Detroit Electric is going ahead with production of its SP:01 electric sports car in Holland rather than Detroit, as it had planned.
The facility in the Holland will begin production in the fourth quarter of this year. According to a report by The Detroit News, Detroit Electric still hopes to make cars in Michigan someday, just not right now.
“We are Detroit Electric, not London Electric,” said Albert Lam, the automaker’s CEO, in a statement. “Our commitment to the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States is as strong as it ever was. While there have been some delays in our plan to start production in Detroit, many vehicle programs experience some form of delay.”
In April, Detroit Electric announced plans to build its first product, the all-electric SP:01, in Detroit. The company said it was looking for a production location in the Detroit region with plans to produce 2,500 cars per year with a workforce of 100.
The company announced it would partner with Chinese automaker Geely to help develop a fleet of EVs to be sold in China.
The SP:01 electric sports car features an electric motor delivering 201 hp and 166 pounds-feet of torque, a lightweight, purpose-designed battery pack rated at 37 kWh and all-new carbon-fiber bodywork.
The Detroit Electric SP:01 has a top speed of 155mph (249km/h) and can go from zero to 60 mph (0-100km/h) in 3.7 seconds.
The 37kWh battery gives the SP:01 a range of almost 190 miles, when tested to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard. Detroit Electric’s home charging unit will enable drivers to fully recharge their SP:01 in 4.3 hours.
Production was set for 999 units with a base price of $135,000.
