NEWS

Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science will partner with the V-Vehicle Company (VVC) to make internships available for engineering students at the company’s Monroe plant.

V-Vehicle Vice-President, Horst Metz, suggested the arrangement after a day of touring labs and meeting with Tech President Dan Reneau and College of Engineering and Science Dean Stan Napper.

Under the arrangement, three Tech students will be chosen by faculty members for internships at V-Vehicle beginning in the summer of 2010. The interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight into professional automotive engineering and assembly while working at the company’s facility in Monroe.

“These internships will establish a strong foundation for future collaboration. Tech’s Eco-Car team and the V-Vehicle team are working in similar ways to address the transportation needs of our country” said Napper.

VVC is a new American car company that will produce a high-quality and fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market. By designing and building its car in the U.S., VVC hopes to re-establish American leadership in the global automotive industry.

The company selected Monroe as the site of its first plant after an extensive multistate evaluation of potential candidates. It is currently renovating and expanding the former Guide headlamp facility. Once completed, the facility is expected to employ over 1, 400 workers.

“We’re going to be building great cars in Louisiana” said V-Vehicle Founder and CEO Frank Varasano. “We’re here to stay. I think that as part of that we have an opportunity to partner with great institutions like Louisiana Tech in developing the automotive engineering leaders of the future. This internship program is a start on that challenge.”

Written by Catherine Fraser