CODA Automotive Proposes 2,000 New Jobs in Ohio

CODA Automotive, a California-based electric car company, outlined a plan to bring 2,000 jobs to Columbus, Ohio by the end of 2011. A report in the Delaware News said the plan is contingent on the company gaining final approval for funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

CODA Automotive hopes to produce up to 50,000 lithium-ion cell battery systems a year at the site. It seeking $520-million in loans from the Department of Energy.

“We will start hiring as soon as we get word from DOE,” CODA Vice President K. Forrest Beanum told the Delaware News.

The Columbus City Council has already approved a package of incentives to the company, including a property tax abatement of 75 percent for 10 years.

According to the report, the plant would produce batteries for the CODA Sedan, a four-door electric car slated for release later this year. The batteries would have a 120-mile range on a single charge and could be completely recharged in six hours.