A specialist automotive public relations and events agency is driving ahead with the global relaunch of an electric car brand.

PFPR Communications, based in Maidstone, has been appointed by Detroit Electric, one of the original pioneers of electric vehicles, to manage global PR and media relations for its brand relaunch and product roll-out.

PFPR worked for Detroit Electric on the first of its new vehicles – the SP:01 limited-edition, two-seater, 100%-electric sports car – after an absence of 70 years.

The event, held in the brand’s home city of Detroit, USA, generated widespread global media coverage. The agency followed up by managing all media activities to support the SP:01’s appearance at the recent 2013 Shanghai Motor Show.

The Kent-based agency will now be responsible for publicising Detroit Electric’s return to vehicle production in Michigan later this year. The plant will assemble the state’s first ever pure electric sports car, with production starting in August. The plant will have an annual capacity of 2,500 sports cars. Detroit Electric aims to create more than 180 manufacturing- and sales-related jobs over the next 12 months.

As well as the USA, PFPR works with clients in Europe and Asia, and has extensive experience in running campaigns for clean-tech automotive brands and products.

"Over the coming months, PFPR will spearhead the media launch of our vehicles in markets around the world, “ said Albert Lam, group CEO of Detroit Electric and former group CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group. “PFPR’s global expertise and creativity in this field are a perfect fit for our revitalised brand, ensuring we demonstrate to the world our ability to build an exciting and innovative product.”

Detroit is widely seen as the home of the electric car. Early in the last century the electric vehicle industry was flourishing in Detroit and a company called Detroit Electric sold more electric vehicles than any other company.

By 1912, there were numerous American electric vehicle makers, with Detroit Electric both the market leader and the most prolific, going on to make around 13,000 cars – an electric vehicle production world record for the twentieth century. Notable customers included Thomas Edison, Mamie Eisenhower, John D. Rockerfeller Jr. and Clara Ford, the wife of Henry Ford.