Zotye electric SUV to launch in U.S. by end of 2011?

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The Zotye electric SUV, manufactured by China-based Zotye Holding Group, is touted as having a range of up to 250 150 miles, can supposedly hit highway-capable speeds and is backed by a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and – get ready for this – its lithium-ion battery pack is warranted for 185,000 miles.

Zotye says that the electric SUV will sticker for a mere $29,995 when it hits U.S. turf. When is that? Well, it's before the end of 2011, according to Green Automotive Company (GAC), the sole U.S. distributor of Zotye vehicles. GAC has enlisted Roush Industries to begin the process of testing and confirming that the Zotye meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. According to GAC, engineers from Roush have, "finished four days of initial inspections, performing an engineering review of the All-Electric SUV."

Fred Luke, president of GAC, says that the company intends to "stay on track toward meeting our goal of launching retail sales of the All-Electric SUV in the U.S. through a network of selected dealerships by the end of this year." For a vehicle that was supposed to launch back in 2008, we'll believe this when we see it.

[Source: Green Automotive Company]
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GAC Zotye, first all-electric SUV, closer to hitting U.S. roads

Texas-based Green Automotive Company Corporation has announced today that Roush Industries has been chosen to provide structural and vehicle engineering support as the company begins the process of testing and confirming that its All-Electric SUV meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

"Engineers from Roush have recently finished four days of initial inspections here in California, performing an engineering review of the All-Electric SUV," said Fred Luke, President of Green Automotive. "We intend to stay on track toward meeting our goal of launching retail sales of the All-Electric SUV in the U.S. through a network of selected dealerships by the end of this year."

With that in mind, Green Automotive is getting really close to bringing the first all-electric SUV to the roads of the United States.

Known as the GAC Zotye SUV, 27KW DC motor that produces 162 lb-ft of torque. The five-door four-seater SUV weighs in at 2,640 ponds and can hit a top speed of 70 mph. Fueled by a 320V lithium-ion battery pack, the GAC Zotye SUV can travel a total of 150 miles before needing to be recharged.

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