Oregon Public Broadcasting

A Norwegian electric car manufacturer showed off its vehicle in Portland Tuesday. The CEO said he’s looking at Oregon and seven other states as possible sites for a new factory. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Th!nk makes its car out of plastic -- so it can be recycled. It can also go about 100 miles on one charge.

Governor Ted Kulongoski used the visit to promote -- for the second day in a row -- his plans for tax breaks for electric cars and their manufacturers.

Ted Kulongoski: “My vision has always been for Oregonians to drive from Astoria to Ontario…emission free. With Th!nk, the legislature now has the opportunity to take that vision one step further, families could be making that drive in an emission free drive manufactured in Oregon by Oregonians.”

The Norwegian company is in chapter 11 bankruptcy in Norway. But CEO Richard Canny said he’s confident it will emerge in tact and find investors to help build a new factory.

He also confirmed that Th!nk is interested in the old Freightliner factory in Portland.