2023 Fisker Ocean on 2040-cars

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Fisker delivers first Ocean One Launch Edition in Denmark

Danish car designer and eponymous automaker Henrik Fisker delivered the first Ocean One Launch Edition crossover in his native land, stopping by the Fisker Center+ in Copenhagen to deliver the keys to the new owner. The unit came in Great White over black, 22-inch AirGlider wheels, with white Alcantara seats set among a Sea Salt interior. Being the Launch Edition, it came with the most powerful 550-horsepower dual-motor drivetrain and nearly option, like the 17.1-inch swiveling infotainment screen and SolarSky roof. The dual-motor AWD Ocean One packs a 113-kWh battery powering a range of 436 miles in Euro testing on the 22-inch wheels specced on retail delivery #1. If the customer had chosen the 20-inch wheels, range would be 440 miles. Either number is enough to get from Copenhagen to Stockholm for a seaside vacation with the Ocean. Just after the Denmark celebration, Fisker flew to Munich, Germany, to commemorate the first Ocean registered in that country, a car delivered to Henrik himself. He also opened the new Fisker Lounge in the center of town and a showroom at the company's local headquarters in Munich Motorworld.  On this side of the Atlantic, the company spent last week addressing its Q1 results and expectations for deliveries. Headwinds continue for EV makers of all sizes, but Fisker told analysts he expects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to certify the Ocean this month so that deliveries can commence in June. If that timetable holds, all 5,000 examples of the Ocean One Launch Edition should meet their new owners by the end of September, around the same time the top-trim Ocean Extreme — the serial production version of the Ocean One Launch Edition without all the standard goodies — begins deliveries.  Even more recent news suggests a trim package on the way that could almost be considered a fifth trim. Not long after the Ocean debuted in 2020, Henrik Fisker teased an off-road version called the Force E, which stands for Force Electric. At the time, the overhaul was touted as a fleet option for companies who needed "an extreme off-road package" with items like a brush guard, big beadlock tires, and a water spout set into the front bumper. The latest Force E package targets the camping set with a stouter roof rack, new front and rear bumpers, tow hooks at both ends, and less aggressive non-beadlock 33-inch tires on 20-inch wheels. Inside, the options sheet extends to grab handles, tiedowns, and rubber floors.

Fisker Ocean will start at $379 per month under subscription service

As promised, Fisker on Wednesday opened the order books for its forthcoming Ocean battery-electric SUV and announced pricing and other details ahead of its launch in 2022. Also as promised, the eco-luxury ‘ute will come in well below what Volvo is charging under its Care by Volvo subscription program. Fisker will make the Ocean available primarily through a monthly lease that starts at $379 per month through its mobile app, which is now live for iOS and Android platforms. That compares to $700 per month to get into Care by Volvo with the XC40, and mileage limits are twice those of the latter, at 30,000 miles per year, compared to 15,000 for Volvo. That makes good on founder Henrik FiskerÂ’s promises to be cheaper and more generous on mileage than its competitor. However, youÂ’ll need to put down $2,999 to trigger that price level, compared to just $500 to get started under Care by Volvo. And unlike its benchmarked competitor, insurance is not included, though Fisker says it expects customers will be able to access affordable quotes through its mobile app “due to a unique and proprietary low cost of service and maintenance model.” Similar to some other subscription services, the Fisker lease program eschews long-term contracts in favor of giving customers flexibility to return the vehicle any time, even after as little as a month. It also covers maintenance and service, with pickup and return of the vehicle included. Check out AutoblogÂ’s Complete Guide to Car Subscriptions. Fisker says there will be five option packages for the Ocean, available closer to the end of the year, that are designed to reduce the complexity of option configurators. Fisker will also set up what itÂ’s calling “experience centers” in shopping districts and airports where customers will be able to see the vehicles and spec packages. Starting in 2021, customers will also be able to schedule test drives through the mobile app. The company released some new details, including a “California Mode” — presumably a retractable sunroof feature — that will be standard on all trim grades above the base version, four-wheel drive versions with electric motors front and rear, and the promise of a five-star safety rating. Reservations cost $250 and are fully refundable.

A small door ding became a nightmare for a Fisker Ocean owner

Fisker has been floating in the danger zone, teetering on the brink of complete collapse, for months now. That state of limbo looks dramatic from a business standpoint, but the impact on Fisker owners is coming into clearer focus. A recent story from an early Fisker Ocean buyer highlighted the challenges faced by people who bought into the upstart brand, as a simple door ding turned into a nightmare. Someone hit Joy Wanner’s Ocean, causing minor damage to its door. While that would be an annoying but straightforward fix for most cars, FiskerÂ’s state of near-collapse made the process a real headache. A few weeks after the incident, WannerÂ’s insurance company totaled the Ocean, though the damage only amounted to a small surface crease and a broken door hinge, with a total cost of just $910. The insurance adjuster admitted that the total could be much higher, though, as he was completely unfamiliar with the brand and its vehicles. Though she was initially excited to invest in Fisker and its admittedly good-looking EV, the experience soured Wanner on new car companies for good. She told CarScoops, “It was an emotional rollercoaster. One day it would run fine, and the next, a new warning light would blink or ding. It was so frustrating to pay that much money for a car, only to get annoyed every time you used it.” Adding salt to WannerÂ’s wounds, she also experienced many of the issues other Fisker owners reported. She hadnÂ’t received a title from the automaker and said it was impossible to get any answers or help. The insurance company ultimately paid out $53,303 for the Ocean, but that paled in comparison to the price Wanner paid for the hassle of owning the SUV. “We lost over $20,000 investing in this startup EV and I cannot say goodbye fast enough,” she said on Facebook. “The delivery delays, mismanagement of paperwork, reporting issues, and getting case numbers that disappear into thin air, the mysterious warning lights and maddening warning sounds, being trapped inside the vehicle, an unreliable outdated navigation system, one cheaply made barely operational key fobÂ… This vehicle fell very, very short of our expectations and well below my high standards. I hope Henrik Fisker loses every dime he has, and I wish the rest of you the best of luck.”