I predict a lot of companies are going to be picking St. Louis once the cargo hub is established at Lambert.
from the article
"The company says it will make lightweight delivery vans for European commercial fleets, and eventually for sale in the U.S. and potentially Asia."
from the article
"The company says it will make lightweight delivery vans for European commercial fleets, and eventually for sale in the U.S. and potentially Asia."
- 11K
^ Right. Not that the vans will be flown to China, but if parts suppliers locate in STL and business relationships are established, there's an increased likelihood of high-tech manufacturing bound for Asia to be located here.
Business Journal says that Hazelwood city council approved a 3 million dollar loan tonight for the plant.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
This is a shot in the dark, does anyone think their is a relationship between the speculation of Mckee talking to a battery company setting up shop for the northside and this proposal?johndavis wrote:Business Journal says that Hazelwood city council approved a 3 million dollar loan tonight for the plant.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
This came out of the blue, so its fun to specualte the possibilities.
- 11K
^ According to the story the company's been in talks for more than a year. Anyway, yes, it could be related - these industries feed off one another.
- 2,386
This is fantastic news for the STL metro. StL certainly seems to be stepping up its game lately, that's for sure. Especially on the international level. KEEP IT UP!
- 453
Fleming mentioned the China Hub opportunity in an updated St, Louis Bus article.... if this thing takes off it really could be a winner as you can imagine how much savings it could give to firms with large fleets. But it looks like the firm still needs to attract significant funding.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
Maybe Fleming tipped his hat a little, St. Louis might have been picked because of its flourishing contacts with those with deep pockets. Hazelwood is right smack in the middle of the free trade zone, has the infrascture in place to move vehicles by rail in multiple directions - East coast for export to Europe, Gulf ports for Latin American/Asia, etc.Roger Wyoming wrote:Fleming mentioned the China Hub opportunity in an updated St, Louis Bus article.... if this thing takes off it really could be a winner as you can imagine how much savings it could give to firms with large fleets. But it looks like the firm still needs to attract significant funding.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... l?page=all
Am I the only one who finds this whole thing kinda suspicious? I mean, is this company for real?
- 453
They're real and they're fantastic! More seriously, it looks like they need to raise some more capital but if its true they have British postal on board I would think they can get it done. I believe this is the lead partner/investor delivering the technology:framer wrote:Am I the only one who finds this whole thing kinda suspicious? I mean, is this company for real?
http://www.intelligent-energy.com/ (Check out that motorcycle and other tech on the homepage!)
This is a super cool deal, and very real. These vans could be the future of light transport in the US and other countries.
I wonder what type of logistical solutions St. Louis will come up with to move these to the coast and beyond?
Its amazing what three more companies like this could do for our area. In other words, the ancillary business because of this manufacturer will be super great for the area. Also, North County is really going to benefit from this. Yay capitalism!
I wonder what type of logistical solutions St. Louis will come up with to move these to the coast and beyond?
Its amazing what three more companies like this could do for our area. In other words, the ancillary business because of this manufacturer will be super great for the area. Also, North County is really going to benefit from this. Yay capitalism!
- 8,924
Emerald Automotive (who?) wants to build hybrid delivery van in Missouri [w/video]
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/28/em ... ry-van-in/
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/28/em ... ry-van-in/
Here is a decent article from ENR, Engineering News Record, on DOE's war chest of $25 billion to fund industrial capacity and some of the big projects that got funding/loans to date. Adds a little bit of creditability to why a British coompany would want to setup shop in the states
Auto Sector Expands On Hybrid, Electric Cars
07/27/2011
By John Gregerson
Text size: A A
DOE is offering a $730-million loan to Severstal to fund steel plants, such as this one, for fuel-efficient vehicles. DOE also has issued grants for more than 30 battery and component plants in 19 states.
If the Obama administration can engineer it, one million hybrid and electric vehicles will hit American roads by 2015. The president's goal is to accelerate construction of manufacturing plants with federal loans and grants.
