LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Thursday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined business leaders and elected officials for the grand opening of CODA’s global headquarters in Los Angeles. CODA is a clean energy technology company and a leading developer of electric vehicles and energy strorage. It is one of the fastest growing companies in the Los Angeles area.
The event highlights Governor Brown’s focus on improving California’s economy, creating jobs and helping build up the state’s clean, renewable energy industry.
“Dynamic innovation is a key building block of California’s 21st century economy,” said Governor Brown. “Car companies like CODA are investing in California because our laws encourage electric cars and recognize the paramount importance of reducing oil dependency.”
Twelve months ago, CODA had 79 California employees. Today, it has over 220 employees and it expects to jump to 250 by year end, and 350 a year from today. This increase in California-based jobs by 270 percent over the past year signals the strength of the state’s clean-tech industry even in these tough economic times.
The new 100,000 foot global headquarters opened today will house research and development and processing. The company, which has not received any state or federal funding, will begin production of the CODA all-electric vehicle sedan this year.
“In addition to leading the world in research and development, California has enacted policies that have made it the global leader in the deployment of key technologies including electric vehicles and energy storage,” said CODA CEO Phil Murtaugh. “We are pleased to provide Californians with an opportunity to participate in a movement that will benefit both our environment and our economy.”
Governor Brown was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congresswoman Karen Bass, City Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilman Herb J. Wesson Jr. at the event.
