Fisker reportedly chooses U.S. location to build lower-cost plug-in hybrid, will announce soon
Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery
Henrik Fisker, co-founder and chief executive of the automaker that bears his name, has said that the company has chosen a location for the U.S. plant to build its next eco-friendly automobile, but he's not yet ready to announce the location. According to the LA Times, Fisker seemed to rule out the recently-idled NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, saying:
Some analysts suggest the former General Motors' facility in Wilmington, Delaware, is an obvious choice as it was previously used to assemble the low-volume Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. Whatever the location, this new plant will be used to build Project Nina, a plug-in vehicle that's expected to cost $48,000 before a federal rebate of $7,500. That car is expected by 2012, two years after the firm's Karma PHEV sedan goes on sale.[NUMMI] is obviously way too big for us when you're talking about 100,000 to 150,000 cars. So there are some plants out there that are simply too big... We found one that was very modern and has produced cars until recently and all that, so there is definitely a good choice of factories and all the Big Three are selling factories at this point in time. We're probably somewhat lucky... that there are so many empty factories available.
Gallery: Fisker Karma
[Source: LA Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 10:35AM (10/21/2009)
Heck, they could just use all the same chassis parts as the solstice/sky, slap a new face on it, change the drive train and spring rates (due to changed weight/distribution) and you've got a decent, low cost roadster. Easy win.
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Boyprodigy1 4:43PM (10/21/2009)
except that it is supposed to be a family vehicle, not a roadster. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they did make a roadster in the near future.
letstakeawalk 6:35PM (10/21/2009)
Fisker is already taking deposits on the Karma S.
http://karma.fiskerautomotive.com/files/karma_s_convertible_order_form_2008.pdf
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=zq4&resnum=0&q=fisker+karma+s&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=34vfSs2jG8WU8Absrdxy&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQsAQwAA
Fair disclosure, Fisker is another green car company that I am invested in. I whole-heartedly support PHEVs.
polo 10:19PM (10/21/2009)
Just a few weeks ago letstakeawalk was spewing sly anti-EV propaganda...now s/he's telling people about supposed investments in EV companies. Kinda strange this guy is trying to crown himself the pre-madonna of EV-luvers...
Sounds like one of those paid troll hacks (yes companies do pay people to troll sites and message boards, especially ones with a vested interest to lose).
letstakeawalk 1:22AM (10/22/2009)
LOL, wish I was paid. I had to buy my shares same as everyone else. Do you have a specific complaint about Fisker? I'm a big fan... I think they have a realistic chance to be a major American car company because of their access to solar PV, lithium battery, and hydrogen tech through their partner company.
FitFan 12:09PM (10/21/2009)
"Fisker reportedly chooses a U.S. location ..."
Well, they had no choice but to pick a U.S. location after accepting the government loan.
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polo 10:21PM (10/21/2009)
More than likely that was already submitted in their plans when they requested the loan.
jake 1:41PM (10/21/2009)
They are moving quite quickly. If they are planning a 2012 announcement (or even launch) they better be pretty deep in the development already. The danger is the Volt will steal most of their sales unless they can offer something more over the Volt.
Hopefully their Karma comes out soon.
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letstakeawalk 12:02PM (10/22/2009)
How about if Fisker uses a 4WD diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain? Would that be different enough from the Volt?
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Quantum-Announces-Advanced-prnews-2247002427.html?x=0&.v=1