CODA Automotive Comes to Benicia

Officials at CODA Automotive, the Santa Monica, CA-based manufacturer of electric cars, made the official announcement Monday morning that they have an agreement to do final assembly of their electric vehicles at Amports facility in Benicia. 

CODA’s choice of Amports Benicia facility means 50 new jobs for Benicia and a major victory over Los Angeles, which has been lobbying hard to have the final assembly done in the southland. The deal has been .

The cars will be manufactured in China with parts from 30 different countries. The company says about 35 percent of the parts making up the vehicle are manufactured in the U.S. and shipped to China. The vehicles will travel in containers from China to the Port of Oakland, where they will be loaded onto trucks and driven to Amport’s assembly facility in Benicia.

CODA Automotive's choice of the Benicia facility is a testament to the expertise of when it comes to automotive assembly, company officials said.

“Frankly, it’s the technical expertise of Amports,” said Jimmy Triplett, Amports' senior vice president of operations in Benicia. “We have a great deal of experience in vehicle handling.”

“Benicia is a great place,” said CODA CEO Phil Murtaugh at the announcement ceremony. “City staff has been very supportive.”

Mayor pointed out that the first major manufacturing plant in California was in Benicia and that CODA’s move to Benicia is a testament to the city’s efforts to get green industry to move here.

“We want to lead the Bay Area,” said Patterson. “Here’s an opportunity to lead the nation and the world.”

"I think it's fantastic," said Vice Mayor , Patterson's opponent in the . "It's a great day for Benicia."

Neither Amports or CODA would confirm details of the deal, but both companies indicated assembly of CODA’s electric vehicles would be in Benicia at least three years.

“One of the things Benicia is known for is glassworks,” said acting Economic Development Director Marion Giuliani. “Tomorrow we will be known for CODA.”

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