Thomas Fritz Joins CODA Automotive as Senior Vice President of Engineering

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CODA Holdings, a leading developer of advanced Lithium-ion power battery systems for transportation and stationary energy storage applications, and its all-electric vehicle, the CODA, today announced that Thomas Fritz, a seasoned automotive engineering executive, has joined the company as its Senior Vice President of Engineering. 

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With extensive experience in automotive engineering, Fritz joins CODA after having led Fisker Automotive's Engineering department for more than three years to a successful start of production. In Fritz's 23 year career in the automotive industry, he has also held prominent engineering positions for companies including Ford, BMW and Magna Steyr. Fritz has been involved in vehicle development projects for Range Rover, Rolls Royce, several BMW projects including the BMW Z8 and a number of Lincoln vehicle programs. Thomas graduated with an MBA from Henley Management College, and also holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and CAD from Fachhochchule Aalen.

"We are delighted to have Thomas join our team to lead Engineering at CODA. Thomas is an automotive industry expert with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of electric vehicle development. I eagerly look forward to his contributions to CODA's launch this year," said Phil Murtaugh, CEO, CODA Holdings. 

"CODA is a company that is ideally positioned to lead the transformation of industry out of a petroleum based economy into a renewable based economy," said Fritz.  "Not only are we on the leading edge of electric vehicle propulsion system development, but we are also well positioned to develop energy storage applications to expand the useable hours of renewable energy, which will reduce the need for coal and petroleum based electricity generation.  I am thrilled to join a company that is at the cutting edge of this movement and to contributing to the successful launch of the CODA."

About CODA Holdings: Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., CODA Holdings and its JV are working to reduce dependence on oil and are leading the way to a cleaner energy future through multi-use advanced battery systems for its all electric car, other electric vehicle manufacturers and a range of utility applications. CODA is working in a smart, interdependent way with leading global technology and manufacturing companies to quickly and efficiently bring electric power battery technology to market. Through its battery system joint venture with Lishen Power Battery of Tianjin, China, whose principal shareholder is CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Company), CODA is a large-scale producer of power battery systems for transportation and utility applications. Upon completion of current build-out of production capacity, it will be producing power battery systems totaling more than 1.4 billion amp hours (Ah) of energy storage (4.4 million kilowatt hours). With the completion of the proposed Ohio ATVM plant, total JV capacity is scheduled to reach two billion Ah (6.3 million kWh) of energy storage. The CODA Sedan is a robust four-door, five-passenger vehicle with a full-size trunk that is designed to meet American drivers' daily transportation needs without using an ounce of gasoline. CODA plans to enter production at the end of this year.

For CODA Holdings:
[email protected]
(310) 260-4545

SOURCE CODA Holdings