2023 Fisker Ocean One Awd on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla sells Model S 85 and 70D in Malaysia, Chevy Spark EV built using clean energy

Tesla will send Model S 70D and Model S 85 EVs to Malaysia for leasing to government-linked companies. Only those companies will have access to the models as a two-year lease, which will be imported and leased by Malaysian Green Technology Corporation. The plan is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water to allow government officials and other influential people to get to know the electric vehicles and the benefits that come along with them. Most of the 120 vehicles available will be the 70D model, and the lessee companies will have the option to purchase the cars at the end of the two years. Read more from Paul Tan's Automotive News. Wanxiang is hosting students from Delaware in China as part of a program to learn Mandarin and visit schools and science and technology sites. Wanxiang, the auto parts company that acquired Fisker (which had manufacturing based in Delaware) and battery maker A123 Systems, will give the students tours of its solar technology facilities, among other places, and see what daily life is like for families in the region. The program helps students interested in science and technology to foster marketable skills — like learning a foreign language — that will help them get jobs in industries around the world. Read more at Delaware Online. The Chevrolet Spark EV's electric motor (pictured) and drive unit are manufactured using clean energy. The e-motors building of the General Motors Baltimore Operations complex has a new rooftop solar array and uses LED and CFL lighting, helping the building recently earn LEED Silver certification. The landfill-free facility also takes advantage of the 1.23-megawatt solar array on the grounds, helping it source six percent its energy from renewable sources. The plant has reduced its energy intensity by 15.5 percent in three years, and continues to work toward reducing consumption and sourcing clean energy. "We believe reducing our environmental footprint is good for the climate and good for our business," says GM Executive Director of Global Public Policy Greg Martin. Read more in the press release below. Spark EV Motor Plant Fueled by Green, Clean Energy ENERGY STAR®, USGBC and Maryland state agency recognize facility's efforts WHITE MARSH, Md. – Chevrolet recently began selling the Spark EV to Maryland commuters able to take advantage of the state's robust charging infrastructure.

Aston Martin drops Fisker lawsuit, Thunderbolt will not be produced

If you were perhaps looking forward to getting your hands on one of Henrik Fisker's Project Thunderbolt cars, you're out of luck. In order to quickly resolve a lawsuit from Aston Martin, Fisker has agreed to not produce his one-off take on the Vanquish coupe. Fisker made a splash at this year's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance when he showed Project Thunderbolt. It was Henrik's own take on the already pretty Aston Martin Vanquish coupe, and apparently, the guys and gals in Gaydon didn't take too kindly to Fisker's creation, issuing a lawsuit that "centres on Henrik Fisker's creation and promotion of automobiles that Aston Martin contends infringes Aston Martin's rights, by an improper and unauthorised attempt to exploit and free-ride off them," according to a statement obtained by Autoblog last month. In a new statement issued Wednesday, the two parties have agreed to resolve their differences. Aston Martin has agreed to drop the lawsuit so long as Fisker does not produce his Project Thunderbolt coupe. So, sorry, Fisker fans. The official statement is pasted below. On March 26, 2015, Aston Martin filed a lawsuit against Henrik Fisker and other parties alleging various infringements by "Project Thunderbolt" of Aston Martin's intellectual property rights. The parties are pleased to report that they have been able to swiftly and amicably resolve their differences. The terms of the resolution are confidential except that the Parties wish to confirm 3 points: 1. Henrik Fisker has decided that "Project Thunderbolt" will not be produced; 2. Aston Martin will withdraw the lawsuit; and 3. In view of some apparent misunderstandings surrounding reports of the case, the Parties wish to expressly confirm that the contentions made by AML were those, and only those, made in the lawsuit. The Parties confirm that that they have amicably resolved those matters, as well as any attendant misunderstandings. The Parties will not be commenting further.

Fisker is laying off 15% of staff and says it needs more cash ahead of a 'difficult year'

Electric vehicle startup Fisker is planning to lay off 15% of its workforce and says it likely does not have enough cash on hand to survive the next 12 months. The company says it is trying to find a way to raise that money as it works through a pivot from direct sales to a dealership model. "[W]e have put a plan in place to streamline the company as we prepare for another difficult year," founder and CEO Henrik Fisker said in a statement. Fisker reported more than 1,300 employees as of the end of September 2023, meaning the cut could affect close to 200 people. The company's share price plunged 35% in after-hours trading. Fisker said Thursday that it finished 2023 with $396 million in cash, though $70 million of that is restricted. The company says it is talking with one of its lenders about making "an additional investment" in the company. It also claims it is "in negotiations with a large automaker for a potential transaction which could include an investment in Fisker, joint development of one or more electric vehicle platforms, and North America manufacturing." A partnership like that will be crucial, as Fisker executives said on a call Thursday that it won't invest any more money in its future products unless it works with another automaker. That means the fates of a pickup truck, compact EV and other models that Fisker has teased are now in question. The company's financial struggles come as it is trying to move to a wholesale model built around partnerships with dealers, a shift that Fisker says has "negatively impacted" its sales so far. It's currently sitting on inventory of thousands of vehicles that are collectively worth more than $500 million. Fisker says it has received interest from around 250 dealerships but has only signed up 13 to date. Fisker has also been dealing with a number of problems with its Ocean SUV, its only model so far, as TechCrunch reported earlier this month. The company has said it resolved some issues with a software update in December and planned to fix many more in a larger 2.0 update earlier this month, but that only started making its way to customer vehicles this week. It is currently being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for reports of sudden brake failure, as well as for a handful of vehicle rollaway incidents. A number of big automakers are pulling back on their aggressive EV targets, and newer players are having trouble as well.