Based in Oslo, innovative Norwegian automaker THINK is finalizing its plans for its US plant opening. On January 9, there will be a hearing of the Elkhart County Council in Goshen, Indiana for the purposes of granting a 10-year tax abatement plan for Think. Current projections include a $24.7 million investment and the creation of 415 new jobs beginning in 2013. With production of the all-electric THINK City already underway in Oslo, THINK will use this North American manufacturing plant to eventually produce up to 60,000 units for US and Canadian consumers to enjoy.

The THINK City is 100% electric-powered. That means absolutely 0 emissions and that means that support for THINK is growing and quickly! Although a definitive location for the North American plant has not been set in stone yet, Charles Gassenheimer has confirmed an Indiana home for THINK. Gassenheimer is the spokesman for New York's Ener 1 Inc., THINK's largest investor. In fact, EnerDel, an Indianapolis-based manufacturer of lithium ion batteries and the spawn of the Ener 1, will become the sole manufacturer for the battery packs of the THINK City. Further, Ener 1 will control 31% of the equity stake of the THINK company.

THINK hasn't come to the table emptyhanded though; it has upwards of $47,000,000 of investment capital available to work with. Until last August, THINK had required the assistance of Norway's court system for financial protection. Venture capitalists, angel investors and environmentally-conscious companies have come together to stand behind the THINK City concept. Also, on December 10, Valmet Automotive stepped into control over the production of the Uusikaupunki, Finland version of the THINK City. Valmet is the contracted manufacturer of the highly-esteemed Fisker EV, the Porsche AG Boxster and the Porsche Caymen.

Richard Canny, CEO of THINK stated that the company already has backorders for more than 2300 units of its eco-friendly vehicle constructed with thermoplastic body panels. He stated, "Our strategic alliance with Valmet Automotive is much more than just about assembly," he said. "We are already reaping the benefits of Valmet's manufacturing and engineering, with time being taken out of the production process, more manufacturing done on site and an overall more-efficient industrial solution." THINK is to remain a Norwegian company with all operations for sales, design, engineering, and marketing stemming from Oslo.

The concept for the THINK car, made with plastic body parts and more than slightly reminiscent of a Volkswagen bug - has been surviving, although sometimes scarcely, for decades. And through this persistence, an international success story has been created. Originally called Pivco Industries AS, THINK was actually bought out by Ford back in the 1990s. Ford was going to be the first to have an electric car ready for the California markets. And when California reregulated its emission laws, Ford regrouped and then planned to shut the entire operation down. At that point, private investors and financiers bought it from Ford. They then resold it to private backers including Valmet and Ener 1. It's full speed ahead for THINK now in North America. Soon, Americans will have another excellent choice for an eco-friendly vehicle to consider.