Electric vehicle maker Cenntro Inc. said in a July 9 news release about its California plant that “it is winding down operations at its Jacksonville facility.”
The Freehold, New Jersey-based company gave no other details about the Jacksonville plant and did not respond to voice and email messages asking about the facility.
The company had not previously given any indication that it might close the Jacksonville plant.
Cenntro announced in December 2021 that it would open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Jacksonville to assemble its commercial electric vehicles.
In 2021, City Council approved $450,000 in tax incentives for Cenntro.
The incentives comprised a Recaptured Enhanced Value Grant, which is a refund on property taxes, for five years totaling $450,000 and ending no later than 2027.
The grant called for Cenntro to create 34 jobs by December 2023, at an average salary of $52,000.
Cenntro’s $25 million investment in real estate improvements and machinery was to be completed by June 30, 2023.
The company announced in March 2023 it had begun production of vehicles at the Jacksonville plant at 2240 Lane Ave. on the Westside.
By that time, Cenntro had another U.S. assembly plant near its New Jersey headquarters and it announced plans to open a California facility.
According to its annual report, Cenntro has overseas plants in Changxing and Yangzhong, China; Herne, Germany; and Monterrey, Mexico.
The company also established a showroom in 2023 for its vehicles at 11840 Beach Blvd. on the Southside.
The annual report describes it as “our flagship EV Center for sales and support functions.”
Cenntro had one other U.S. EV Center at its Freehold headquarters and nine in other countries as of Dec. 31.
Cenntro’s most recent financial report showed revenue of $3.4 million and a net loss of $9.2 million in the first quarter.
Most of its sales were in overseas markets with about $1.7 million in revenue generated in Europe and $1.1 million in Asia.
U.S. revenue was $625,905.
The July 9 news release said the Ontario, California, plant is focused on the U.S. West Coast market, while its New Jersey facility is serving the East Coast.
“With our expanded production capacity in California, Cenntro is positioned for more efficient delivery our EVs to the west coast market. With this strategic shift, we intend to continue driving sales by improving our production capability and providing fleet customers with the ability to electrify their fleet, reduce their carbon footprint, and significantly lower their cost of operations,” CEO Peter Wang said in the release.
The city issued a permit Jan. 4, 2023, for a $1.15 million build-out for a 30,000-square-foot space for Cenntro Electric Group Ltd. within Building 100 at 2240 Lane Ave. N.
That build-out indicated about 70,000 square feet for future expansion.
The city followed up with a permit issued May 17, 2023, for $1.33 million in tenant improvements for the full 100,106 square feet as Phase 2.