The automobile industry moved at lightning speed, especially during the last decade and the rise of electric cars. To see how far things have come, YouTube channel Out of Spec Reviews and host Kyle find a new 2012 CODA sedan that was abandoned years ago.
Interestingly, this EV appears to have spent most of its life in dealer storage in Silicon Valley. And, without a doubt, this barn find could be one of, if not the last, new vehicles from the defunct CODA Automotive company.
The early days of the modern EV movement
Kyle’s discovery of the never-before-owned CODA EV dates back to 2012. It’s the debut year of this underwhelming Asian-market Mitsubishi sedan-based EV. A few months after CODA tried to conquer the world, Tesla launched its innovative offering, the Model S. It was also when Ford introduced its modest Focus Electric hatchback, while the Nissan Leaf had already been on the market for a year.
However, a decade of hits and misses is shaking things up in the world of electric vehicles. The Model S and Nissan LEAF became benchmarks for EVs in the US as the Ford Focus Electric quietly faded away after 2019. Meanwhile, the poor CODA barely got off the ground.
This CODA is not quite the time capsule expected
Kyle’s arrival at the dealership comes with a few surprises, as he’s eager to see a new car from over a decade ago. But thoughts of a pristine example are quickly dashed as it becomes apparent that this CODA was left out in the elements.
Not only did the California sun bleach the exterior, but there is evidence that the car may have served as a shelter for someone. Flat tires and a missing stereo system add to this EV’s sad state of affairs.
However, Kyle is hoping to strike a deal to get this abandoned car off the dealer’s hands and give it a proper owner. Apparently it had been sitting on the lot when the building was acquired by the current dealer.
What happened to the CODA cars?
CODA’s dip into the EV waters was met with chilly temperatures as its sedan EV failed to excite buyers. CODA was aimed at the low end of the market, but eventually Nissan beat the price. With a starting price of around $33,000, the sleek and refined Nissan LEAF cost $5,000 less than the crude, 90s-looking CODA.
Dodgy electronics and poor build quality also doomed the CODA, though its 88 miles of range beat the early LEAFs and Focus Electrics by a dozen miles. But Los Angeles-based CODA only produced 117 examples and folded a year after producing its first car.
It’s no wonder most people have never heard of CODA; their efforts are a mere footnote in automotive history.
Sources: Off-Spec Reviews/YouTube, Nissan, Ford, petrolblog.com
