Fisker Automotive
 |
|
| Type | Private joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | August 1, 2007[1] |
| Founder(s) | Henrik Fisker[3] |
| Headquarters | Anaheim, California, USA[4] |
| Key people |
Tom LaSorda, CEO and Vice chairman[5] |
| Products | Luxury cars |
| Employees | 750 |
| Website | www.fiskerautomotive.com |
Fisker Automotive, Inc. is an American automaker based in Anaheim, California.[4] The company's first product is the Fisker Karma, one of the world's first production plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. It debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, creating the premium green car segment in which most major manufacturers have since announced they would compete.
Fisker originally intended to sell the Karma in late 2009 but after repeated delays,[8][9] the Environmental Protection Agency certified the car’s vehicle emissions and drive range in October 2011,[10] and therefor Fisker commenced delivery of production vehicles in the USA.[11] An estimated 15,000 cars per year will be assembled by Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland.[12] Fisker has said that it plans to have nearly 200 dealerships in Europe and North America by the end of 2011.[citation needed]
Fisker unveiled the Karma S hardtop convertible concept in 2009,[13] and the Fisker Surf shooting-brake concept in 2011.[14] It is developing a second platform, the smaller and more affordable "Project NINA", for production at a former GM plant in Delaware around 2013.[15][16]
Contents |
[edit] History
Henrik Fisker co-founded the company in 2007 with business partner Bernhard Koehler (Fisker Coachbuild) and Quantum Technologies after securing a relatively small investment from Gianfranco Pizzuto, an Italian businessman, and Palo Alto Investors. Henrik Fisker is responsible for designing some of the world's most iconic cars such as the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, Artega GT and BMW Z8. He also served as design director and sat on the board at Aston Martin. Prior to Fisker Automotive, Henrik Fisker and Koehler left Aston Martin in 2005 to establish Fisker Coachbuild, in an attempt to revive the art of coachbuilding automobiles to customer specifications.[17] The Fisker Tramanto and Latigo utilized chassis and powertrains from Mercedes-Benz SL and BMW 6-Series automobiles. Several were purchased but the business soon gave way to Fisker Automotive, a true automobile manufacturer.
[edit] Investors
Investors include Palo Alto Investors, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Qatar Holdings, LLC, A123 Systems and Ace Investments.
Fisker Automotive has raised more than $500 million in private equity and, in September 2009, was approved for a $529 million government loan from the United States Department of Energy's Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program[18] initiated by Congress in 2007.[19]
[edit] Europe
Fisker expects about half its sales to originate in Europe and the rest of the World by 2012. The company has partnered with four importers as of the fall of 2010: GP Supercars (Merano, Italy), Nellemann (Copenhagen, Denmark); the Emil Frey Group (Zurich, Switzerland); and BD Otomotive (Istanbul, Turkey).[citation needed]
[edit] Outsourcing
Fisker Automotive is noted for its outsource business model, which retains core competencies in-house but heavily leverages the resources of suppliers, with substantial savings resulting. [20] These savings have allowed Fisker to compete with similarly priced models such as the Porsche Panamera hybrid, BMW 7 Series ActiveHybird, and Maserati Quattroporte. Fisker's outsourcing methods have allowed the company in a 2–3 year period of development instead of the typical 5 years and at a cost of $333 million instead of $1 billion.[20]
[edit] Cost savings
Fisker saves a tremendous amount of development costs by using pre-engineered components developed by other car companies whenever possible, as long as it does not compromise the integrity of its vehicles or the customer experience. For example, the door handle mechanism is actually a General Motors part , Fisker Automotive just pays a fee to GM for each door handle in the Karma, which its much cheaper than designing its own door handles.[21]
[edit] Fisker Karma components [21]
The 22 kW·h lithium ion rechargeable battery in each car will come from A123 Systems in Watertown, Mass.
The aluminum frame was engineered by Fisker and is supplied by Norsk Hydro from Norway.
