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Former Ford Exec Leach to Help Launch EV Company

Martin Leach, former president of Ford of Europe, is looking for people to help launch an unnamed electric-car company that will operate in China and California, Reuters reports.
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Martin Leach, former president of Ford of Europe, is looking for people to help launch an unnamed electric-car company that will operate in China and California, Reuters reports.

Leach says the venture is backed by an unspecified company "with a background in the car industry." He says the group is still getting organized and will reveal more details about its plans later.

Reuters reported early last year that Leach had been hired by Hybrid Technology Holdings LLC, last year's unsuccessful bidder for assets of bankrupt Fisker Automotive, maker of the Karma hybrid car. Fisker was acquired in March 2014 by China's Wanxiang Group Corp., which reportedly is preparing to relaunch Karma production in California.

Leach won a $2.1 million settlement against Ford in 2005 after claiming the carmaker illegally blocked him from being hired as CEO of Fiat Auto in 2003. Leach was hired in 2004 to head Fiat's Maserati unit but was removed six months later by Fiat's then-new CEO, Sergio Marchionne.

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