2023 Fisker Ocean One on 2040-cars

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Henrik Fisker: No 'final conclusion' yet in Foxconn deal

Two years ago, EV startup Fisker seemed to have hooked a giant when it announced a deal with Taiwanese iPhone maker Foxconn to build a sub-$30,000 crossover in the United States. It turns out that deal hasn't been finalized, according to comments Fisker founder and CEO Henrik Fisker made during an interview with TechCrunch. "In the Foxconn deal specifically, we don't yet have a final conclusion to this deal," Fisker told TechCrunch on the sidelines of an event in Huntington Beach, California, to showcase its future EV portfolio. While Henrik Fisker is still confident it will come together, his comments show just how precarious and complex automotive manufacturing deals can be. And considering Foxconn's history of backing out of other factory agreements, there's reason for some caution. The Foxconn-Fisker deal Foxconn and Fisker signed in February 2021 a memorandum of understanding agreement, with the goal of producing 250,000 vehicles annually. While it wasn't clear which vehicle Fisker might build with Foxconn, the automaker had said that it was working on the Personal Automotive Electric Revolution (PEAR) — an EV built for cities and urban environments that would cost less than $30,000. The Fisker-Foxconn deal came together relatively quickly following the announcement of the memorandum, and by May 2021, Foxconn and Fisker had a signed agreement, setting those expectations in writing. A few months later, Foxconn made a separate deal with EV maker Lordstown Motors that included buying its factory in Ohio and helping the struggling company manufacture its Endurance electric pickup truck. Fisker became a beneficiary of the deal when, in May 2022, the company announced it reached an agreement with Foxconn to build its PEAR EV at the Lordstown factory. But cracks soon formed in Foxconn's agreement with Lordstown Motors. Lordstown Motors filed for bankruptcy and has sued Foxconn for "fraudulent conduct," stating that the Taiwanese company had made a litany of "broken promises." Foxconn currently still owns the manufacturing plant in Lordstown, Ohio, and Fisker says that plans to build the PEAR in the Lordstown plant are still on track. Foxconn is no stranger to scuttling done deals. The company withdrew from a $19.5 billion agreement with Indian company Vedanta last month. It also famously received a $3 billion incentives package to build a factory in Wisconsin that was supposed to create 13,000 jobs.

Taiwan's Foxconn discussing electric vehicle plant in Wisconsin

TAIPEI — Taiwan's Foxconn said on Friday it was in talks with the U.S. state of Wisconsin about building electric vehicles there, part of the major Apple Inc supplier's push to diversify income streams. Foxconn and electric car manufacturer Fisker Inc said in May that they had finalized a vehicle-assembly deal. They did not identify a location, but Fisker's CEO said Foxconn's Wisconsin site was a possibility. In a statement, Foxconn said it had begun discussions with Wisconsin. "Foxconn has engaged the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to discuss the company's plans for electric vehicle manufacturing. Foxconn is optimistic about our partnership with WEDC and looks forward to ongoing discussions," it added. The company, formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry, gave no further details. In April, Foxconn drastically scaled back a planned $10 billion factory in Wisconsin, confirming its retreat from a project that former U.S. President Donald Trump once called "the eighth wonder of the world" and was supposed to build cutting-edge flat-panel display screens. A month earlier, Foxconn's chairman said it may make EVs at the Wisconsin site, though could decide on Mexico, and would make a decision this year. Over the past year or so Foxconn has announced several deals on the production of EVs with automakers including Fisker, China's Byton and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Stellantis NV's Fiat Chrysler unit. Foxconn aims to provide components or services to 10% of the world's EVs by 2025 to 2027, posing a threat to established automakers by allowing technology companies a shortcut to competing in the vehicle market. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by David Goodman and David Evans) Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green Plants/Manufacturing Fisker Electric Wisconsin Foxconn

Fisker electric SUV named Ocean, and it'll have an app-based lease

Veteran car designer and Fisker chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker has done much teasing of his new electric crossover, and now it has a name: the Fisker Ocean. We like it, if we’re being honest. In the Fisker brandÂ’s previous iteration, during the era of the Karma, it had at one point planned a vehicle called the Atlantic, and we dig the marine theme. WeÂ’ve also got a few clear photos of the Fisker Ocean showing off its front and rear, as well as a look at its solar roof. On the tailgate, we can now see the “Ocean” badge beneath the Fisker logo. Fisker also announced that the Ocean will get an app-based leasing program, which Henrik Fisker himself has promised will be priced “way, way, way lower” than the electric Volvo XC40 under the Care by Volvo program (which starts at $700 a month), with “way, way, way more miles per year” and “no minimum term.” “The future of mobility is about enjoying an electric vehicle without hassle, long-term commitment and the prohibitive high cost of ownership,” Henrik Fisker said in a statement. “Driving the Fisker Ocean will be easy: through a flexible lease via a mobile app. And we take care of all the service and maintenance. Simply put, weÂ’re introducing the future of hassle-free, fun and easy e-mobility.” Reservations of for the Ocean open through the app on November 27. We wonÂ’t see the full reveal of the Fisker Ocean until January 4, 2020, but Fisker has offered a number of details about what it claims is “the worldÂ’s most sustainable vehicle.” The EV will come standard with an 80-kWh battery pack, with Fisker targeting about 250 to 300 miles of driving range on a charge. It features a solar roof, which could provide 1,000 miles of free range per year, with eventual hardware improvements increasing those efficiencies. Fisker has also put a lot of thought into the materials going into the Ocean. In lieu of leather, the crossover will feature a vegan interior. The carpet is made from recycled nylon, sourced from abandoned fishing line pulled from the oceans and other aquatic habitats. Eco-suede materials are recycled from recycled polyester and other recycled plastics. The car will also use rubber repurposed from tire manufacturing waste. Fisker will unveil the working, production-spec prototype during a livestream on January 4, but donÂ’t be surprised if we got more teasers between now and then, especially around the launch of the lease app.