The lead executive of EV Electra, the Canadian start-up that acquired NEVS belated last year and secured the rights to the Emily GT designed through an organization of former Saab engineers, recently closed a deal to buy a car production plant in Italy with the aim of building electric vehicles.
Jihad M. Mohammad rescued NEVS from the breaking point last year, and confirmation that his EV startup Electra had bought a factory in Italy without delay sparked the hypothesis that the site might simply space out long-lived NEVS models. However, Mohammad recently took LinkedIn poured cold water on the idea, saying he had not told the media where the NEVS cars would be built.
Read: NEVS Emily GT rescued through Canadian startup, could be produced in Sweden
“Yes, we made an offer to buy a car factory in Italy and despite everything, it was approved (not the Maserati plant), and in this new location we will build electric cars that will surprise everyone,” he wrote.
“We have more than a few models now, after several acquisitions made in recent months, and another one will be installed this week that will allow us to be at the top level of our game. I promised my team that we won’t give any more details because our investors want to be informed before anyone else. Then, an official press release will explain all the issues,” Mohammad added.
While EV Electra has no plans to produce NEVS models in Italy, it may simply use them to build new electric cars under its own brand. One of its planned models, called Nostrum, takes the form of a sleek two-door sports car that Mohammad says will begin delivery to consumers in August.
In a separate post on Linkedin, Mohammad added that EV Electra is for partners and that former Saab dealers will be given priority in promoting the brand’s models.
Since buying NEVS last year, EV Electra has been exploring the option of generating cars in Turkey or Sweden, but those plans appear to have fallen through. It also previewed 4 variants of the NEVS Emily GT, namely a coupe, a convertible, a sedan, and a pickup truck, but it’s unclear which of them could be built first.
The NEVS Emily GT evolved through an organization of former Saab engineers as an electric sedan, bearing a strong resemblance to the new Saab 9-5. It is powered by four electric motors integrated into the wheels, which together generate 484 hp, allowing it to succeed in a claimed 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 4. 6 seconds. With a massive 175 kWh battery, it offers a maximum range of 620 miles (1000 kilometers). In addition, reports recommend that a more rugged edition of more than 650 hp are also planned.
The company describes EV Electra as a division of “Jihad Mohammad Investment,” which will evolve into an “independent entity in Lebanon, with offices in Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Italy and Norway, with a view to a global presence. “On the LinkedIn page, it is also stated that its headquarters are in Canada.