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Detroit Electric hires ex-Lotus Engineering CEO

Detroit Electric hires ex-Lotus Engineering CEO

Viknesh Vijayenthiran February 19th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author February 19th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 Detroit Electric was revived only this month by America’s ZAP electric car company and China’s Youngman Auto and already the joint-venture has announced the appointment of former Lotus Engineering CEO Albert Lam as its new chief. Lam has worked closely with ZAP on previous concepts and electric vehicles and he was also instrumental during the planning and formulation stage of the revived Detroit Electric. Lam has extensive experience in the niche auto sector. In addition to his former role as Lotus Engineering CEO, he’s also been a director at Lotus Group and served with companies like Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford. His task now will be to assemble a new management team to oversee the rapid expansion of the once proud Detroit Electric brand. The company is ramping up for the launch of its first model (pictured), a $30,000 electric three-wheeler that can do 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and drive 150 miles on a single charge, and will follow up with two all-electric family sedans and a number of buses. The first cars will be manufactured by Youngman in China and marketed and distributed by Zap in North America. ZAP is also organizing international distribution for its current and future vehicles, which means the rest of the world will soon be able to enjoy all-electric motoring as well.
Detroit Electric hires ex-Lotus Engineering CEO

Detroit Electric hires ex-Lotus Engineering CEO

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Detroit Electric was revived only this month by America’s ZAP electric car company and China’s Youngman Auto and already the joint-venture has announced the appointment of former Lotus Engineering CEO Albert Lam as its new chief. Lam has worked closely with ZAP on previous concepts and electric vehicles and he was also instrumental during the planning and formulation stage of the revived Detroit Electric.

Lam has extensive experience in the niche auto sector. In addition to his former role as Lotus Engineering CEO, he’s also been a director at Lotus Group and served with companies like Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford. His task now will be to assemble a new management team to oversee the rapid expansion of the once proud Detroit Electric brand. The company is ramping up for the launch of its first model (pictured), a $30,000 electric three-wheeler that can do 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and drive 150 miles on a single charge, and will follow up with two all-electric family sedans and a number of buses.

The first cars will be manufactured by Youngman in China and marketed and distributed by Zap in North America. ZAP is also organizing international distribution for its current and future vehicles, which means the rest of the world will soon be able to enjoy all-electric motoring as well.

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Comments (3 total)

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  1. By chris #1, Posted: 2/19/2008

    I was hoping that the "Detroit Electric" brand would mean electric cars made in america. i think americans will have hard enough of a time transitioning to electric vehicles en masse.... and now you tell me theyre going to chinese made electric cars?

    at least they wont need to make heated seats.

  2. By bambam #2, Posted: 2/19/2008

    I agree Chris, its just that the CEO see no other option or not working hard enough to come up with a solution to rebuild the brand at home. Most companies move to china because of this cheap labor and not about expansion. its the simplest idea a man can have. Its the choice of the board. I don't mind new owners, overseas or locals but the requirement should be for the companies survival locally and then expand.

  3. By chris #3, Posted: 2/19/2008

    i just think that the luxury sector should be leading the green push. I LOVE the move that fisker has made, and i hope like hell that they can deliver. I hope they make an all electric version of that car.

    people arent going to want hybrids, or clean diesels, or all electric, or fuel cell, or fusion reactor cars until they see it win the daytona, or the indy, or the le mans, see some CEO driving one, or if its much cheaper than the alternatives.

    there are two reasons why i hate hybrids; theyre a great concept but have not been pushed hard enough..... the manufacturers havent done any HALO models... just hybrid systems that slightly assist a dirty gas engine. and because the people who drive them are the most arrogant pr&%ks about it. like a bunch of vegan PETA greenpeace primadonas walking around in full fur.

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