Kansas City, Missouri, will be the home of Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation’s first US assembly plant.
The plant, which is expected to create around 120 jobs by 2010, will be located on a portion of an airline overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport with production of zero-emission commercial trucks to begin in the third quarter of 2009.
The company will initially focus on battery electric powered vehicles for depot based predictable route delivery fleets with the first truck to be the Smith Newton – currently the world’s largest battery electric powered truck. The vehicle has a range of more than 100 miles on a single charge and a top speed of 50mph.
SEV US Corp is also working with the Ford Motor Company through its UK partner The Tanfield Group Plc to create an electric version of the Ford Transit Connect. The Transit Connect is scheduled for production in 2010 with the company also likely to expand its zero emission product line with other van and light truck models based on demand.
Around $10million will be invested in the metro area of Kansas City and the assembly plant will occupy 80,000sq ft. The company will receive nearly $3million in job training funds and other incentives from the state and the city.
