Fisker Opens Engineering Center Near Detroit
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 11.13.08
Tesla Out, Fisker In
Tesla Motors recently announced some layoffs and the closing of their Rochester Hills office near Detroit, and almost mirroring this exactly, Fisker Automotive has announce that it plans to open a 34,000 square feet engineering and development center in Pontiac, near Detroit, where up to 200 people will work on the companies plug-in hybrid cars.
Fisker chose the Michigan location because of the proximity to its suppliers, including Edag and Magna Intier, which are working on engineering projects for the Karma. There's also a skilled workforce that's readily available as Detroit's automakers cut back in light of sales declines and financial troubles. [...] Fisker is based in Irvine, Calif., and has no plans to switch headquarters
They're probably using the $65 million that they raised before the credit crunch worsened. Let's hope that they won't increase their burn rate too much and run out of cash before the recession is over...
Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid Overview
"Initial domestic deliveries of the Fisker Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 in North America with planned delivery to the U.S. and Europe. Fisker Automotive's annual production is projected to reach 15,000 vehicles by 2011."
The Karma is anticipated to sell for US$ 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. All-electric range of about 50 miles on lithium-ion batteries, and after that a gas generator kicks in, like for the GM Volt.
Via AutoWeek, MarketWatch, NYT
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i wouldnt say Tesla out... Fiskar is still half the electric car Tesla is (make that 1/5). Also, the Fiskar is kind of ugly, and is a long way from selling a single car. Still, I hope they do well... would be nice to see non-BIG Business car companies making ground.
gooo Tesla!
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MGR: I realize that sub-head was a bit ambiguous. I meant "out of detroit" and "in detroit", not "out" in general.
That is not an ugly car. If someone wanted to give me one, I'd cherish it always :)
Yeah right, 11,000 $80,000 cars in a plummeting economy. And since when is any car green. Just look at all the resources used. It is just not sustainable.
@ Richard
you're just looking for an excuse to put down green cars.. going green has to start somewhere, so why not green cars..as technology improves, then they will paint a larger picture green
If you look at it that way... just about everything we use today including the computer u are using is un sustainable... be more open to ideas instead of closeted, narrow minded and pointy..
@ boo
the Fisker is a beautiful car... It's got nice curves, very low slung and sleek as hell... The only problem I have with it's looks is that it's grill looks like a clowns smile... :S
But opening a new plant near Detroit and producing 11000 cars going for $80K each...??! During the recession??? thats like taking 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back!!
wow! looks fast!
lets see how it does in... I-35 gridlock! probably at least as well as all those sports cars you see zipping down the slat flats on tv!
"lets see how it does in... I-35 gridlock! probably at least as well as all those sports cars you see zipping down the slat flats on tv! "
As a plug-in hybrid that can get 50 miles in all-electric mode, it would do superbly in that gridlock. Better than a Prius.