In July, the U.S. Dept. of Energy made a $730-million loan commitment to Dearborn, Mich.-based Severstal North America to fund the construction and modernization of finishing facilities that will supply advanced high-strength steel for fuel-efficient vehicles. Severstal estimates the projects will generate 2,500 construction jobs for Detroit-area workers.
As a provision of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, DOE has set aside $25 billion to increase production of clean, renewable fuels. The initiative also funded a substantial portion of a $1.7-billion Nissan battery plant currently under construction in Smyrna, Tenn.
http://enr.construction.com/infrastruct ... icCars.asp
Auto Sector Expands On Hybrid, Electric Cars
07/27/2011
By John Gregerson
Text size: A A
DOE is offering a $730-million loan to Severstal to fund steel plants, such as this one, for fuel-efficient vehicles. DOE also has issued grants for more than 30 battery and component plants in 19 states.
If the Obama administration can engineer it, one million hybrid and electric vehicles will hit American roads by 2015. The president's goal is to accelerate construction of manufacturing plants with federal loans and grants.
In July, the U.S. Dept. of Energy made a $730-million loan commitment to Dearborn, Mich.-based Severstal North America to fund the construction and modernization of finishing facilities that will supply advanced high-strength steel for fuel-efficient vehicles. Severstal estimates the projects will generate 2,500 construction jobs for Detroit-area workers.
As a provision of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, DOE has set aside $25 billion to increase production of clean, renewable fuels. The initiative also funded a substantial portion of a $1.7-billion Nissan battery plant currently under construction in Smyrna, Tenn.
http://enr.construction.com/infrastruct ... icCars.asp
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Saint Louis needs to position itself as the place to manufacture America's next generation technology. Autos, wind turbines, solar panels. We have the workforce and the location. Imagine, the Confluence City powering a clean global economy.
I'd also like to point something out:
Several people on this forum are really excited about the possibility of this company coming to Hazelwood. Few if any of these people actually live in Hazelwood. This blog/forum has probably never broke news about Hazelwood, MO. This news has very little to do with the actual "City".
Just goes to show that you people in "St. Louis" actually care about the entire St. Louis region, whether they know it or not.
Also, imagine if there was no "Hazelwood" and no "Fenton" and how much easier it becomes to direct tax incentives to benefit both once great mfg hubs. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
Several people on this forum are really excited about the possibility of this company coming to Hazelwood. Few if any of these people actually live in Hazelwood. This blog/forum has probably never broke news about Hazelwood, MO. This news has very little to do with the actual "City".
Just goes to show that you people in "St. Louis" actually care about the entire St. Louis region, whether they know it or not.
Also, imagine if there was no "Hazelwood" and no "Fenton" and how much easier it becomes to direct tax incentives to benefit both once great mfg hubs. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
St. Louis missed out in a big way on the wind turbine and Solar for the most part, I even believe a Hazelwood based solar manufacturer picked TN for its plant over St. Charles county last year. Not having an aggressive state renewable mandate like Colorado doesn't help matters and the latest energy proposal flying around state reps is a plan to reduce what mandate their is for renewables in return for support on Ameren being able to charge up front for pursuing a second nuclear reactor license at CallowayRoger Wyoming wrote:Saint Louis needs to position itself as the place to manufacture America's next generation technology. Autos, wind turbines, solar panels. We have the workforce and the location. Imagine, the Confluence City powering a clean global economy.
However, you still got a highly trained manufacturing workforce. I think you look at everything and anything, either it be P&G expanding/adding lines to its North St. Louis facility or something as exciting as this.
- 8,924
Sounds like Emerald is a start-up.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morn ... e_stl_rdupEmerald Automotive working to land Royal Mail deal
Emerald Automotive, a British firm that's picked Hazelwood for its assembly line, is still working on landing its first big contract — a deal with Royal Mail in the UK, KMOX reports. Emerald CEO Andy Tempest said his company's engineers are developing demonstration models for Royal Mail to test. After that, Emerald faces a public process to win Royal Mail’s bid
Serial entrepreneur and St. Louis native Jim McKelvey has joined the board of Emerald Automotive, the startup hybrid van maker announced Tuesday.
