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We thought an announcement back in March about plans for a locally built electric car seemed fuzzy, and wish this follow-up could say we were too cynical. (It happens.)
Alas, the confirmation of summer follows the skepticism of spring.
Detroit Electric still plans to build this two-seater somewhere in Michigan eventually.
Here's what auto writer Karl Henkel reports in a follow-up:
Manufacturing plans from electric-car maker Detroit Electric have stalled as the revived automaker has yet to finalize an agreement for a manufacturing facility in Wayne County.
Though Detroit Electric had pinpointed a facility in Plymouth to manufacture its SP:01 electric sports car, the company has yet to finalize a lease or purchase agreement, North American president Don Graunstadt said in an email to The Detroit News.
Previous plans called for Detroit Electric to begin manufacturing its vehicle at the Plymouth facility by this month.
Stay tuned, the Fisher Building-based executive tells Henkel, adding his firm "remains 100 percent committed to the Detroit area."
Back on March 19, a news release from Detroit Electric said:
A site has also been identified to assemble the first ever pure electric sports car in Michigan, with production to start in August. . . .
We are proud to become the fourth car manufacturer born out of Detroit, and the first to manufacture a pure electric sports car from Michigan.
Our coverage, headlined "New Car Company: Questions Outnumber Facts In 'Detroit Electric' Announcement," noted:
Among other topics not yet addressed: Where's the factory?
Not gloating, just hoping to replace skepticism with positive news.
