Coda Automotive (formerly Miles Automotive Group)

[Kardax]

Their nifty new website, www.milesev.com, has a nice gallery of the XS500. The problem was, when it was first deployed, I caught them showing not a XS500 "Javlon" at all... but rather a rebadged Hafei Saibao.

I have both the original and Photoshopped photos here for your viewing pleasure

Note the clutch pedal. Given the plain flat coloring where the stick is supposed to be, my guess is they at least remembered to remove that the first time.


The clutch pedal disappeared! You can still see a piece of it at the bottom-right of the steering wheel, though.


Miles Automotive XS500 "Javlon", featuring a rusty old tailpipe:


Tail-pipe (and a small part of the bumper) removed:


So, while I'm as excited about the possibilities of an affordable electric sedan as anyone, this behavior by Miles isn't all that encouraging.

-Ryan

[vfx]

I would not be that concerned. If the car is basically the same then it's a whole lot easier to spend 30 minutes of PS time than it is dragging a photo-perfect car to a studio and spending a day lighting and shooting a nearly identical vehicle.

Simple cost savings going on.

[TEG]

It reminds me a bit of the new Chevy Impala sedan...

Impala:


XS500:


Impala:


XS500:

[TEG]

Miles 'no gas required' student video contest

[DDB]

The real question: is Miles for real or are they playing the ZAP game of press release production looking for some sucker venture capitalists?

[DDB]

I've been waiting to hear about the protoypes and it sounds like they'll be in the U.S. in a couple of months:



New York Mayor Bloomberg test drives Miles Automotive's Javlon in China
Posted Dec 19th 2007 7:26PM by Lascelles Linton
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Miles Automotive, China



According to CNET, the first prototypes of Miles Automotive's Javlon have come off the production line in China and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got a chance to test drive one of them. CNET also reports the prototypes will come to the states in a few months, the Javlon will cost $35,000 and come out early 2009. Here is Bloomberg talking about Javlon before taking the test drive:

After my remarks, I look forward to going outside and seeing some of the latest-model battery-powered all-electric cars that an American company-Miles Automotive Group-is developing in partnership with the Chinese Automotive Technical and Research Center or 'CAT-ARC,' the Chinese Electronic Technology Group Corporation, Lishen Battery Company, and the city of Tianjin.

I will be joined by the chair of Miles Automotive Group, Miles Rubin, and its chief operating officer, Kevin Kiley. As well as by their Chinese partners: Zhao Hang, director of CATARC; Wang Xi Wen, vice-superintendent of Chinese Electronic Technology Group Corporation; Qin Xing Cai, general manager of Lishen Battery; Liang Rui, deputy general manager at Lishen Battery; and Wu Zhi Qin, general manager of Tianjin Qingyuan Electric Vehicle Company.

Assembled here in China, the cars they are making can be marketed to drivers in both our nations, and in South America and the European Union, too. The result is a marriage of U.S. and Chinese technology that is taking us forward-toward 100 percent electric-powered vehicles that drastically reduce air pollutants, cut carbon emissions, and are less expensive to operate

New York Mayor Bloomberg test drives Miles Automotive's Javlon in China - AutoblogGreen

[TEG]

If the quality is adequate, and Chinese labor costs stay down, Tesla will have a hard time competing with something like this. (At least for the "Bluestar" idea). Whitestar may be sufficiently more upscale to have a market to itself.

[DDB]

If the quality is adequate, and Chinese labor costs stay down, Tesla will have a hard time competing with something like this. (At least for the "Bluestar" idea). Whitestar may be sufficiently more upscale to have a market to itself.

Agreed. And if there's one thing the Chinese know how to do, it's quick production. This thing could blow right by GM, Tesla, Phoenix, and everyone else hoping to get in the game around 2009-10; assuming they don't use lead paint and it passes safey guidelines. If Miles gets the marketing right, lookout. Bloomberg is a good start.

[BlackbirdHighway]

The guy at the Miles booth told me that range is only about 120 miles. Good enough for a lot of people, but personally I wouldn't buy it unless it was somewhere over 150. Around 200 would be a nice figure.

Of course, batteries keep getting better, so in a few years, even the Miles could be a lot more.

They could very well sell a lot of these Miles Javlons.

I think this is it folks, electric cars are back, and this time they are here to stay. No looking back, the future is electric!

[Kardax]

One thing I've noticed over the past year is how the Javlon's price has been creeping up. First it was under $30,000, then it was $31,000, now it's $35,000. I imagine that there's some cost surprises going on, but the declining value of the dollar may also be having an effect on an imported product like this. I wonder what it'll cost when it finally goes on sale.

I still have some doubts as to whether it'll actually enter production. The Javlon is based of the Chinese Hafei Saibao, a gasoline car for the Chinese market. Building an electric car for the U.S. market is a very different thing.

-Ryan