Green Tech Truck Maker
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A South American company that produces electric- powered commercial trucks is setting up its North American manufacturing center in Riverside, where the city will be among the first to receive the heavy duty “green technology” vehicles, it was announced last Wednesday.
“Voltu Motor Inc. is well-situated to meet a growing demand for electric trucks that will be required by local governments all over the state in the coming years,” City Councilman Jim Perry said. “This opportunity benefits the city on many levels, from priority access to vehicles, to job creation and sales tax generation.”
Voltu and the city jointly announced the venture during a news briefing Wednesday morning outside City Hall.
“We need to transform how energy is generated and consumed to ensure our planet’s future,” Voltu CEO George Gebhart said. “Riverside offers not just a logistics hub, but also an ecosystem aligned with our values of trust, prosperity and sustainability. Our journey to Riverside started almost two years ago, working with UC Riverside. Now working with the city, we’ve seen Riverside’s potential as a green-tech powerhouse.”
The company’s manufacturing operations will involve staff from UCR’s Center for Environmental Research & Technology, as well as the university’s Small Business Technology Transfer Program, officials said.
“One of the key reasons I believe Riverside was the right choice for Voltu is the incredible talent pipeline we’re cultivating,” UCR Vice Chancellor Rodolfo Torres said. “UCR is home to some of the brightest engineering students and researchers, many of whom are working on cutting-edge projects in areas like battery technology, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. These students, along with talent from our neighboring colleges and universities, represent the workforce of tomorrow — the individuals who will design, build and optimize Voltu’s commercial electric trucks.”
The city and Voltu entered into an agreement stipulating that Riverside will acquire the first 20 Voltu electrified F-350 XL Crew Cab 4WD trucks to roll out of Voltu’s assembly facility. The cost wasn’t specified.
The company estimates it will turn out 14,000 trucks during its first three years of operations.
According to officials, 20 current Voltu employees from Argentina will be leading operations locally, but the company’s local employment base is expected to increase by more than 400 jobs over four years.
“The city will be the point of sale, meaning that sales taxes from the vehicles will return to the city to help pay for local quality of life improvements,” according to a municipal statement. “Voltu’s projections anticipate $1.6 billion in revenue from the deployment of the 14,000 trucks.”
City officials said the new production plant will further establish Riverside as a green tech hub.
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