The cabin interior is designed by Fisker Auto but made in USA by Magna International of Canada.
The EVer powertrain system, technically a series hybrid, delivers over 400 hp, was inspired by Quantum Technologies (which is also a founder of & early investor in Fisker).
[edit] Profitability
Due to its outsourcing model, the company claims that it can make a profit from selling just 15,000 cars.[1]
[edit] Project NINA vehicle
In 2009 Henrik Fisker mentioned plans for another plug-in hybrid, a "high-volume vehicle for a lower price", subject to getting a United States Department of Energy grant[22] to build about 100,000 vehicles annually in the USA.[23]
[edit] U.S. federal loan
Fisker received a $528.7 million conditional loan from the Department of Energy's $25 billion Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.[18] $169.3 million is for engineering work with primarily American suppliers to complete the Fisker Karma, and design tools and equipment and develop manufacturing processes. The DoE announcement of the conditional loan went on to reveal the code name for the new vehicle: "The second stage includes a $359.36 million ATVM loan for Fisker’s Project Nina, involving the manufacture of a plug-in hybrid in the U.S."[24]
The loan has drawn comparisons with similar loans received by now-bankrupt Solyndra. [25]
[edit] Manufacturing
On October 27, 2009, Fisker officials announced that the company had signed a letter of intent to take control of the Boxwood Road Plant (previously owned and operated by General Motors) in Wilmington, Delaware:[26]
- "Production is scheduled to begin in late 2012. Fisker Automotive anticipates Project NINA will ultimately create or support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs by 2014, as production ramps up to full capacity of 75,000-100,000 vehicles per year. More than half will be exported, the largest percentage of any domestic manufacturer."
Vice President Joe Biden attended the announcement.[26] In addition to a purchase price of $20 million, Fisker expects to invest $175 million re-tooling the plant.[27]
BMW will supply a four-cylinder turbocharged engine for project Ninja.[28]
[edit] Legal dispute with Tesla Motors
On April 14, 2008, Tesla Motors filed a lawsuit against Fisker Automotive, alleging they stole Tesla's technology and are using it to develop their own hybrid car, the Fisker Karma, which was announced at the North American International Auto Show in January 2008. Tesla's suit claims that the design work done for the Model S by Fisker Coachbuild was substandard, and that Fisker diverted its best ideas to the Karma. [29]
In early 2009 the suit was settled in Fisker's favor and Tesla was ordered to pay Fisker's more than $1.1 million in legal fees.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Driven: How Henrik Fisker Aims to Floor the Auto Industry | Magazine". Wired.com. 2010-06-22. http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/06/ff_qa_fisker_karma/. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ^ http://media.fiskerautomotive.com/media/articles/doc/191_1_1.aspx
- ^ http://media.fiskerautomotive.com/media/articles/doc/191_1_1.aspx
- ^ a b http://www.ocbj.com/news/2011/jan/23/fisker-strikes-deal-hq-anaheim/
- ^ http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/97597/fisker_automotive_appoints_tom_lasorda_as_ceo.aspx
- ^ http://fiskerbuzz.com/forums/Thread-Biography-of-Fisker-Automotive-COO-Bernhard-Koehler
- ^ http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/en-us/about/team/leadershipteam
- ^ Poornima Gupta (2010-05-27). "Fisker to build 100 test Karma cars in 2010". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/27/us-fisker-investor-idUSTRE64Q11G20100527. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "Fisker Karma Has Been Delayed Yet Again For July 2011". Top Speed. 2011-06-05. http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/fisker-karma-has-been-delayed-yet-again-for-july-2011-ar110709.html. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
- ^ John Voelcker (2011-10-18). "2012 Fisker Karma: 20 MPG On Gasoline, 32-Mi Electric Range". Green Car Reports. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067487_2012-fisker-karma-20-mpg-on-gasoline-32-mi-electric-range. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Kari Hamanaka (2011-12-20). "Fisker Doubles Target in Latest Financing Round to $300 million". Orange County Business Journal. http://www.ocbj.com/news/2011/dec/20/fisker-doubles-target-latest-financing-round-300-m/. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "Valmet Automotive announces a Letter of Intent for an Assembly Contract with Fisker Automotive" (Press release). Valmet Automotive. 2008-07-15. http://www.valmet-automotive.com/automotive/bulletin.nsf/PEBD/5979AF477BFC7C95C2257487001AE95E?opendocument.
