Electric boat and propulsion manufacturer Pure Watercraft has ceased operations at an 80,000-square-foot factory in Beech Bottom, W.Va.
A report at theintelligencer.net said the news came nearly two years after the company, which has another facility in Tukwila, Wash., announced plans to occupy the West Virginia location to produce electric outboards and pontoon boats.
The Beech Bottom plant was chosen because of its proximity to General Motors’ Lordstown, Ohio, electric battery plant. In 2021, GM purchased a 25% share in Pure Watercraft.
“Pure Watercraft has, unfortunately, ceased operations in Brooke County, although we are not prepared at this time to give an explanation for this course of events,” Arne Landboe, customer relationship manager, told The Intelligencer. “We do expect to speak on this matter shortly, but for the moment I cannot offer an official comment.
According to The Intelligencer, Pure Watercraft had planned to invest at least $5 million in the plant and create more than 100 full-time jobs by the end of 2025.
Pure Watercraft reportedly failed to reach its private capital investment goal and subsequently reached out to the state of West Virginia for assistance. The company had orders for more than 900 pontoons, a partnership with GM to receive battery packs, and state financial incentives for employing 23 workers. But the company allegedly couldn’t meet customer demand before its private sector funds were exhausted.
