CODA Holdings (or CODA Automotive) the Santa Monica, Calif. company that plans to sell all-electric sedans in the U.S. this year, raised another $76 million according to a company statement today. The company’s total equity funding, with this round, reached about $200 million. CODA’s new backers include Harbinger Capital Partners and Riverstone Holdings, who were joined by earlier investors AERIS Capital and the Angeleno Group.
In addition to producing electric vehicles, CODA manufactures power storage systems for transportation and utility businesses, through a joint venture with Chinese Lishen Power Battery, LIO Energy Systems. It is hoping to open a battery and power storage systems manufacturing facility in Ohio. According to a company press statement, “construction of [the] facility is contingent upon the approval and receipt of a Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan.”
In recent years, newcomers to the auto industry have focused on electric vehicles, from the sporty and luxurious (Tesla, Fisker) to the utilitarian (Smith, Smart USA). Targeting the market for environmentally sensible sedans, CODA faces significant competition from incumbents and peers alike. Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Mercedes, Ford and BMW offer hybrid sedans already. The all-electric sedan from Nissan (the Leaf) is now entering the market at a price lower than CODA has promised, and Tesla has announced plans to sell its Model S in 2012, too.
This fall, CODA won support from a major car rental business, Enterprise, which committed to purchase 100 of its all-electric vehicles in 2011, and to provide “courtesy transportation” loaners for early CODA customers when their EVs are in the shop for maintenance and service.
Coda’s executives have stated a goal to go public. Analysts and clean tech investors are divided on whether another EV company’s prospects look good for 2011, however. It’s crowded out there.
Palo Alto-based EV sports car and sedan makers, Tesla, successfully IPO’d in June 2010, drawing a large investment and eventually becoming partners with Toyota. In November 2010, General Motors pulled off the largest IPO in U.S. history raising $20.1 billion, recovering after a government bailout for the company. Last month at an auto show in China, GM revealed plans for its Chevrolet Sail Electric Vehicle.
Coda sedan image via: PRNewswire and Coda Holdings
Coda Automotive builds eco-friendly transportation – chiefly electric cars – to create a livable future for generations to come. Headquartered in Southern California, CODA Automotive teamed with American partners to develop an American designed and manufactured electric drivetrain as well as battery system electronics to serve as the foundation for the CODA car. They also partnered with the most highly proficient and advanced companies from around the world, from China to Europe, to build a...
Harbinger’s mission is to be a value-added venture investor in the core technologies that will enhance the productivity and experience at the workplace or at home. Leveraging the MiTAC-SYNNEX Group’s strong financial backing and web of networks, they strive to create synergy and forge strategic relationships among their investee companies and the Group’s affiliated companies at every opportunity. Welcoming challenge, Harbinger will continue to be a forerunner in the technologies that will change the communications and computing networks of tomorrow while generating tangible results and real...
Tesla Motors, founded by Elon Musk, Marc Tarpenning and Martin Eberhard, is a company that produces a high-performance electric sports car, and is backed by a number of high-profile investors. Introduced in June 2006 to the public complete with a test drive by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Tesla Roadster is able to go from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds (competitive with Porsche and Lamborghini models), while also delivering 100 miles per gallon (double the...
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