ECOstrive: The Conservative Environmentalist

A123 Systems Signs Battery System Supply Agreement With Navistar

WATERTOWN, Mass., June 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate™ lithium ion batteries and systems, today announced a production agreement with Navistar, Inc., a proven leader in worldwide commercial transportation, to supply lithium ion battery systems for electric vehicles (EVs) for the Navistar-Modec EV Alliance, LLC, a joint venture between Navistar and Modec Limited of the U.K.

According to the supply agreement, which builds upon an earlier development agreement that was announced in March 2010, A123 will manufacture battery systems for Navistar‘s eStar electric delivery vehicle at its Livonia, Michigan facility. A number of vehicles have already been shipped to Federal Express as part of the earlier development agreement. The work is partially funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy. More »

Tesla Motors Announces Factory in Northern California

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Tesla Motors has purchased the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California, where it will build the Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles. As recently as April of 2010, the NUMMI factory was used by Toyota to produce the Corolla and Tacoma vehicles using the industry-leading Toyota production system. It is one of the largest, most advanced and cleanest automotive production plants in the world.

It is capable of producing half a million vehicles per year or approximately 1 percent of total worldwide car production. The award-winning plant was the first in North America to demonstrate Toyota Production System, a widely copied system that lead to dramatic quality improvements and unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and worker satisfaction. More »

Tesla Files S-1 Registration Statement for Initial Public Offering

Tesla Motors, Inc.

Tesla

PALO ALTO, CA. – Tesla Motors, Inc. today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Tesla Motors designs, manufactures and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles and advanced electric vehicle powertrain components. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank Securities are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering.

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Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Chooses Michigan for 2010 Competition Events


Detroit, MI. (January 12, 2010) – The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has chosen the state of Michigan to host an intense multi-stage competition that aims to pit some of the world’s most fuel efficient vehicles against one another in a quest to win their share of a $10 million prize purse. Fifty-one super efficient cars from 41 teams survived the rigorous design judging phase and now aim to ready their vehicles for the start of on-track performance events in the spring of 2010, thanks to a unique new partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan International Speedway (MIS), announced today at the North American International Auto Show.

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Tesla hires Fiat strategist to head European operations

Tesla Roadster Electric Car

Tesla Roadster

WINDSOR, UK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tesla Motors has hired former Fiat executive Cristiano Carlutti to lead the electric vehicle manufacturer’s fast-growing European operations.

Carlutti, who began this week as Tesla’s vice president of European sales and operations, has a unique background encompassing sales, marketing, branding and public relations. He has lead mission-critical divisions at Fiat, served as CEO of an Italian start-up and served on the organizing committee of the XX Winter Olympic Games. More »