2023 Fisker Ocean One on 2040-cars

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Fisker will borrow $5M from Wanxiang as interim solution

It may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately $1 billion in liabilities bankrupt automaker Fisker Automotive has against it, but every bit helps. In this case, it's a smidgeon less than $5 billion. That's how much the maker of the Karma extended-range plug-in is getting approved to borrow from its presumed future owner, Wanxiang Group. It's a start. A US bankruptcy court judge said Wanxiang could loan Fisker $4.98 million for interim financing purposes while the China-based company waits to get antitrust clearance from the US government to buy the now-dormant California-based company, Bloomberg News says. Fisker is seeking another $10.5 million in loans via a debtor-in-possession loan. After that, things get real interesting as everyone from the state of Delaware to General Motors to Finland's Valmet Automotive and more than 600 other entities have gotten in line to collect on what's alleged as $985.4 million in debt. Last month, Wanxiang won a bid against Hong Kong-based Hybrid Tech Holdings for Fisker, which hasn't made any Karmas since mid-2012. Wanxiang will pay $149.2 million, including $126.2 million in cash and $8 million in assumed liabilities, for Fisker. The automaker filed for bankruptcy last November and Wanxiang bounced the company back as the The New Fisker this week.

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.”    

Fisker EMotion EV and flexible solid-state battery debut at CES

We've been following Henrik Fisker's new company closely, and have taken a keen interest not just in his Fisker EMotion luxury electric sedan, but also in the battery and charging technology the company's been developing. Now, at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show ( CES) in Las Vegas, we've gotten a full reveal of the upcoming vehicle, as well as new details about Fisker's solid-state battery technology, which has the potential for dramatic increases in electric driving range. Fisker teased the reveal of the EMotion in recent days, showing off the butterfly doors, and giving us a glimpse of the interior. Previously, we had learned of its fantastic, 400-plus-mile range and swift charging capabilities. A conversation we had with Henrik Fisker revealed more about the design, the battery and a secret charging method that he thought could change the EV game. Now, we have a lot more details about the car, though Fisker is still keeping some of his company's tricks under his hat. View 21 Photos The all-wheel-drive Fisker EMotion will have an estimated top speed of 161 miles per hour. It will be capable of Level 4 automated driving thanks to a suite of five Quanergy lidar sensors. The car will ride on 24-inch Pirelli low-rolling-resistance tires. The butterfly doors feature flush handles, and they open and close with the help of smartphone control. The car is about 197 inches long, with an overall height of about 52 inches, but Fisker says the packaging of the electric powertrain allows for a more spacious interior than most vehicles of this size. Let's talk more about that interior, as this is the first time we've gotten such a close look at it. It's very luxurious, combining the comfort of leather with the convenience of modern infotainment technology. Fisker says it will also offer a vegan interior option for the EMotion. The car has four individually adjustable electric seats, with a five-seat option with a rear bench. Fisker promised the car would provide entertainment when operating in autonomous mode, and that comes in the form of three driver-oriented screens, with a curved center screen, as well as an optional 27-inch rear curved screen for the Chauffeur Edition EMotion. The glass roof features four zones of tint, each electrically adjustable to let in your desired amount of light. The Fisker EMotion is set to launch by the end of 2019, with a starting price of $129,000. The company is currently taking reservations for $2,000 at its website.