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GreenTech unveils Tunica car plans
  
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By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor
TUNICA - GreenTech Automotive, Inc. unveiled plans Tuesday to develop and manufacture hybrid, fuel-efficient automobiles on 1,500 acres in Tunica County's Metro-Mega-site, with an option to purchase more land as needed.
The initial phase of the project is estimated to cost $1 billion and provide 1,500 jobs locally, according to company officials. GreenTech plans to produce 150,000 vehicles annually in phase one.
Charles Wang, CEO of GreenTech Automotive, Inc., glanced out across cotton and soybean fields in the distance as he made bold predictions for his Chinese startup company that has offices in Southaven.
"It's about jobs," Wang said as he stood underneath a striped tent overlooking the future site of the automotive plant near the Tunica/DeSoto line. "It will mean 4,500 jobs at full production."
Wang said the company aspires to capture at least a third of the U.S. automotive market in the future.
GreenTech's proprietary, mass producable technology will ensure that its vehicles will already meet the lower emissions and fuel consumption standards that the Obama administration has set for 2016, while providing American consumers with a full range of automobiles that “exceed their expectations for style, roominess, performance, comfort and driving excitement,” company officials said.
However, GreenTech is still in the process of raising massive amounts of capital needed to bring the project to fruition.
"Every investor, everyone is crucial," Wang said. "It's not a small project. Everyone is important."
Earlier Tuesday, the unveiling of the models in a Harrah's Casino amphitheater had all the trappings and panache of a Detroit showroom, complete with roving spotlights and rock music.
Company officials and local project volunteers unveiled an electric car, a high-efficiency sub-compact, a hybrid coupe and a hybrid mid-size vehicle. U.S., European and Asian media were on hand to witness the unveiling and company announcement.
Officials said it's too early to estimate a price for the cars. They also declined to speculate on when site preparation would begin for the plant.
Company officials say the hybrid coupe can deliver 45 miles per gallon and go from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The four-door, mid-size hybrid should deliver 50 mpg, a zero-emission electric sub-compact can travel 80 miles on a three-hour charge and the high-efficiency gasoline sub-compact can reach 65 mpg, according to GreenTech.
"We want to thank the State of Mississippi, the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Automotive Fund, our investors and business partners for their continued assistance in making this project a reality," Wang said. "We are excited to be bringing the latest in automotive innovation to Americans, made by Americans, and we look forward to the very significant impact that our project will have on the local and regional economic landscape."
Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the effort to bring GreenTech to the Tunica site has paid off with the promise of jobs and spin-off industries. Its strategic location to I-69 was key.
“Mississippi did an outstanding job in securing a site with direct access to Interstate 69,” Franklin said. “Mississippi has a strong and productive workforce and a proven track record when it comes to automotive manufacturing. We applaud GreenTech’s innovative spirit and we wish the company well as they work to raise the capital to bring this project to fruition.”
Lyn Arnold, president/CEO of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation, flew back and forth to China on several occasions in efforts to secure the deal along with Mississippi Development Authority officials and Gov. Haley Barbour.
"It's been a great project to work with," Arnold said. "There is work to do, planning to be done, money to be raised, but this is a very realistic possibility."
Arnold said the same demographics that comprise the casino industry workforce will make a ready labor pool for the automotive plant operations.
"We attract jobs from a 10-county, three-state area," Arnold said.
Arnold said she had to keep GreenTech's plans under wraps and decided to base much of the startup company's staff in neighboring DeSoto County.
"The reason you see some DeSoto County people here is that a lot of that had to do with the confidentiality on the project," Arnold said. "Charlie and his crew were trying to set up some office space and be on the ground here and do some things to try to advance the project, so I hid them in DeSoto County."
GreenTech will continue to operate out of its Southaven offices for the time being, Arnold said.
"They have an office there right now and they will probably stay in those offices until they are able to establish offices on the automotive plant site," Arnold said.
DeSoto County's role is not to be underestimated, according to Arnold.
"DeSoto County is part of the larger community," Arnold said. "DeSoto County offers more housing opportunities and they (GreenTech) needed a place to set up an office. And, too, because of the larger population base in DeSoto County, it was easier to keep the project confidential."
Mark Brannon, CEO of Brannon Professionals, LLC based in Southaven, said his company assisted GreenTech with its staffing needs. Brannon said he was glad that the company chose to lease office space in DeSoto County and hire employees from the area because it highlights the accessibility that DeSoto County provides to the global marketplace.
Regardless of the length of stay for the company in Southaven, Brannon said GreenTech's plans will have a lasting impact on the region as a whole.
"To have an opportunity like this is huge," Brannon said. "It's not about a county, it's not about a city, but ultimately, it's about a country that needs some economic help. We're excited to see it come to fruition. We've got a lot of great people working on this. If our region is selected like this, then we think they've made a great selection."
Arnold said Tunica considers GreenTech's plans a golden opportunity.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Tunica County," Arnold said. "It speaks to the work we have put into making sure our local economy is robust and diversified. This project has the potential to positively affect the economy of not just our county, but also the entire region."
Jim Flanagan, president and CEO of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, said GreenTech's success could bode well for DeSoto County and the region.
"Any project in Tunica, particularly in manufacturing, will draw from our workforce," Flanagan said. "Obviously those payrolls will be advantageous to DeSoto County residents. Services that are needed whether it's schools or health care centers, whatever, DeSoto County stands ready to help provide those type things."
