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FISKER AUTOMOTIVE STARTS FIRST ROUND OF JOB POSTINGS - June 22, 2011
Fisker Automotive will start the first stage of a comprehensive job creation program this weekend as advertisements for the first positions at the re-commissioned Wilmington, Delaware plant are posted.
The plan for 2011 will encompass the hiring of about 120 employees. This initial group will be made up of engineering staff, electro-mechanical technicians, and early teams of production workers as
Fisker starts preparing for the launch of its second line of production vehicles, code-named Project Nina, at the end of 2012 with sales commencing in 2013.
Forty electro-mechanical technicians, will be hired during July and August, a further 80 production employees will be added between October and February 2012 and there will be a continuous addition of
jobs as the Project Nina platform nears full production.
Says Fisker Automotive Chief Operating Officer, Bernhard Koehler; "This is an exciting time for Fisker. As we bring the Fisker Karma sedan to market and start delivering to customers, we are
simultaneously starting to employ a world-class American workforce to build world-class American electric vehicles with extended range (EVer) in a re-commissioned American plant."
The announcement of new jobs in Delaware comes on top of a significant employment expansion at Fisker's Global Headquarters based in Anaheim, California. The company's headcount in California has
quadrupled from 50 staff in January 2010 to 200 in January 2011. By the end of June it will have increased a further 50% to 300 direct hires. In addition, with a similar number of contractors (300), Fisker will have
created more than 600 American jobs in the past 18 months.
Adds Koehler; "2011 is a pivotal year for us in Delaware. As we start to hire new employees, we will begin the process of installing new equipment and testing the manufacturing process."
As befits a company with Fisker's environmental credentials, since buying the plant in Summer 2010 the company has spent the last few months clearing out and re-commissioning the plant. However,
instead of scrapping materials Fisker has sent more than 11.2 million pounds of Iron, steel, wood and aluminum on more than 400 truckloads to be re-cycled.
The revenue generated from these recovery and re-cycling activities has been used to purchase more materials, tools and equipment as well as on additional factory improvements. Some materials are
being re-used by Fisker itself. For example, wood from the original production line has even been used to floor the reception area of the Anaheim headquarters.
The Project Nina program will be a new generation of Fisker cars, following on from the Fisker Karma, the world's first true luxury electric vehicle with extended range (EVer).
The first Project Nina vehicle, scheduled to roll off the Wilmington, Delaware production line at the end of 2012, will be a mid-size premium sedan that delivers on Fisker's promise of "Pure Driving
Passion."
FISKER KARMA MAKES EUROPEAN DYNAMIC DEBUT
Monaco, 28/05/2011
Prince Albert of Monaco joined company co-founder Henrik Fisker to drive Karma around Monaco Grand Prix circuit
Visitors to the world's most prestigious motorsport event, the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, were among the first to see the first Fisker Karma off the production line put through its paces as it
made its European driving debut on the famous street circuit.
On Saturday 28 May 2011, before official race qualifying began, the first European production version of the Fisker Karma, the world's first true Electric Vehicle with extended range, took to the
streets of Monaco, completing a couple of laps.
The vehicle was piloted by Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. His Serene Highness was joined during this momentous occasion by company co-founder, CEO and executive design director, Henrik Fisker.
This event marked the first dynamic, public showing of the Karma in Europe.
Fisker commented: "The Fisker Karma project has a distinct Monaco link. Prince Albert was one of the people who inspired me to create the Fisker Karma. When I met him at the Top Marques Show in Monaco
in 2006 he commented that he would love to see a fuel-efficient luxury car, and from that small seed grew the concept of what became Fisker Automotive and our focus on premium EVer cars that deliver pure driving
passion.
"We want to thank both the principality of Monaco and Prince Albert for not only being the inspiration, but also a great support for our groundbreaking automotive green initiative," continued Fisker.
Designed to reflect Henrik's paradigm of Responsible Luxury™, the Fisker Karma is the first American-designed and engineered luxury vehicle specifically developed to appeal to world markets. It
is the only luxury sedan in the world that meets future fuel consumption and emission requirements, making it suitable for any international city.
The Karma was also on static display during the race weekend, both at the chicane exiting the tunnel, turns 10 and 11, otherwise known as the Nouvelle Chicane, and thereafter in Cavallari – Monaco
Motors, Fisker's newest dealership, located on 6- 11 rue Princesse Florestine, MC 98000.
The only true Electric Vehicle with extended range, the Fisker Karma drives its rear wheels using two rear-mounted 201.5 horsepower (150 kW) electric traction motors that draw energy from the
lithium-ion battery pack for up to 50 miles (80 km). The gasoline engine drives a 175 kW electric generator to power the motors; there is no mechanical link between this engine and the drive motors.
Uniquely, the Fisker Karma can run in one of two drive modes: Stealth and Sport. Stealth Mode maximizes efficiency, giving the car its greatest range on battery power before activating the gasoline
engine-driven generator to sustain battery charge. In Stealth Mode, the Karma can accelerate from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.9 seconds and achieve a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h). With Sport Mode engaged, the
gasoline engine drives the generator to provide enough electricity for 403 total system horsepower, allowing the Karma to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds and achieve a top speed of 125 mph (201
km/h).
In all aspects of performance, the Fisker Karma is designed to be a true driver's car. Its proprietary, advanced aluminum space frame incorporates new levels of rigidity and strength that give the
Karma world-class ride and handling characteristics. Fisker Automotive's engineering team designed the Karma's space frame around the car's unique powertrain, filing for multiple patents in the process.
Benefitting from a four-wheel independent SLA (double-wishbone) suspension, also employing aluminum components, the Karma has been specifically tuned to run on standard 22-inch aluminum wheels, a
first for a production car.
Production of the Fisker Karma recently started at Valmet Automotive's Uusikaupunki facility in Finland with Fisker aiming to achieve full build rate by the second half of 2011. It is Fisker's plan to
deliver vehicles to all current deposit holders during the 2011 model year.
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