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Terrafugia Terrafugia, a company discussing moving to Dayton, manufactures a "flying car" seen here in a photo provided by Terrafugia.

By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 8:02 AM Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A company that is building a flying car could produce the vehicles in Dayton.

The chief executive of Terrafugia Inc. said the company has had “discussions” about moving production to Dayton, but he said he had no announcement Tuesday, Feb. 16.

According to published reports, the company is weighing a $4.4 million offer to move to Dayton.

“We’ve gotten more interest from Ohio than we’ve gotten from Massachusetts,” Carl Dietrich, CEO of Terrafugia, told the Dayton Daily News.

He declined to say where that interest has originated or how strong the overtures from Ohio have been.

The company is talking about producing a flying car — called a “Transition Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept” vehicle. The Transition is a two-seat aircraft designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on any road.

“Transforming from plane to car takes the pilot less than 30 seconds,” the company’s Web site says.

According to a Boston Globe story placed on the newspaper’s Web site Tuesday, Dietrich said he was “very close” to agreeing to terms with a group of Ohio private investors that would “force” Terrafugia to move to Ohio. The report did not identify investors.

Deborah Feldman, Montgomery County administrator, was unaware of the company or its reported interest in the Dayton area.

“But we certainly would welcome the opportunity to talk to them,” Feldman said. “Any new technology is very interesting to us. We have a lot of skilled labor here in Montgomery County, with respect to manufacturing, and in particular, auto manufacturing.”

According to a report published by the Journal of New England Technology’s Web site, “Terrafugia would move into a manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio, and receive a $4.4 million investment. A General Motors plant recently closed in Dayton, which means there are plenty of manufacturing employees available for Terrafugia’s production plans.”

Dietrich told the Dayton Daily News the report originated when he told a Boston Globe reporter investors in Ohio have shown more interest than in Massachusetts. The company is based in Woburn, Mass.

Chris Kershner, vice president, public policy and economic development for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, had not heard of any moves by the company.

“I am excited about it, if it’s a real opportunity,” Kershner said.

Adam Murka, a spokesman for the Dayton Development Coalition, said, “While we never comment on any ongoing or potential negotiations, it is always positive to see the value of the Dayton region being recognized from out-of-state entrepreneurs.”

“We are not working with this company,” said Kimber Perfect, spokeswoman for the state development department. “We are happy to work with anyone interested in the site (GM Moraine).”

Staff writers John Nolan and William Hershey contributed to this story.

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