eMotion Mobility Breaks Ground on Hinesville Micro-Assembly Plant
HINESVILLE, Ga.--Dec. 10, 2001--Revolutionary Facility Will Bring More Than 100 Jobs to South Georgia
Officials from the State of Georgia and eMotion Mobility, a unit of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation, today broke ground in South Georgia on a factory to build electric cars for a new mobility program linked to transit and rail travel.
"The first-of-its-kind facility will install electric batteries, motors and other parts into `gliders,' or semi-completed cars based on the very successful European MCC smart car," said John Wilson, president and CEO of eMotion Mobility LLC. "Completed electric smart cars will then be used in eMotion's revolutionary car sharing program, first in Atlanta, then in other parts of the nation."
The 30,000 square foot facility located in the Hinesville Industrial Park will house a micro-assembly process that will match dozens of parts needed for the electric drive system and other U.S. regulatory requirements with the smart gliders after they arrive through the Port of Savannah.
"This is a great day for Georgia, which has long been identified with pioneering transportation systems," said Jim Steed, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism. "The Port Authority in Savannah is the seventh largest container facility in the country. Georgia is also home to the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield Atlanta International, which is located in the state's capital city, a city that was originally named Terminus for its many rail lines."
"Hinesville was chosen for many reasons," said eMotion Mobility Founder and Chairman Donald E. Panoz. "First, we needed a good location - close to the Port of Savannah, and near the major rail lines and Interstate Highways that serve the Eastern seaboard. Second, we wanted to continue our contribution to economic development within the rural regions of this great state. Hinesville fit the bill on all fronts, from its highly accessible location to its vast pool of highly trained vehicle technicians residing at the neighboring U.S. Army base, Fort Stewart."
The state announced a major technical training initiative to help eMotion Mobility recruit and train the workers who will assemble and test the vehicles. The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education previously announced the expansion of the Savannah Technical Institute to a site in the industrial park across from the eMotion facility. Company officials indicated that the plant would grow to employ 100 to 150 workers and would have the capacity to produce over 6,000 vehicles annually.
Panoz also recognized the significant commitment the State of Georgia has made to eMotion Mobility's developmental plans. "We met with Gov. Roy Barnes just 23 months ago and told him of our plans to build this facility in Georgia and launch our mobility program in Atlanta," said Panoz. "His support, and that of Liberty County, Hinesville, and countless others in the state, have helped bring us together today."
Panoz was initially attracted to Georgia because of its economic development programs in 1981, first siting a pharmaceutical research facility in Gainesville prior to building the world-class Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Braselton. The combined development activities of the Panoz-related automotive companies in Hoschton have established the group as the world's largest producer of racing cars. The Panoz family of companies presently employs over 1,500 people in the state of Georgia.
