Official Fisker Karma thread

[Herm]

Fisker just appointed Tony Posawatz as CEO

Poor man!.. its a demotion.

Fisker could pull out all the ICE stuff out and just put another battery in the front.

 

[GRA]

Fisker just appointed Tony Posawatz as CEO

Poor man!.. its a demotion.

Fisker could pull out all the ICE stuff out and just put another battery in the front.

Presumably he felt he had hit the ceiling at GM, or just wanted a different challenge (and he's certainly got one!)

 

[cwerdna]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/automaker-fisker-recalls-2-400-201637169.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DETROIT (Reuters) - Fisker Automotive, a green car company that received funding from the U.S. government, is recalling about 2,400 Karma plug-in hybrids to repair a faulty cooling fan unit that was the cause of a vehicle fire in Woodside, California last week...

 

[scottf200]

Fisker completes investigation of latest Karma hybrid EV fire,
issues vehicle-wide cooling fan recall
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/18/fisker-completes-investigation-of-latest-karma-ev-fire-issues-c/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Media statement link on that page as well.

MEDIA STATEMENT -- Woodside, CA Incident
ANAHEIM, CA -- August 18, 2012:

Fisker has completed a detailed investigation into the roadside fire involving a Fisker
Karma sedan on August 10 in Woodside, CA.

The investigation conducted by Fisker engineers, working with an independent fire
expert from Pacific Rim Investigative Services Group, has identified the root cause of
the incident.

The investigation located the ignition source to the left front of the Karma, forward of the
wheel, where the low temperature cooling fan is located. The final conclusion was that
this sealed component had an internal fault that caused it to fail, overheat and start a
slow burning fire.

Fisker has today voluntarily elected to conduct a recall with respect to this cooling fan
unit. The company is working with the responsible supplier and this recall campaign is
not expected to have a material financial impact on Fisker.

Fisker has already contacted its retailer network. Customers are expected to be
contacted by retailers, ahead of their receiving formal notice from the company by mail,
to have the cooling fan replaced with a unit that meets the required specifications. At
the same time an additional fuse will be installed for added protection.

In their investigation, independent experts established that the incident was not caused
by the Lithium-ion battery pack, new technology components, engine component
packaging or unique exhaust routing of the Fisker Karma.

"We are committed to responding swiftly and decisively to events such as this to ensure
total customer satisfaction," says Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Henrik Fisker.
"This incident resulted from a single, faulty component, not our unique EVer powertrain
or the engineering of the Karma. As this situation demonstrates, Fisker Automotive is
dedicated to doing whatever is necessary to address safety and quality concerns."

The owner of the car involved in the Woodside incident, Mr. Rudy Burger commented:
"I have been incredibly impressed with the way Fisker has handled this incident. I have
personally started seven technology companies and know from direct experience that
the US needs more innovative companies of this type, especially in the automobile
sector.

"Fisker is a great company and one that I am personally planning to invest in. I look
forward to getting behind the wheel of my next Fisker."

 

[cwerdna]

Owners of burnt Karma to become Fisker investors:
http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/owners-of-burnt-karma-to-become-fisker-investors/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Seems like a case of throwing good money after bad. I think it's pretty likely those guys will get wiped out on their investment.

Fisker Q&A sheds light, lots of light, on Karma problems, lots of Karma problems:
http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/23/fisker-qanda-sheds-light-karma-problems/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do note, I'd earlier posted a review from an owner of how bad the touchscreen system is.

 

[scottf200]

The Fisker Karma is to the Fisker Atlantic as the Telsa Roadster is to the Tesla Model S. They are both get your feet & legs wet and to learn the "waters" and get a lot of feedback. Correct things that make sense and plan for the next product for those that don't make sense (fix vs enhancement).

I've own the Volt for 16+ months. I just started following the Fisker Karma more closely a couple months ago and reading some of the details (mostly from real owners). I test drove the Fisker Karma a couple weekends ago. That is one very cool car. I was impressed for their first attempt -- minor issues -- ... not nearly as impressed as I am with GM's however. My 1st gen 2011 Volt has been solid!

