Washington - Former BMW designer Henrik Fisker has announced plans to relaunch his electric vehicle efforts three years after a bankruptcy with his venture that helped make high-priced electric cars popular with celebrities.
Fisker's effort aims to revive his rivalry with Tesla, promising a premium, all-electric successor to his 2012 Fisker Karma with “a patented battery that will deliver a significantly longer life and range than any battery currently on the market,” a statement from the reconstituted company said.
The relaunch comes after a high-profile bankruptcy by Fisker Automotive, which received $192 million (R2.6bn) in US government loans and left $139 million (R1.9bn) of that unpaid.
In the statement, Fisker said improved technology will make his task easier today.
EV revolution promised
“Fisker Inc. will spearhead a revolution in electric cars that will disrupt the electric vehicle market and change the world,” said Fisker, who is chairman and chief executive of the new group.
“Both the technology and the market are more mature now than when we first started out as pioneers in the electric vehicle industry, and our new vehicle will be the most innovative and cutting-edge electric car ever created.”
The first Fisker group was started in southern California in 2007 by Fisker - a Danish designer who worked at Aston Martin, BMW and other motor firms - and his German business partner Bernhard Koehler.
The $100 000 (R1.37m) Fisker Karma released in 2012 attracted buyers including Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher. But that company filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and a year later its assets were sold to Chinese car parts maker Wanxiang.
The new group said it had no affiliation with Wanxiang, but did not disclose details of its financing.
The new Fisker debut vehicle will include “dynamic, never-before-seen design features, combining advanced materials with the use of the latest optimization software,” the statement said.
Mass-market car on the way too
In addition, Fisker is developing a “mass-market, affordable electric vehicle that will retail for less than its competitors, but will feature a longer electric range,” it added.
The move comes with Tesla rapidly expanding its presence in the electric vehicle market at prices of $70 000 (R960 000) or more and preparing a launch of a new electric car at roughly half that price.
Other carmakers including General Motors are also moving into all-electric vehicles.
“If the electric car is to succeed as a mass market vehicle, we need a radical new battery technology and battery pack integration - and our vehicles will have just that,” Fisker said.
AFP