Automotive X PRIZE Announces First 31 Participating Teams

Motor, Sep 2007

The Automotive X PRIZE (AXP), a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles-that are also affordable and desirable-to help break this country's addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change (see NewsBreak in the May issue of Motor), announced last month that 31 teams have signed a letter of intent to compete once the prize is officially funded and launched.

The teams include diverse groups from die United States, Canada, die United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. More dian 300 additional teams have inquired about joining and are actively considering entering the competition. One team's entry is shown in die photo above.

"We are thrilled with the wide variety of teams and technologies from around the world that have expressed an interest in joining the competition" said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and chairman, X PRIZE Foundation. "We are confident that the Automotive X PRIZE will motivate and bring visibility to a range of nontraditional solutions from both traditional and nontraditional players. The time for incremental change is over. We need radical breakthroughs to stem the consumption of fossil fuels. An X PRIZE can make this happen."

The competition is expected to travel through multiple cities and be broadcast to a global audience in 2009 and 2010, building consumer demand for vehicles in the competition and demonstrating many practical, clean and affordable vehicle options. Cities involved in the competition route have not yet been chosen.