Thais to make electric car

Thais to make electric car

BANGKOK (Reuter): U.S. Electricar Co and CEO Private Club Company Ltd of Thailand have formed a joint venture to make a wide range of electric vehicles for sale in Thailand, the companies said.

The new venture, U.S.-Thai Electricar, will begin production in 1996 with 50 electric buses for Bangkok's traffic-clogged and polluted streets.

"This electric vehicle matches the performance of existing commercial powered transit buses yet provides the necessary range, passenger comfort and is pollution free," Carl Perry of U.S. Electricar was quoted as saying.

Some 300 electric buses will be produced in the firm's first year of operation. It will also make electric motorcycles, pick- up trucks, cars and a wide range of industrial vehicles, the company said.