self-inflating tire technology

Continue reading Self-inflating tire technology captures innovation award

Self-inflating tire technology captures innovation award originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New self-inflating tire constantly under pressure

Chris Tutor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Maintenance, Safety

We all know that keeping your tires properly inflated will prolong their tread life, help you burn less fuel and increase your safety. But finding a working air hose when you're away from your garage is like trying to find a working clock in an early-80's Buick.

This is probably what led Coda Development, a Czech Republic company, to invent a new self-inflating tire. Sure, self-inflating tires aren't new, they've been around for years on commercial vehicles and even a few passenger vehicles . But most of those systems use compressed air to keep the tires inflated.

Coda's new system uses a peristaltic pump built into the tire to constantly maintain air pressure. You may have seen a peristaltic pump used in hospitals to deliver intravenous drugs to patients. It's basically a spinning wheel pressed against a liquid-filled tube. As the wheel turns, it pushes the tube's contents through one end and pulls more in the other. In our case, your car's wheel is the wheel and your air-filled tire the tube. A valve ensures that your tire's pressure is always constant. Theoretically, the peristaltic pump is much simpler and therefore more reliable than a compressor-based system. It's also potentially lighter, cheaper and doesn't require a power source. Sounds like a darn smart idea to us. Coda plans to display its system at the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit on April 14th through the 17th, so we'll see if it makes a splash there with auto industry engineers.

[Source: Coda]

Continue reading New self-inflating tire constantly under pressure

New self-inflating tire constantly under pressure originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments