American automaker Fisker Automotive has purchased a former GM factory where it will build plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The southern California-based company is now in full possession of the 3.2 million square foot assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware, for which it paid Motors Liquidation Company (MLC) $20 million. MLC is the holding company formed by General Motors Corporation's bankruptcy.
The purchase is supported by a $528.7 million Department of Energy loan for the development of two lines of plug-in hybrids.
The Wilmington plant will be home to Project NINA, Fisker's second line of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and where Fisker expects to ultimately create more than 2,000 factory jobs.
"This is a major step toward creating thousands of manufacturing jobs and restoring America as a leader in the global auto industry," said Bernhard Koehler, COO, Fisker Automotive. "Wilmington will be instrumental in fulfilling our plans to export more than half of Fisker premium plug-in hybrid production to global markets."
Fisker announced its intention to acquire the idled factory in October 2009. A federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale last month.
The Wilmington Assembly plant opened in 1947 and produced more than 8.5 million vehicles before closing in mid 2009.