Coda is making its first vehicle, the CODA EV, in China in partnership with Hafei, which is controlled by state-owned China Changan Auto, and is scheduled to begin selling it in the United States in the second half of this year.
It will be sold to fleet buyers in California initially and slowly expand into other states, Murtaugh told reporters in Beijing.
"Once we start selling to fleets and get a feel of how we are doing, we will start selling to consumers. Our plan is to go slowly," he said.
Coda has set a target to sell 10,000 to 14,000 units in the first 12 months after its launch.
The Santa Monica-California based company also has a battery joint venture with Lishen Battery Power.
The company had in January tapped Murtaugh, a former General Motors Co and Chrysler executive with extensive experience in China as its new chief executive.