The initial phase of the project is estimated to cost $1 billion and provide 1,500 jobs locally, according to company officials. GreenTech plans to produce 150,000 vehicles annually in phase one.
Charles Wang, CEO of GreenTech Automotive, Inc., glanced out across cotton and soybean fields in the distance as he made bold predictions for his Chinese startup company that has offices in Southaven.
"It's about jobs," Wang said as he stood underneath a striped tent overlooking the future site of the automotive plant near the Tunica/DeSoto line. "It will mean 4,500 jobs at full production."
Wang said the company aspires to capture at least a third of the U.S. automotive market in the future.
GreenTech's proprietary, mass producable technology will ensure that its vehicles will already meet the lower emissions and fuel consumption standards that the Obama administration has set for 2016, while providing American consumers with a full range of automobiles that “exceed their expectations for style, roominess, performance, comfort and driving excitement,” company officials said.
However, GreenTech is still in the process of raising massive amounts of capital needed to bring the project to fruition.
"Every investor, everyone is crucial," Wang said. "It's not a small project. Everyone is important."
Earlier Tuesday, the unveiling of the models in a Harrah's Casino amphitheater had all the trappings and panache of a Detroit showroom, complete with roving spotlights and rock music.
Company officials and local project volunteers unveiled an electric car, a high-efficiency sub-compact, a hybrid coupe and a hybrid mid-size vehicle. U.S., European and Asian media were on hand to witness the unveiling and company announcement.
Officials said it's too early to estimate a price for the cars. They also declined to speculate on when site preparation would begin for the plant.
Company officials say the hybrid coupe can deliver 45 miles per gallon and go from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The four-door, mid-size hybrid should deliver 50 mpg, a zero-emission electric sub-compact can travel 80 miles on a three-hour charge and the high-efficiency gasoline sub-compact can reach 65 mpg, according to GreenTech.
"We want to thank the State of Mississippi, the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Automotive Fund, our investors and business partners for their continued assistance in making this project a reality," Wang said. "We are excited to be bringing the latest in automotive innovation to Americans, made by Americans, and we look forward to the very significant impact that our project will have on the local and regional economic landscape."
Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the effort to bring GreenTech to the Tunica site has paid off with the promise of jobs and spin-off industries. Its strategic location to I-69 was key.
“Mississippi did an outstanding job in securing a site with direct access to Interstate 69,” Franklin said. “Mississippi has a strong and productive workforce and a proven track record when it comes to automotive manufacturing. We applaud GreenTech’s innovative spirit and we wish the company well as they work to raise the capital to bring this project to fruition.”
Lyn Arnold, president/CEO of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation, flew back and forth to China on several occasions in efforts to secure the deal along with Mississippi Development Authority officials and Gov. Haley Barbour.
"It's been a great project to work with," Arnold said. "There is work to do, planning to be done, money to be raised, but this is a very realistic possibility."
Arnold said the same demographics that comprise the casino industry workforce will make a ready labor pool for the automotive plant operations.
"We attract jobs from a 10-county, three-state area," Arnold said.
Arnold said she had to keep GreenTech's plans under wraps and decided to base much of the startup company's staff in neighboring DeSoto County.
"The reason you see some DeSoto County people here is that a lot of that had to do with the confidentiality on the project," Arnold said. "Charlie and his crew were trying to set up some office space and be on the ground here and do some things to try to advance the project, so I hid them in DeSoto County."
GreenTech will continue to operate out of its Southaven offices for the time being, Arnold said.
"They have an office there right now and they will probably stay in those offices until they are able to establish offices on the automotive plant site," Arnold said.
DeSoto County's role is not to be underestimated, according to Arnold.
"DeSoto County is part of the larger community," Arnold said. "DeSoto County offers more housing opportunities and they (GreenTech) needed a place to set up an office. And, too, because of the larger population base in DeSoto County, it was easier to keep the project confidential."
Mark Brannon, CEO of Brannon Professionals, LLC based in Southaven, said his company assisted GreenTech with its staffing needs. Brannon said he was glad that the company chose to lease office space in DeSoto County and hire employees from the area because it highlights the accessibility that DeSoto County provides to the global marketplace.
Regardless of the length of stay for the company in Southaven, Brannon said GreenTech's plans will have a lasting impact on the region as a whole.
"To have an opportunity like this is huge," Brannon said. "It's not about a county, it's not about a city, but ultimately, it's about a country that needs some economic help. We're excited to see it come to fruition. We've got a lot of great people working on this. If our region is selected like this, then we think they've made a great selection."
Arnold said Tunica considers GreenTech's plans a golden opportunity.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Tunica County," Arnold said. "It speaks to the work we have put into making sure our local economy is robust and diversified. This project has the potential to positively affect the economy of not just our county, but also the entire region."
Jim Flanagan, president and CEO of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, said GreenTech's success could bode well for DeSoto County and the region.
"Any project in Tunica, particularly in manufacturing, will draw from our workforce," Flanagan said. "Obviously those payrolls will be advantageous to DeSoto County residents. Services that are needed whether it's schools or health care centers, whatever, DeSoto County stands ready to help provide those type things."
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FEDERALIST wrote on Oct 7, 2009 11:03 AM: