CT&T Corporation has signed an agreement with the government in the U.S. state of Hawaii on plans to build an electric-car factory there, the company said yesterday in a release.
Under the deal, CT&T, which makes the two-seat e-Zone electric car, will build a factory with an annual capacity of 10,000 vehicles. The plan will eventually produce electric buses, four-seat vehicles and sports cars as well, the company said. The Hawaiian government will provide land for the factory and build roads, charging stations and other infrastructure while offering subsidies to electric-car buyers. The plant will be the first automobile factory in the state.
The company said it has not yet decided how much it would invest, and the amount will be decided after negotiations with the Hawaii government.
CEO Lee Young-gi and Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle were among the guests for the signing ceremony on Friday, Hawaiian time.
"Public transportation is not well developed in Hawaii, gas prices are 40 percent more expensive in Hawaii than in the mainland United States, and emissions standards are very strict," said a CT&T official. "Electric cars are the only solution."
There are over one million vehicles operating on the islands, which have a population of 1.3 million.
The factory will be designed by Innodesign President Kim Young-se and architect Stan Field.
The CT&T official added that the factory would be not only the first auto plant on the islands but also the first mass production facility there. Considering the islands are world-famous tourist destinations, the company also plans to build an electric vehicle theme park.
"We will build global production networks in other countries," Lee said. The company has factories in Korea, China and the United States. It plans to add assembly plants in California and Georgia this year.
