Updated information from Carver

[Derwin]

Hello! I just received this updated information from Carver pertaining to them releasing their vehicle in the American market:

Dear Carver enthusiast,
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Many thanks for contacting us and for your enthusiastic feedback. With this email we would like to inform you about the latest developments. Furthermore we recently discovered that some e-mails from new contacts were wrongly distributed by our internal mail server. Some people may have never received a response from us. We apologise for this.<o:p></o:p>
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Since we receive daily many questions from the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/ /><st1:country-region w:st=<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = " /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> regarding the Carver One we send out this information update. The questions we get are about the following 3 main subjects:<o:p></o:p>
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1) availability of the Carver-One on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> consumer market:<o:p></o:p>
Our current engine supplier doesn’t allow us to export to <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place> ( product liability issues ). We use now a very compact and unique drive-train and it is a major task to engineer a new drive-train into the current design. It really means also re-designing and re-engineering many items of the chassis of the Carver-One. Furthermore it has also become clear that additional market analysis and especially additional funding for the re-engineering are required for the launch to be successful. If we can secure the funding we hope to be ready in 2009.
The retail price for the North American market is yet to be determined. However, considering the re-engineering involved, and assuming that it remains a limited series, hand-made vehicle built in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, we expect the price for the base model to be about $ 50.000. We realise that this will be quite prohibitive for a lot of enthusiasts. <o:p></o:p>
A lot depends on how the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> business could be set up, whether there would be a possibility to (partially) manufacture locally or not. Increasing the production volume would also allow cost reduction, however, this would in turn require a substantial additional investment as 'mass production' requires further re-engineering for tooling, a new production line and hence an investment of millions of euros.<o:p></o:p>
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2) dealer applications: <o:p></o:p>
We do get a lot of dealer applications, but unfortunately all we can do for the moment is filing them and thanking everyone for being so enthusiastic. We do hold all applications in file until the time has come that we are ready for working on a North American launch. So please keep sending your applications, although we also have to ask for your patience until we are ready for the next steps. <o:p></o:p>
If you wish to become a dealer, please send your application, with sufficient background information about yourself and your network, to Mr <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Frank Vermeulen</st1:PersonName>. Email: f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com (f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com)<o:p></o:p>
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3) Investor related questions:<o:p></o:p>
We are a 100% family owned Dutch company that is not listed on a stock exchange. We are currently looking for opportunities to attract new investors, because we strongly believe in the future of the Carver concept and we want to grow more rapidly. The Carver-One is just the first step and the worldwide mobility market is huge. <o:p></o:p>
Due to the fact that we are not listed and considering the costs and time involved we can only consider investments with a minimum of $ 175,000 <o:p></o:p>
Investors would be investing in the Dutch holding company so they would benefit from all our activities:<o:p></o:p>
- Carver-One production and sales, <o:p></o:p>
- engineering services for third parties,<o:p></o:p>
- licensing of our technology to other vehicle manufacturers. <o:p></o:p>
If you wish to have more information regarding a potential investment, please send an email to Mr <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Frank Vermeulen</st1:PersonName>. Email: f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com (f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com)<o:p></o:p>
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Many general information is of course available on our website www.carver-worldwide.com (http://www.carver-worldwide.com/) <o:p></o:p>
Especially the FAQ section is very informative. FAQ section => http://www.carver-worldwide.com/SubItem/SubItem.asp?S_ID=37 (http://www.carver-worldwide.com/SubItem/SubItem.asp?S_ID=37)<o:p></o:p>
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We look forward to hearing from you again.<o:p></o:p>
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************************************************** **************<o:p></o:p>
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Frank Vermeulen</st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p>
CEO of the Carver Group of companies<o:p></o:p>
E-mail: f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com (f.vermeulen@carver-europe.com)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Visitors' address: <o:p></o:p>
Griendweg 7b - 3295 KV - 's-Gravendeel - The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>
Postal address: <o:p></o:p>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">PO-box 5180</st1:Street> -</st1:address> 3295 ZH - 's-Gravendeel - The Netherlands <o:p></o:p>
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Tel +31 78 618 30 66<o:p></o:p>
Fax+31 78 654 91 99<o:p></o:p>
www.carver-europe.com (http://www.carver-europe.com/)<o:p></o:p>

[Mike kZ]

$50,000 !!! Yikes. How about sending us the Carver without the engine. We could put in our own EV/Hybrid!!

