Archive for the ‘T. Boone Pickens’ Category

V-Vehicle Denied $321 Million From Department of Energy

Amit Chowdhry | March 26, 2010 | 768 views | Add a Comment
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American automotive company V-Vehicle was denied a $321 million loan from the Department of Energy.  V-Vehicle was founded by former Oracle vice president Frank Varasano.  V-Vehicle raised venture capital from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and T. Boone Pickens.  V-Vehicle is based in Monroe, Louisiana.  The company raised $87.5 million through private fundraising and was promised $67 million from the state of Louisiana.

The Department of Energy denied V-Vehicle $321 million as part of the $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program set up by Congress.  Car and Driver speculates that the reason why V-Vehicle may have been denied the loan because they are not involved with the UAW.  The UAW has a strong lobby group in Washington.  V-Vehicle has about 1,400 employees. [Car and Driver]

V-Vehicle Raises $62.25 Million From Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins

Amit Chowdhry | August 6, 2009 | 1,233 views | Add a Comment
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v-vehicle
V-Vehicle is an automotive startup company based in San Diego, California.  The vehicle company has raised $62.25 million and plans to raise an additional $4 million.  The companies involved in the $62.25 million are Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.  V-Vehicle will be building cars in the northeastern region of Louisiana.

V-Vehicle raised a previous round from T. Boone Pickens and has former Mazda design chief Tom Matano on their staff.  V-Vehicle recently procured a facility that was owned by Guide Corporation.  And Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was at the announcement ceremony of the plant opening.  Jindal offered V-Vehicle $67 million as part ofa startup incentive package.  Local governments provided an additional $15 million.  V-Vehicle is aiming to raise about $50 million between equity and loans.

David Drummond, Google’s SVP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer is listed as one of the Board of Directors at V-Vehicle.  Former Oracle executive and founding CEO of V-Vehicle Frank Varasano had invested $100 million of his own money into the company.

Kleiner Perkins partners John Doerr and Ray Lane also have board seats in V-Vehicle.  James Davison, a trucking company leader is also listed as an investor.

In Louisiana, the company plans on developing a “green” car.  Tesla should beware, they’re not the only ones in the electric car game.

[via Xconomy/alarm:clock]

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