ATLANTA, Ga. - The Southern Conference, through its marketing rights holder SoCon Sports Marketing, an IMG College property, and CT&T, a Korean-based electric vehicle company that started North American operations last year, today announced a partnership that establishes CT&T as the "Official Electric Vehicle" of the Conference.
CT&T will use the partnership to promote its e ZONE and c ZONE electric vehicles to SoCon member schools and their constituencies including students, alumni, faculty and fans of their sports teams.
"The Southern Conference is excited to partner with a unique company like CT&T," stated John Iamarino, Southern Conference Commissioner. "We look forward to working with CT&T to develop programs that will support the sustainability goals of our member institutions while engaging students and alumni in the process."
A key component of the marketing partnership, which will be managed by SoCon Sports Marketing, will be CT&T's donation of $200 from the sale of each vehicle purchased by a SoCon school or its alumnus to a scholarship or sustainability project that will be designated by the respective Conference institution. The SoCon marketing program also includes the development of an on-campus initiative that will support student fund-raising for sustainable transportation projects. The new programs are scheduled to kick off in the fall.
"This new partnership with the Southern Conference allows us to match our corporate philosophy of alternative energy to the sustainability goals of its member institutions and promote this message through the world of sports," said CT&T USA Chief Operating Officer Joseph J. White. "We feel this a perfect fit for us, and that this partnership will be a significant benefit to all parties."
CT&T's c ZONE line of low-speed vehicles (LSVs) is street legal electronic vehicles (EVs) that offer solutions to consumer and commercial markets for recreational and utility use. The second generation e ZONE is a two-passenger LSV that offers consumers a zero emissions alternative for use as a city commuter car or as an alternative in planned communities that have speed limits restricted to 35 MPH speed limits or below. The company estimates that households that add an e ZONE to their "family fleet" of vehicles can save between $125 and $150 per month in gasoline expenses.
With a total fan base of more than 172 million fans, 77 million of which are female fans who influence buying decisions, the college sports market is a an ideal partnership for companies. The college market's affluent fan base, with more than 29 million college fans earning more than $100 thousand, and 17 million fans between the ages of 18 - 24, provides a key consumer audience.
CT&T will be able to tap into the Southern Conference's share of the college market through this new partnership.