Electric car maker Canoo announced this week it had delivered its first Made in Oklahoma electric vehicles to the state of Oklahoma.
The company called it a milestone marking the start of its phased-ramp manufacturing in the state and the shipment of Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle models to key customers and partners.
The announcement quoted Gov. Kevin Stitt as saying the state was proud to be part of the historic moment for Canoo.
“This marks Oklahoma’s return to vehicle manufacturing and proves ‘The Sooner State’ is the right place to grow cutting-edge businesses and create new jobs.”
But a published report by The Oklahoman indicated the state had not finalized the purchases. Its report quoted Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
“We are excited about the potential of an Oklahoma-manufactured vehicle being part of the state’s fleet and look forward to further evaluating these vehicles as part of our broader initiative to modernize the state’s fleet for a more efficient state government for taxpayers.”
Canoo is hiring for its Oklahoma City and Pryor facilities in the state and expects to create more than 1,300 jobs. The LDVs are the first commercial motor vehicles built in Oklahoma since 2006 and will go to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
“It’s an honor to partner with the state of Oklahoma and its workforce to create a legacy for electric vehicles in America’s Heartland,” said Tony Aquila, Chairman and CEO of Canoo.
“What is inspiring to me is that it takes just a small group of innovators and hardworking believers who find a way to win. I want to thank Governor Stitt and his team for believing in us. We want our vehicles to provide service to Oklahomans who have been our partners through this journey.”
Canoo, in its press release said the LDVs set a new standard for mobility because they are built on a multi-purpose platform which makes them configurable to help commercial and government fleet customers improve efficiency and cut operating costs.