A little more cred for this unknown startup.
McKelvey, a co-founder of mobile payment service Square, among other things, will serve as a non-executive board member for the company, which last year announced plans to build a delivery van plant in Hazelwood. He brings experience in growing small tech companies, and connections to Silcon Valley venture capital that may help Emerald find funding for its $160 million plant.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... z1vd2sdgSE
A little more cred for this unknown startup.
McKelvey, a co-founder of mobile payment service Square, among other things, will serve as a non-executive board member for the company, which last year announced plans to build a delivery van plant in Hazelwood. He brings experience in growing small tech companies, and connections to Silcon Valley venture capital that may help Emerald find funding for its $160 million plant.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... z1vd2sdgSE
Latest updates:
Emerald Automotive plans to roll on without federal loan
Emerald Automotive CEO staying the course
Emerald Automotive plans to roll on without federal loan
Emerald Automotive CEO staying the course
Emerald had originally planned to tap a green-auto loan program from the U.S. Department of Energy for most of its financing. But this summer it withdrew its application, as red tape threatened to drag out final approval well into 2013.
That loan program was one reason why the British company initially decided to make its vans in the U.S., Tempest said, but far from the only one.
He cited a strong U.S. network of battery-makers and other suppliers, a deep supply of autoworkers in St. Louis, the lower cost of land and the potentially huge U.S. market as reasons Emerald will stay here even without the loan program.
The company also is close to a deal on a site for its plant, eyeing three sites in Hazelwood, including the Aviator Business Park and Hazelwood Logistics Center. Tempest said Emerald plans to build new, and wants someplace with room to expand
There's an interview with Emerald's sales/communication director in the Beacon: How goes Emerald Auto's plan to bring a van assembly plant and 600 jobs to Hazelwood?
Long story short, there's a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on to try and raise capital, but there's no definite timeline and no announcements to be made until they are able to line up the financing they need.
There are a few interesting tibdits from interviews with the CEO in the British press implying they are looking around Britain more than our local officials seem to think; hard to know what to make of all that since the communications director is firm that they are committed to Hazelwood. Some examples (from June 2012 and December 2012):
Long story short, there's a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on to try and raise capital, but there's no definite timeline and no announcements to be made until they are able to line up the financing they need.
There are a few interesting tibdits from interviews with the CEO in the British press implying they are looking around Britain more than our local officials seem to think; hard to know what to make of all that since the communications director is firm that they are committed to Hazelwood. Some examples (from June 2012 and December 2012):
"Because of the nature of our clients, we will often have to consider final assembly in the countries where they are based. Nevertheless, we hope to keep the majority of work in Britain.”
"The Ford and Chrysler factories in St Louis recently closed and they are desperate to get new firms to come to the city and provide jobs. We have been offered incentives over a seven-year period and no one else has come up with an offer that anywhere near matches this, although no final decision has yet been made.”
It looks like their is some movement for Emerald Auto. Anyone want to take part in some good ol speculation?
My speculative thought, Fiat wanting to get into the van delivery market as well as buy into some electric vehicle technology without having to put Fiat on the nameplate. The question(s), will the plant actually land in Hazelwood or England itself? would Fiat keep the Emerald name or use Chrysler? Obviously the plant is on much smaller scale, but would be tremendous news if it indirectly leads to Chrysler coming back to the region and state.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... nsion.html
Hazelwood to consider loan extension for Emerald Automotive
My speculative thought, Fiat wanting to get into the van delivery market as well as buy into some electric vehicle technology without having to put Fiat on the nameplate. The question(s), will the plant actually land in Hazelwood or England itself? would Fiat keep the Emerald name or use Chrysler? Obviously the plant is on much smaller scale, but would be tremendous news if it indirectly leads to Chrysler coming back to the region and state.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog ... nsion.html
Hazelwood to consider loan extension for Emerald Automotive