[RAN]

They still don't get it. They're happy to build small numbers by hand, and as long as there are enough people who can afford them at that price, they seem to be happy.

Surely they know that, once the V-1's go into mass production, and sell for half the price, they can kiss the American market goodbye.

They've had years to hook up with investors and tool up for mass production. If it was a priority for them, it would have happened by now.

[Satt]

Amen. :(

[MarkH]

x2. They never will get it. I know I'm being (possibly) over simplistic here, but can't they just certify the %$#@ engine for NA? Slap a cat converter in it and call it done...

I really have no patience for self imposed ignorance coupled with swollen egos.

[jerryk]

:confused:
Mike you're right! The price of two Toyota Prius. Wife would kill me paying that price.


$50,000 !!! Yikes. How about sending us the Carver without the engine. We could put in our own EV/Hybrid!!

[Keldros]

I think a bit of this was covered in the thread started by Derwin with the letters from Tim and some more with Tim himself chiming in on it. The thread is here, please excuse my long-winded theories on the last page.

http://flytheroadclub.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=381

Personally I didn't know about the Carver until after I stumbled upon the V1. Even after seeing the Carver and how amazing it is, though, I was still more inclined to simply wait for the V1, price not withstanding.

[waboom]

Don't think I saw this mentioned on here yet (apologies if it is):
From Carver's website (http://www.carver-worldwide.com/Dealer_FO/Dealer_Continent.asp?S_ID=56&R_ID=24&ND_ID=16&nc=1):


A dedicated team has started an in-depth analysis of the requirements to make the vehicle ideally suited to the North American market. One of the most important modifications involves the engine. Further planned enhancements include the addition of air-conditioning.
The retail price for the North American market is yet to be determined.

Regarding the launch of the Carver One in the North American market, we do not expect to be able to launch before (end of) 2009. Any change in timing would be communicated immediately via this website.

[Marcel]

Hey all! I'm new here and from The Netherlands. I don't think it's Carver but investors here in Europe that look at the bad state the US economy is in. Maybe the most important reason NOT to invest? In Europe it's not so bad although we begin to see the economy slow too...

[shooter]

I met with Carver today and the general view is that the Venture project regarding price and timescales is a bit optimistic. I read into that the feeling that it will be difficult to keep the price as low as $20k and that it may be some time yet before production models are ready.

I was a little concerned with the ability of a pure electric version being able to run the DVC system but they felt that actually it was quite achievable. On the petrol engined from, Daihatsu are stopping the production of the current unit but Carver are negotiating so that they bcan get enough units to make the run of 500 as planned.

It would seem that they are working on some new things as well like a revised front end as there is now a better choice for lighting in a more compact format compared to that curently used. There are also a number of improvements that are going to be retrofitted to my Carver shortly as well.

[mek~laren]

x2. They never will get it. I know I'm being (possibly) over simplistic here, but can't they just certify the %$#@ engine for NA? Slap a cat converter in it and call it done...

I really have no patience for self imposed ignorance coupled with swollen egos.

Hi Mark,

I just had a blast reading your reaction! Are really thinking that "slapping a cat coverter on" is the solution to enter the NA market?bang:h:1 If so I suggest you better start reading more. Does term "self certifying" tell you something? It is very VERY difficult to certify a vehicle which is not beeing made in the US that is why only big makes are able to sell their products (Ferrari, Porsche, etc) The first relatively small brand which did it was Lotus and that almost bring them bancrupcy. So before starting with "self imposed ignorance" and "swollen ego" do your homework. u:n:s;ure;5(

[tugboatwilly]

That and after working with Dutch engineers for 25 years I got to tell you if it ain't perfect, It won't happen. They don't have a grasp on the trial and error method Americans have used to get things done.