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ReprintsNorway’s Think launches electric car production
Former Ford-owned company makes City minicars
Douglas A. Bolduc
Automotive News Europe
November 29, 2007 14:58 CET
Think Global has launched production of an electric minicar for European markets. On Wednesday, the first City minicar rolled off the assembly line at Think's plant in Aurskog, northeast of Oslo. "This project is on time. We are building full production cars with all the right components from the right suppliers," Think Global CEO Jan-Olaf Willums said in a statement. Suppliers that are helping Think get back on the road include Autoliv, Continental and Robert Bosch. In addition, Think signed a contract with Porsche Consulting two months ago. Porsche engineers are helping Think improve its lean manufacturing skills. The goal is to enhance the factory's production flow, Willums said in an interview with Automotive News Europe. Think's first batch of cars soon will undergo crash testing. The company wants to start sales in the first half of 2008. Willums said the City will debut first in Norway and Denmark then Switzerland. He said that engineers at Magna Steyr are working with Think to develop a right-hand-drive version of the minicar for launch in the UK. The carmaker aims to build 7,000 to 10,000 units a year at its plant by 2009. Since 1991, the electric car maker has had four owners, including Ford Motor, from mid-1999 until January 2003. Twice, the company in charge of the carmaker has gone bankrupt. |
You can reach Douglas A. Bolduc at dbolduc@crain.com.
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Think Global CEO Jan-Olaf Willums helps finish production of the electric carmaker’s City minicar on Wednesday |
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