Oregon is being considered by the Norwegian ‘Think City’ car company as a site for a manufacturing plant. Portland’s recently vacated Freightliner plant tops the Portland potential locations list. If chosen, the Think plant could produce some 66,000 cars per year and employ as many as 900 people.
The plug-in zero-emissions electric ‘Think City’ car is capable of 62 mph and can travel about 110 miles on a single charge. Air conditioning, power steering, sunroof, and electric windows and mirrors make it user-friendly. Front-wheel drive, dent-resistant polymer-plastic body panels mounted on an aluminum frame and a steel chassis help make it practical.
Trend Hunter first spotted the Think in 2007 as it was debuting in Norway. It has since expanded to Sweden and several US sites including the ‘Rose City’ of Portland are contenders for the US spot.
Norwegian Car Immigration
'Think City' Ponders Rose City Manufacturing Locale
Trend Themes
1. Electric Vehicles - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced charging infrastructure and battery technology to further enhance the range and charging speed of electric vehicles.
2. Manufacturing Plants - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement automated manufacturing processes and robotics to increase efficiency and reduce production costs in car manufacturing plants.
3. Green Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore eco-friendly materials and renewable energy sources to create sustainable cars with reduced carbon emissions.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technology to revolutionize the automotive industry and enhance passenger safety.
2. Renewable Energy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative renewable energy solutions, such as solar-powered charging stations, to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.
3. Advanced Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques to enable rapid prototyping and customization in car manufacturing processes.