About Columbia

Who we are About

Columbia is part of the Nordic Group of Companies, a family-owned American business since 1946. The Nordic Group was founded by W.R. Sauey, the son of Norwegian immigrant parents. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit that still exists today, W.R. chartered the Nordic Group’s first company, Flambeau, with an initial $2,000 loan in 1947.

As a testament to the family’s perseverance, determination and faith, the family-owned Nordic Group has grown into an international conglomerate with more than $400 million in annual revenue. Their portfolio of companies spans the globe—from specialized plastics manufacturing, to hunting and fishing accessories, to heavy-duty over-the-highway and military vehicle seating, to electric commercial and industrial work utility vehicles and electric recreational low speed vehicles (LSVs)—and even the world’s #1 Yo-Yo.

The Columbia Vehicle Group, headquartered at our 16 acre,160,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina, manufactures electric vehicles built for work in industrial, commercial and recreational environments. We engineer solutions that enhance productivity, comfort and utility while optimizing performance in transporting, carrying and towing—all with zero emissions. Our driving force is building constructive relationships that equip our partners for success.

 

What drives us

We believe longer-lasting products can go a long way in reducing our overall impact on the environment. Columbia is one of a handful of vehicle manufacturers committed to exclusively building pure electric vehicles.

As we work to reduce our overall impact on the environment, it is encouraging to know our final product is propelled by the cleanest commercially viable energy source with zero tailpipe emissions. All of Columbia’s manufacturing processes are in compliance with each applicable governing body’s most stringent requirements.

What makes us different

Longer-life
vehicles Steel frames and bodies with thicker gauged steel extend vehicles lifetime beyond what you might expect.
Better operation in
harsh environments Powered by the most robust drive motor available, our vehicle to work in temperatures other vehicles simply cannot go.
Longer usable range
per charge Our vehicles are equipped with the most efficient power control system to provide unmatched range on a single charge.
Less energy needed
to charge vehicles Our efficient chargers minimize energy use during charging.
Wasted energy recycled
to recharge batteries All of our vehicles are outfitted with intelligent recovery braking systems to recycle otherwise wasted energy.
Expend only the
energy you need Easily programmable performance characteristics eliminate wasted energy, enabling users to use only what they need.

While all of our vehicles are designed to operate as efficiently as possible in their respective environments, vehicles that will be operated on public roads meet or exceed all applicable NHTSA standards. Columbia has received the highest rating possible, a 10 out of 10, for our global warming and smog scores on the environmental performance label issued by CARB (California Air Resource Board). This is significant, as a typical internal combustion vehicle only receives a 5 out of 10 for both these ratings.

Our story Story

With a heritage stretching back to 1946, Columbia is one of the most experienced manufacturers in the field. Over the many years, we've fostered long-time partnerships with well-known brands such as Westinghouse and Harley Davidson, and continue to grow throughout the United States.