The nation’s newest electric car plant will be located in either Tennessee or Arizona.
Canadian electric vehicle designer and manufacturer ElectraMeccanica named Tennessee as one of two finalists for the location of its SOLO EV United States assembly facility reported the Tennessean.
The proposed plant includes an engineering technical center with facilities for electric vehicle testing and an assembly facility for the brand’s single-occupant, three-wheeled SOLO electric vehicles, which are under production and have yet to launch commercially.
The Nashville region and the Phoenix metro area are the final contenders for the site. The company is working alongside consulting firm BDO USA to review both sites and proposals. ElectraMeccanica narrowed the search to Nashville and Phoenix from seven initial candidates, and will announce its final decision by the end of November, according to a news release.
The company expects the proposed facility will create between 200 and 500 jobs, as well as a potential boost to commercial activity in the surrounding area.
The SOLO, which carries a suggested retail price of $18,500, is ElectraMeccanica’s flagship vehicle, designed with the aim of environmental efficiency.
With a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour, the SOLO has a range of up to 100 miles. The vehicle charges fully in about three hours and can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds, according to the company’s website. It’s powered by electricity and is compatible with universal charging stations designed for other electric vehicles.
Source: Tennessean