Fisker Karma to be Made in Finland by Valmet Automotive
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 07.16.08
Fisker Karma to be made in Scandinavia Finland*
The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan, which is planned for late 2009 and should have an all-electric range of about 50 miles on lithium-ion batteries, will be made in Finland by Valmet Automotive:
"The first cars will be delivered in the 4th quarter of 2009 in North America with planned delivery to Europe in 2010. Fisker Automotive's annual production is projected to reach 15,000 cars."
Valmet is also known as the second source for Porsche to assemble its Boxter model.
The Karma is anticipated to sell for US$ 80,000. Top speed should be 125 mph (201 km/h) and 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) should be reached in 5.8 seconds.
We previously reported on some controversy when Tesla Motors sued Fisker.
*You learn something every day. Thanks to commenter "Finnish" for pointing out that Finland is not part of Scandinavia.
More on Fisker's Deal with Valmet
Valmet Automotive announces a Letter of Intent for an Assembly Contract with Fisker Automotive
Valmet to Manufacture the Fisker Karma PHEV
Valmet to assemble Fisker Karma in Finland
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50 miles is pretty good. I'd almost never burn a drop of gasoline, and by that time, we might have pretty good cellulosic ethanol.
One correction, Finland ain't in Scandinavia :) Correct term would be nordic country.
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MGR: Thanks, will correct that!
I never thought I'd say this (ever), but that is a beautiful machine.
That's one ugly and oversized car. Looks like a slightly toned-down version of the bleedin' Bat Mobile. But I suppose that if you want to make plug-in hybrids attractive, you need something that stands out from the crowd. For shame, but still a good effort, so kudos and whatnot.
As for Finland .. it can be part of Scandinavia. It just depends on your definition. Hell, even Iceland can be part of Scandinavia. Nothing but politics, much like some people think Turkey is a part of Europe, while others vehemently disagree.
If I could afford the 80k, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
I'll have to wait for more PHEV in the Volt price range or lower, I guess.
Beautiful! How much??
Finland is too part of Scandanavia.
Great news for Valmet. And Finland is exactly as much part of Scandinavia as Turkey is part of Europe. It has nothing to do with politics, only geography.
re Braum:
> That's one ugly and oversized car. Looks like a slightly
> toned-down version of the bleedin' Bat Mobile.
What are you talking about? It's not over-sized for a sedan. Why is aerodynamic design a flaw? Sure, it's got a big front end, but that's for the 4-cylinder gas engine that runs the generator to allow you to extend the range to 600+ miles on a gas tank that only holds like 6 gallons.
If the vehicle has zero emissions for most driving and seats 4 comfortably, why kvetch about it being the same size as a standard luxury sedan? Cramming everybody into SmartCars won't win over the hearts and minds of the general public.
This is an $80K car. People who spend that kind of scratch on a car want elbow room.
Please save the greenwashing for the auto industry. There is no way a $80,000 sports car can be in anyway considered "green'.
"Please save the greenwashing for the auto industry. There is no way a $80,000 sports car can be in anyway considered "green'."
Why? Please elaborate?
If it uses significantly less fossil fuels and produces significantly less emissions than a Prius, for example, I'd say it's a step in the right direction.
Or is it the price? So no new technologies should be made because they are more expensive at first (cell phones, computers, MRI scanners, etc)?
15,000 cars a year? I want a taste of what you've been smoking. Valmet can build them. But where's the dealer/service network? How many buyers have put down cash deposits so far?
Aside from the goofy grille, I wish them well.
I've been pondering on which electric car/ plug in hybrid I'm going to jump on when it becomes available. I only need a 20 mile range to handle my daily commute. I'd bike if I could, but the traffic is scary. I'd get a solar powered bike or golf cart if it could keep up with traffic. I'd get a Tango if it didn't make the neighbors and co-workers laugh. I just need a car that looks like a Honda Civic and it would be nice if it had a solar panel to charge it while it was sitting in the parking lot doing nothing all day. Is that too much to ask?
I'd say it is a pretty good looking car, comparable to others in the $80K+ segment, but significantly better for the environment, especially when most of those cars probably travel only a few tens of miles each day from the home to the office and back.
Much like any new technology, it will initially be expensive too, so to be successful this car had better appeal to the people buying cars in that price range already.
Maintenance should be easy. Electric motors don't need it and the 4 cylinder generator is probably made by Honda, just swap it out for a rebuild every 20 years.
Finland / Suomi is part of Scandinavia. Have any of you even been to Finland or Iceland?They both are.
Finland / Suomi is part of Scandinavia. Have any of you even been to Finland or Iceland?They both are.
Tesla is an electric Lotus.
Fisker is an electric Porch.
I think it nice that the high end sports cars are beginning to “get it” that electric power works in cars.
Yay! Another reason to like Finland. =D
The reason that they might expect to sell 15000 cars every year, is that many countries has crazy taxes on gas cars. Norway, Denmark, Singapore to name but a few. In Norway, you pay 80.000usd for a VW golf... But the electrical cars has no taxes. So high quality plug-ins like this, could potentially be the new "golf"