Detroit Electric pushes back production date by a month

Detroit Electric was originally an all-electric automaker founded in 1907. Though the original company went out of business in 1939, it was given rebirth by some former Lotus executives in 2008.

The new Detroit Electric had planned to begin production of its new Lotus Elise-based model, the SP:01, this August. The upstart automaker has had to push back production to at least September until the details of its production facility can be fully sorted.

“It’s a little frustrating but we’re moving forward,” said North American CEO Don Graunstadt in a Detroit News interview.

While Detroit Electric has a facility lined up for European production in the Netherlands and an agreement with Geely for Chinese production, the American end seems less cut-and-dry. Detroit Electric had planned to share a production facility in Plymouth Township but is still in talks.

Going for an estimated $135,000 per, Detroit Electric had hoped to make enough profit from its initial 999-unit assembly run to launch its second, yet unnamed, sports car, which would carry a lower asking price.

Should things get back on track for Detroit Electric, the company will hold a job fair in June and maintain a very rigorous employee selection process.