CODA Automotive Taps Fleet Industry Experts to Lead Fleet and Commercial Sales

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Oct 14, 2010, 12:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- CODA Automotive, a California-based electric car and battery company, announced the hire of Marc Sears, Vice President, Fleet Sales Washington D.C. and Brian Patnoe, Vice President, Fleet Sales Southern California. In their new roles, Sears and Patnoe are responsible for marketing the 100% electric CODA Sedan to fleet customers, including government, municipal, corporate, and institutions.

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"As fleet managers look for ways to reduce their organization's carbon footprint and reduce total ownership costs, the all-electric CODA Sedan provides a compelling choice offering emissions-free transportation, available telematics and data collection technology, as well as ample space to meet various fleet needs," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, CODA Automotive. "The wealth of expertise and extensive network both Brian and Marc bring will help CODA make significant inroads in the vital fleet market."

Marc Sears joins CODA Automotive with over 20 years of fleet, sales, and automotive industry experience. Most recently, Sears held positions at Mercedes Benz USA where he served as National Account Manager responsible for fleet business development, while maintaining key account relationships in the Washington D.C. and throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Prior to his time at Mercedes, Sears held national and regional fleet sales positions with Chrysler, LLC (and former Daimler Chrysler). Sears holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College and a Master of Public Administration from Wilmington University. He also serves as a Board Member for the National Association of Fleet Administrators' (NAFA) Philadelphia Chapter.

With two decades in sales, Brian Patnoe brings extensive experience in fleet sales, business development, and sales management. Prior to joining CODA Automotive, Patnoe held various sales management positions with AeroVironment (AV) in their Renewable Electric Vehicle/Clean Energy group. At AV, Patnoe was part of the electric vehicle team responsible for EVSE charging solutions, led inside and outside sales of wind turbines and solar pump controllers that provided renewable energy and sustainability solutions for U.S. and international customers. Before joining AV, Patnoe served as Business Development Manager for General Electric (GE) Fleet in Southern California. At GE, Patnoe managed a portfolio of accounts focused on fleet leasing and fleet retention. Prior to his professional career, Brian served in the United States Marines as a Flight Line Nite Crew Supervisor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University at Fullerton, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

About CODA Automotive: Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., CODA Automotive™ is working to reduce dependence on oil and is leading the way to a cleaner future through advanced battery systems for its 100 percent electric car, other electric vehicle manufacturers and utility applications such as wind power storage. CODA is working in a smart, interdependent way with more than 30 leading global technology and manufacturing companies across four continents to quickly and efficiently bring electric drive technology to market. Through its exclusive battery system joint venture with Lishen Power Battery, Lio Energy Systems, CODA is also a large-scale producer of power battery systems for transportation and utility applications. CODA is slated to begin limited deliveries of its all-electric car in the fourth quarter of this year (2010). The CODA™ Sedan is a five-passenger, mid-size car with full rear seating and trunk space that is designed to meet American drivers' daily transportation needs, without using an ounce of gasoline.

For more information, please visit www.codaautomotive.com, follow @CODAautomotive on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CODAautomotive, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coda.