2023 Fisker Ocean on 2040-cars

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Fisker Pear electric hatchback teased, promises $29,900 price

Here is our first good look at a new model from Fisker called “Pear.” Yes, that is Pear like the fruit, so itÂ’s apt that the teaser image is mostly shades of green. Explicit details on the Fisker Pear are few, but the company gave us a couple things to chew on. For one, Fisker is promising a base price below $29,900, and this is prior to federal or state EV tax credit incentives. ItÂ’s to be built on a “new proprietary architecture,” so donÂ’t expect it to share much with the big Ocean SUV CEO Henrik Fisker said that the little hatchback will feature “new lighting and a wraparound front windscreen inspired by a glider plane glass canopy.” We can get a small sense of what the car will generally look like from the single teaser image released by Fisker. While the company claims this vehicle wonÂ’t fit into any existing segment, it sure looks like a compact hatchback to us. Though, we suppose, it's also possible it literally looks like a pear. The beefy fenders give it a decidedly sporty flair, and the large wheels and mesh front grille only add to the effect. Its scatter-shot lighting running the length of the front end does indeed look different from anything else out there, and the same can be said for its strangely curved A-pillar. This concept (or whatever it is) is also sporting camera sideview mirrors. If U.S. regulations are changed to allow those, then theyÂ’d be a possibility. Otherwise, Fisker will need to swap those out for some traditional mirrors before production. Fisker has high hopes on the production front, too. It plans to produce the Pear at the now Foxconn-owned factory in Lordstown, Ohio. Once production ramps up, Fisker predicts it will be able to produce a minimum of 250,000 Pears per year, an extremely ambitious goal. Whether demand exists for 250,000 small EVs per year from Fisker is a question we may see answered this decade, as Fisker says the Pear will enter production in Lordstown in 2024. As for the future, Fisker (the man) says the PearÂ’s platform will underpin two additional Fisker (the car) models, but says details will come at a later date. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Wanxiang approved to build new Karma, Atlantic EVs in China

Ever since buying the remnants of Fisker back in 2014, Wanxiang's plan has always included building new vehicles in China. We're one step closer to that, with the approval this month of Wanxiang's request to build electric vehicles in the country. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) says Wanxiang can build a new factory that can make up to 50,000 EVs a year. As we noted back in August, the new Karma Automotive factory will not only build the revived model that used to be known as the Fisker Karma (now the Karma Revero) but also the never-made Atlantic. The Atlantic did exist in concept form in 2012, but Wanxiang's new factory might make it real. This makes sense, since the Valmet machines that built the Karma the first time around have been shipped from Finland to California for Wanxiang's new plant there. When Wanxiang relaunched the Karma website in 2014, it did so with the slogan, "Hello Future. Meet the Atlantic." Maybe it should have said, "Hello China," instead. Related Video: Featured Gallery Fisker Atlantic News Source: Reuters Government/Legal Green Plants/Manufacturing Fisker Electric Hybrid wanxiang karma revero

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla hiring new sales executives, A123 focuses on starter batteries

A123 Systems is shifting more of its focus to lithium-ion starter batteries for cars with stop-start systems. The company sees the smaller batteries as a safer, more viable way to bounce back from its recent bankruptcy than by providing battery packs to power EVs. A123 still provides EV batteries to China, and hopes to provide them to Fisker, which is now owned by a mutual parent company, Wanxiang. A123's Detroit facility is currently building starter batteries for Mercedes-Benz, with microhybrid battery production expected in within the next few years. Read more at Automotive News. Tesla Motors Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Service Jerome Guillen is being reassigned to a role in customer satisfaction. After struggling sales in California and China, Tesla is also seeking sales executives for its three major sales regions: North America, Europe and Asia. "Once they are on board, Jerome's focus will be on post- sales activity from delivery to long-term customer care, where he has done an incredible job," says Tesla. For 2014, North America made up about 55 percent of Tesla's sales, while Europe and Asia made up 30 and 15 percent, respectively. Tesla expects those numbers to eventually be distributed evenly, and aims to increase sales by 74 percent this year. Read more at Automotive News. David Noland of Green Car Reports wants Tesla to address a double-pedal problem in the Model S. Noland says that when both the accelerator and brake pedal are pressed at the same time, it can increase the stopping distance, creating unsafe situations. Noland, along with other drivers with large feet, are having problems with this due to the narrow spacing between the pedals. Elon Musk has stated that the Model S limits torque in a double-pedal situation, but Noland's own tests find some inconsistencies. Noland would like to see a change to the firmware to address this problem. Read more at Green Car Reports. Featured Gallery Tesla Model S View 10 Photos Related Gallery 2012 Fisker Karma: Second Drive View 30 Photos News Source: Automotive News, Automotive News, Green Car ReportsImage Credit: Tesla Motors Green Fisker Tesla Green Automakers Safety Electric recharge wrapup