Report: Manufacturer may bring 1,000 jobs to central Ohio

The Wall Street Journal and The Columbus Dispatch are reporting that a California-based electric-car startup company called Coda Automotive will build a factory in central Ohio that could employ more than 1,000 workers.

The WSJ said the company "will use Chinese technology to produce automotive-grade lithium-ion batteries for an all-electric car the U.S. company plans to launch in California later this year. The deal is a rare example of a U.S. auto maker having to tap a Chinese company for high technology. Another unusual facet of the venture is the creation of manufacturing jobs both in China and the U.S.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain, said Ohio "is quickly becoming a national leader in clean-energy component manufacturing for the auto industry."

"Coda, which announced the move Tuesday, May 25 will final-assemble the electric car at a facility in the greater Los Angeles area with component modules produced in China. At first, it will make the car available only in California, where it is targeting sales of 14,000 electric sedans by the end of 2011," the WSJ said.

Coda reportedly had been searching for a production site in the U.S., finally settling this week on Ohio. The exact location for the central Ohio plant hasn't been determined and Coda's announcement didn't mention an estimated opening date.

The Wall Street Journal and The Columbus Dispatch are reporting that a California-based electric-car startup company called Coda Automotive will build a factory in central Ohio that could employ more than 1,000 workers.

The WSJ said the company "will use Chinese technology to produce automotive-grade lithium-ion batteries for an all-electric car the U.S. company plans to launch in California later this year. The deal is a rare example of a U.S. auto maker having to tap a Chinese company for high technology. Another unusual facet of the venture is the creation of manufacturing jobs both in China and the U.S.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain, said Ohio "is quickly becoming a national leader in clean-energy component manufacturing for the auto industry."

"Coda, which announced the move Tuesday, May 25 will final-assemble the electric car at a facility in the greater Los Angeles area with component modules produced in China. At first, it will make the car available only in California, where it is targeting sales of 14,000 electric sedans by the end of 2011," the WSJ said.

Coda reportedly had been searching for a production site in the U.S., finally settling this week on Ohio. The exact location for the central Ohio plant hasn't been determined and Coda's announcement didn't mention an estimated opening date.
"Battery production is something that is hugely important for the future, and for this company to choose Ohio for this I think is very, very good news," said Gov. Ted Strickland.