Sarasota firm nabs work in California prisons

SARASOTA — Solar golf cart and light utility vehicle manufacturer Cruise Car won a bid to supply prisons in California with a fleet of custom-made low speed vehicles.

Terms of the contract, which covers 31 prison locations in California, weren't released. Cruise Car, based in Sarasota, says prison officials picked the firm in a competitive bid “based on variables such as product quality, price and Cruise Car's proven ability to custom fabricate.” Each six-passenger vehicle, the firm adds in the release, will be equipped with a special platform to carry a cart used to deliver laptops to prison classrooms.

Cruise Car has grown rapidly over the past year, both in the U.S. and international markets. The firm has vehicles in operation in more than 250 federal government facilities and 25 countries.