V-Vehicle
Posted on 06/17/2009 10:09:34 PM PDT by kcvl
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal has announced that San Diego-based V-Vehicle will create 1,400 new jobs and assemble an all-new vehicle in the state. This follows days of speculation about a significant auto assembly plant announcement in Monroe, in the northern portion of Louisiana.
VVC, as the company is also called, "wants to reestablish American leadership in the global automotive industry," according to a Louisiana Economic Development (LED) info-sheet.
V-Vehicle was founded by ex Oracle Corp. executive VP Frank Varasano and is definitely not struggling to gather funds; it's being financed by well-known California venture capitalists—including some also backing Fisker Automotive (Silicon Valley firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers)—along with T. Boone Pickens.
We haven't yet seen pictures of the vehicle, but we do know that it was designed by Tom Matano, the 'father' of the original Mazda Miata. Matano also worked on the RX-7 and 929, and held positions at General Motors and BMW prior to that. He has most recently served as director of the school of Industrial Design at Academy Art San Francisco.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
OBAMA MOTORS has competition!
BUMP
V-Vehicle
Another California company leaving California.
Locate it outside commuting distance from New Orleans.
Monroe, Louisiana is 300 miles north of New Orleans.
This is an outrage! Gore’s car company not using UAW labor?
Going to a “right to work” state versus a “right to destroy manufacturing” state like Michigan or CA?
They did—too far from the Big Easy to be corrupted.
“Another California company leaving California.”
It says in the article the money is from sources which are funding other entities, including Fisker.
Most of the major vehicle firms have design operations in California.
Fisker is in Orange County, where they design the vehicles and manage the company. Their first vehicle will be built in Finland, at a plant that also builds a Porsche model.
It says in the article the guy worked at Mazda and at BMW.
BMW has design and test facilities in Ventura county—very low key. Fisker people come from there, from Porsche-Germany, and other previous employers.
So the assembly plant for this new entity will be in Louisiana, where labor is less costly. Good management.
I wish them the best. Based on what some of these new firms are trying to do, I say “Bravo.”
Sounds good. If I could offer them one small piece of advice, design and build cars that Americans WANT, not what some busybody thinks we “need.”
Someone post a picture of the car Homer designed on the Simpsons lol. He included everything the regular guy wants in a car. I’d post it, but I’m on my blackberry right now.
Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, which confirms that the vehicle is likely either an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid combining another alt fuel.
With T. Boone in the mix, this 'car' will likely run on natural gas.
Related story There is a video of Jindal making the announcement.
Looks like a Burkamobile
Does the 'V' in V-vehicle stand for Vengeance? History is repeating.
Gadzooks! I fondly recall my 1965-66 days with my know-it-all smirk... 
at Northeast Louisiana State College (As it was called back then) in Monroe. The drinking age, when enforced, was 18 and I have so many memories of passing notes in class and parking with Jan at the Levee. Mr. Fuller's ever-so strict Speech Class. Cee picking me up in the SUB. The Whiskey A-Go-Go. The Boogie Kings. The Righteous Brothers. Joe Stampley and The Uniques singing "All These Things"!
The touch of your lips next to mine
Get me excited, make me feel fine.
The sound of your voice, your sweet hello
The fire inside me, when I`m holding you close.
Your love`s so warm and tender.
Your thrill is so devine.
Yet it`s All These Things
That make you mine.
If you would leave me, I surely would die.
When you started to go, I started to cry.
Now I`ve got it bad, but that`s alright.
As long as your near me every night.
Your love`s so warm and tender.
Your thrill is so divine.
Yet it`s All These Things
That make you mine.
Now I got it bad, but that`s alright.
As long as your near me every night.
Your love`s so warm and tender.
Your thrill is so divine.
Yet it`s All These Things
That make you mine.
Whoa! Where in the world... 
did all the time go?
Sorry, Dysart, old cousin Chris... 
was way too busy to party with me at NLSC!
But even older cuz "Yoo Hoo, It's Me!" Pinky... 
would drop by for a drink-
Then another, then another, then another... 
then another!
You can see... 
where this is going!
Sound to me, Bend, that... 
your cuz certainly had a drinking problem.
Michael Caine in Spain, you may be on to something, but don't... 
call me 'Shirley!"
John and George had drinking problems... 
but Ringo and I didn't!
In midst of auto crisis, Al Gore backs a new car company in Louisiana
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