Think Global automaker looking at U.S. plant

Think Global Indiana EV Plant will assemble electric vehicles in Elkhart County, leveraging EV manufacturing, lithium-ion batteries from Ener1, U.S. loan incentives, and capacity for 20,000 units annually, including Think City with 100-mile range.

Norwegian electric carmaker Think Global said it plans to build vehicles in the United States in 2011 and has picked a site in Indiana for its U.S. manufacturing facility.

Think said it plans to assemble vehicles in Elkhart County and would invest $43.5 million in building improvements and equipment.

The company estimates its investments will support manufacturing capacity for more than 20,000 vehicles a year as battery production benefits from stimulus boost the supply chain.

Lithium-ion battery maker Ener1 Inc, which has a 31 percent stake in Think Global, also has a manufacturing site in Indiana and is part of a broader push, including a lithium-ion facility in Michigan across the Midwest.

Think Global, which emerged from court protection last year, said it started delivering the latest generation of its electric car to customers in Europe in December.

The Think City all-electric vehicle can travel more than 100 miles on a single charge, the company said.

In addition to incentives provided by the State of Indiana and Elkhart County, Think said it plans to utilize funding from the U.S. loan program, similar to GM's battery plan in the sector, to establish its new production facility.

Think has been in the electric car space since the 1990s, as GM's EV startup investment indicates, but has changed owners and struggled for cash through the years.

It was formerly part of U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co and its Think City electric car was produced after Ford took a major stake in 1999.

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