GM Invests In Plug-In Vehicle Maker

General Motors Ventures LLC Tuesday announced an $5 million investment and a "strategic relationship" with Anderson, Ind.-based Bright Automotive.

The investment was in the form of a promissory note that is convertible into Bright stock.

GM said the investment would hasten the production of the Bright Idea, a plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle.

"This relationship is an important step forward for Bright, and a strong endorsement of our highly experienced automotive team and our incredible vehicle," said Reuben Munger, Bright Automotive chairman and CEO. "With this deal, Bright gets financial support that puts us on the fast-track toward mass production of the Idea. And perhaps just as importantly, we gain a strategic partner that is a world leader in electrification."

The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in July. General Motors Ventures LLC provided funding to Bright this week, and the two companies intend to complete the formal agreements later this year. Upon completion of the agreements and other terms, General Motors Ventures would have a minority stake in Bright Automotive and Bright would have access to GM technologies, and advanced engine and transmission systems, for its vehicle.

"Funding early-stage start-up companies is a new way of doing business at GM to accelerate the introduction of innovative technology to support our core automotive business and give us a competitive advantage," said Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures. "In this case, our funding of Bright Automotive will accelerate the introduction of advanced propulsion and light-weight technologies in the commercial vehicle market."

Added Bright Automotive executive vice president Michael Brylawski: "We talked with several leading automakers, but GM clearly had the right vision, the most capable technology, and the closest alignment with our business approach. We are thrilled to work with GM to create American jobs, stimulate technology development, and build an innovative American vehicle that will help reduce oil dependence and cut costs for businesses."

In developing the Idea, Bright started with a clean sheet of paper, listened to customers, and took a novel approach to product development that focused on light-weighting, aerodynamics and a highly efficient drivetrain. The result is a multipurpose vehicle for business fleets -- the first designed to be highly efficient and provide a clear economic benefit.

The Idea delivers a positive total cost of ownership to fleet customers by providing significantly greater fuel efficiency than current fleet vehicles in its class. The Idea operates in electric mode for 40 miles before switching to an estimated 36-mpg hybrid mode for 100+ mpg potential based on daily driving behavior.

Bright designed the hybrid gas-electric utility van, called the Idea, specifically for fleet vehicle operators. The company was spun out of the Rocky Mountain Institute think tank and co-founded by John Waters, Bright's vice chairman and who worked for GM in the 1990s to help produce its EV1 electric car.

The Idea van is designed to run almost entirely on batteries for the first 40 miles and then run in a standard hybrid mode, where it gets about 36 miles per gallon. Fuel efficiency is also improved through light-weight materials and an aerodynamic shell.

Funding through GM Ventures will allow Bright to begin ramping up the development of the production program for the Idea in the third quarter of 2010. Bright continues to seek a low interest loan through the Department of Energy's ATVM program.

More at www.gm.com or www.brightautomotive.com.

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