SF Motors Puts the Brakes on Mishawaka Plans
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCalifornia-based SF Motors has halted plans for a manufacturing hub in Mishawaka. The South Bend Tribune reports instead of assembling electric vehicles in Mishawaka the company plans to refocus its American arm on “electric powertrain products and services and contract manufacturing opportunities” at the plant.
The company’s new chief executive officer, James Taylor, also announced layoffs within the company in a letter read to employees at its headquarters.
The publication says it is unclear what the decision means for the 85 employees currently serving the Mishawaka plant, and it may jeopardize hundreds more jobs that were supposed to be created locally.
The company originally announced plans to hire 467 workers at the plant by 2020, along with the goal of having SF5 on American roads by the end of this year. Earlier this year, Chinese automaker Sokon rebranded SF Motors as Seres Automotive, and it said work was underway to retool the Mishawaka plant for electric vehicles, according to the publication.
However, in his letter Wednesday, Taylor wrote, “At a time when Sokon is managing so many dynamic challenges, it is simply too much in the short term to also attempt to launch a new brand and product type in another new market. This means that SF5 product development for the U.S. market is on hold.”
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