The Fisker Atlantic looks very promising now that a very EREV/EVer experienced (tech/PR/testing/etc) person has joined the team - Tony Posawatz. So promising that the Atlantic is in the top few running of my next car in 2-3 years.

.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
Wow. You've got your hopes up pretty high.

I don't think they're going to survive long enough for Atlantic to make mass production, if even that.

 

[cwerdna]

Torque News: A123 Systems bankruptcy stalls Fisker Karma production:
http://www.torquenews.com/1075/a123-systems-bankruptcy-stalls-fisker-karma-production?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mwalsh]

I got to drive a Karma yesterday. I was impressed with it as a luxury cruiser - it felt planted and swooshy. But it also felt heavy (yes, I know it IS heavy), and performance in Stealth Mode was less than I'd anticipated. I just looked at the stats, and I see a less than impressive 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds. I guess next time I'll need to try Sport Mode.

 

[cwerdna]

Fisker hired Evercore to seek partners, rules out sale:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fisker-hired-evercore-seek-partners-181901452.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/as-electric-car-experiments-fumble-tesla-is-last-man-standing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; claims Fisker's on life support.

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2013/03/13/u-s-electric-automaker-fiskers-founder-quits-after-doe-freezes-loan-and-reported-talks-with-chinas-geely/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The fat lady is belting out arpeggios.

 

[derkraut]

From press release: "Fisker has today voluntarily elected to conduct a recall with respect to this cooling fan
unit. The company is working with the responsible supplier and this recall campaign is
not expected to have a material financial impact on Fisker."

Now there's a good one. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[GRA]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2013/03/13/u-s-electric-automaker-fiskers-founder-quits-after-doe-freezes-loan-and-reported-talks-with-chinas-geely/

The fat lady is belting out arpeggios.

Forbes needs to get Tony Posawatz's name correct.

 

[scottf200]

From press release: "Fisker has today voluntarily elected to conduct a recall with respect to this cooling fan
unit. The company is working with the responsible supplier and this recall campaign is
not expected to have a material financial impact on Fisker."

Now there's a good one.

It may have allowed them to negotiate the deal with the insurance company after Sandy. The ins co was trying to say it wasn't responsible but an angle Fisker (lawyers) used was they were held up while they got fixed for the recall.

David Klein, a partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe which represents Fisker, said in a phone interview that the dispute centered on whether the cars were in "transit," and which sublimits may apply, if any.

Then later it got resolved out of court:
Fisker Automotive Agrees to End XL Insurance America Suit
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-21/fisker-automotive-agrees-to-end-xl-insurance-america-suit.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fisker-puts-u-workforce-furlough-012204588.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

...has not made a vehicle since July, placed its U.S. workforce on furlough this week as part of its effort to keep costs low...

What have they been doing since July?

 

[cwerdna]

ABG: Fisker hires bankruptcy team after worker furlough:
http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/fisker-hires-bankruptcy-team-after-worker-furlough/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[SteveInSeattle]

The cars are produced by Valmet in Europe. So Fisker isn't a manufacturer at all. Even with contracting out production, the start up costs have swamped them. The dreams of so many would be car manufacturers have been crushed by the realities of the market. Let's face reality, there are already too many car companies, we're going to see fewer, not more, in the next few years.

 

[cwerdna]

VC Firms Expected To Take A Billion Dollar Bath On Fisker:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/04/vc-firms-expected-to-take-a-billion-dollar-bath-on-fisker/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PrivCo, a private corporate intelligence firm, has published a 20+ page dossier on Fisker’s seemingly strong ability to fundraise for itself, while failing to do a good job of actually creating cars. With Fisker teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, the results are staggering; with just under 2000 units sold, Fisker burned through an estimated $1.3 billion in venture capital, taxpayer-funded loans and private investor funds.

According to PrivCo’s estimates, that amounts to $660,000 per Karma sold...

 

[cwerdna]

U.S. takes $21 million from Fisker as automaker misses payment| Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/22/us-autos-fisker-doe-idUSBRE93L1CQ20130422" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[cwerdna]

Reuters: Special Report: Bad Karma: How Fisker burned through $1.4 billion on a 'green' car:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/17/us-autos-fisker-specialreport-idUSBRE95G02L20130617" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;