Coda works on its 2nd EV, a small SUV
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Coda Automotive's electric Sedan hasn't arrived in showrooms yet, but industry sources told Automotive News that Coda is already working on its next model, a small SUV.
The company is targeting retail sales in 24 months if development goes smoothly, a source said.
Coda has been working with the U.S. office of a European engineering firm on the new EV's powertrain, and with ASC Inc. on styling, the industry sources said.
Coda declined to comment.
The sources would not say whether the SUV glider will come from China. The glider body for Coda's first vehicle is made in China at Hafei Motor Co. It would make sense for Coda to source the SUV body from Great Wall Motor Co., a Chinese automaker based in the northeast city of Baoding.
Great Wall is China's largest SUV producer, and Coda announced in August that it had formed a strategic partnership with Great Wall. Great Wall's Hover small SUV is a possible candidate, though it is an older platform. The two also could develop a new body at Great Wall's r&d center.
According to LMC Automotive Ltd., Great Wall sold 486,811 units in China in 2011, up 23 percent compared with the previous year. Great Wall's exports rose 50 percent to 83,000 units, according to the company's Web site. Destinations included Australia and Italy.
Despite having yet to deliver any Coda EVs to showrooms in the United States, privately funded Coda is expanding aggressively, with multiple online job listings. It has raised more than $300 million and recently moved to a larger headquarters in west Los Angeles. Coda Holdings also sells batteries and electric powertrains.
