ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

  • March 28, 2024, 11:21:03 PM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Electric Motorcycle Forum is live!

Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Coda  (Read 3253 times)

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
Coda
« on: March 12, 2012, 09:19:13 PM »

I just heard an announcement on the radio (KGO) that Coda is shipping their first car from their Benicia, CA factory, to their only local dealership somewhere around San Jose, today. They are claiming that the car costs around $30K after government rebates and was tested on the Government EV cycle as having a range of 125 miles. So you can add another production EV to the mix on the road.   :)
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
Re: Coda
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2012, 01:00:53 AM »

In today's newspaper was an article (written by Dana Hull of Mercurynews.com) about the Coda sedan, which started rolling off their assembly line in Benicia, CA, yesterday.

The Coda is a joint venture with Chinese battery maker Lishen, which makes the chassis and drive system and ships the parts to Benicia for final assembly and safety and quality inspection at their plant. Coda applied for a Federal loan from the DOE's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, but after two years received no response and they moved forward without any financing help from the Feds (that might be a good sign for their success).  Coda has 800 employees worldwide and about 25 are working at their assembly plant in Benicia. Estimates are that Coda will make less than 5000 vehicles this year.

Twice in the article it mentions that the Coda, which sells for $37,250, is legible for the $7,500 federal tax rebate. Plus a $2,500 rebate from the state of  CA. But my understanding is that the federal rebate went by-by as of this year. (Am I wrong?)

The Coda's battery comes with a 10-year, 100K mile warranty and an “EPA-certified” range of 88 miles per charge. Coda says the car can travel up to 125 miles per charge in “optimal driving conditions”.

Coda Silicon Valley will open on Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose, CA, on Friday. The company plans to open a Coda “Experience Center”, a store and showroom where consumers can learn more about electric vehicles, at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, in the spring. It expects to roll out the vehicles nationwide before tackling markets in Europe and eventually China.

The article goes on to say that Consumer Reports was testing a $107,850 Fisker Karma last week and they announced that the Karma broke down during their testing and had to be hauled away in a flatbed tow truck.  They were quoted as saying: “We buy about 80 cars a year and this was the first time in memory that we have had a car that was undriveable before it has finished our check-in process”. Thomas Hausch, Coda's Senior Vice President, commented that “If our competitors aren't doing well, it hurts us (too).  It threatens the confidence of the nonexpert consumer.”
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
Re: Coda
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2013, 06:31:01 AM »

Don't buy any Coda stock.  According to a financial news report this afternoon, Coda has announced that they will be filing for bankruptcy after making only about 100 cars. When they emerge from bankruptcy they plan to go into the energy storage business.   ???
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9470
    • View Profile
Re: Coda
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2013, 04:30:22 AM »

My newspaper picked up this story, via the LA Times.  Apparently Coda has already filed for Chapter 11 and has put itself up for sale.  Coda lists their assets at no more than $50 million and their liabilities of up to $100 million.  Total vehicle sales are said to be 78.  So if you own a Coda, you may have a collectable car - given a few years.
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

protomech

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1996
    • View Profile
    • ProtoBlog
Re: Coda
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2013, 05:32:10 AM »

I don't feel like Coda had much of a chance on release.

The powertrain specs were pretty good. Up to 31 kWh, 6.6 kW J1772 charger, 100 kW motor.

Unfortunately the efficiency was bad (similar range to 24 kWh LEAF), the car was plain or ugly depending upon who you ask, the dealer network was non-existent, the reliability was wholly unproven, the handling was bad, the safety was bad, the interior was cheap (see also: MiEV) and the much-delayed launch finally occurred 18 months after the Nissan LEAF started shipping.

The car was announced in 2004. If they had hit the market in 2008, with time to build the dealer network before the LEAF arrived, they could have perhaps built momentum and announced a second gen model as the LEAF hit mainstream availability (2011).

Brammo and Zero should take notes, and improve their dealer network furiously. They operate for a time in a window of zero OEM competition.

Logged
1999 Honda VFR800i | 2014 Zero SR
Check out who's near you on frodus's EV owner map!
http://protomech.wordpress.com/
Pages: [1]