- ^ Wes Siler (2009-01-13). "Fisker Karma S Sunset: World's First Hybrid Convertible". Jalopnik. http://jalopnik.com/5129546/fisker-karma-s-sunset-worlds-first-hybrid-convertible. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ Donny Nordlicht (2011-09-13). "AUTO SHOWS: First Look: Fisker Surf Concept". Automobile Magazine. http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/frankfurt/2011/1109_fisker_surf_concept_first_look/index.html. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Roger Ormisher (2011-10). "(lost article)". The Detroit News. http://detnews.com/article/20111020/AUTO01/110200474/1148/rss25.[dead link]
- ^ Viknesh Vijayenthiran (2011-10-21). "Fisker’s Project Nina To Enter Production By End Of 2012". MotorAuthority. High Gear Media. http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1067613_fiskers-project-nina-to-enter-production-by-end-of-2012. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Callaway, Sue Zesiger (September 19, 2007). "When a perfect Porsche isn't good enough". Fortune. http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/18/magazines/fortune/bodydoubles.fortune/. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "Department of Energy - ATVM Loan Program". Atvmloan.energy.gov. http://www.atvmloan.energy.gov/. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ Mitchell, Josh; Power, Stephen (2009-09-25). "Gore-Backed Car Firm Gets Large U.S. Loan". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125383160812639013.html. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
- ^ a b Muller, Joann (2009-06-08). "The Next Detroit". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0608/070-automakers-fisker-karmas-the-next-detroit.html. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ a b Muller, Joann (2009-06-08). "The Next Detroit (page 2)". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0608/070-automakers-fisker-karmas-the-next-detroit_2.html. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ Joseph Szczesny (2009-05-13). "Fisker CEO has plans for smaller electric car in 2010 Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 JOSEPH SZCZESNY". The Oakland Press. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/05/13/business/doc4a0a997c322ab093787149.txt. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Soyoung Kim (2009-09-16). "Fisker Automotive targets 2011 profit". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/16/retire-us-autoshow-fisker-interview-idUSTRE58F5VP20090916. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "US Energy Secretary Chu Announces $528 Million Loan for Advanced Vehicle Technology for Fisker Automotive" (Press release). United States Department of Energy. 2009-09-22. https://lpo.energy.gov/?p=888. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ John Voelcker (2011-10-25). "Is Fisker a 'Green Car' Solyndra Scandal?"]. Discovery News. Discovery Communications. http://news.discovery.com/autos/fisker-green-car-solyndra-scandal-111025.html. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ a b "Fisker Automotive to Buy U.S. Assembly Plant to Build Affordable Plug-in Hybrid Cars" (Press release). Fisker Automotive. 2009-10-27. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fisker-automotive-to-buy-us-assembly-plant-to-build-affordable-plug-in-hybrid-cars-66396357.html. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "Fisker Automotive Poised to Take Over GM Plant in Newport Federal Judge OKs Sale" (Press release). State of Delaware. 2010-06-29. http://governor.delaware.gov/news/2010/1006june/20100629-fisker.shtml. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "Fisker Automotive News at the Frankfurt Auto Show" (Press release). Fisker Automotive. 2011-09-13. http://media.fiskerautomotive.com/global/en-us/Media/PressRelease.aspx?mediaid=393&title=fisker-automotive-news-at-the-frankfurt-auto-show. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Migliore, Greg (2008-04-16). "Tesla sues Fisker, alleges theft of trade secrets". AutoWeek: News & Views. http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200804161045/FREE/512789873. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
