Fisker Automotive has taken the final steps to getting the fantastic Karma plug-in hybrid onto the road, with the signing of a final assembly contract. Fisker announced that it has signed a contract with Valmet Automotive to build the Karma in Finland starting in the fourth quarter of 2009. Valmet will be Fisker's primary manufacturing and engineering supplier. The first Fisker Karmas are expected to roll off of the line in late 2009, and Valmet can produce 15,000 cars annually.
Valmet Automotive will build a new body welding line to produce the Karma, and approximately 500 jobs will be created. The company has plenty of experience building high-quality vehicles, as they're also responsible for building the Porsche Boxster and Cayman.
Just in case you've missed it, the Fisker Karma is a four-door plug-in hybrid sedan with show-car looks and luxury-car appointments. The series hybrid powertrain offers reported 125-mph performance and up to 50 miles of full-electric travel. An optional rooftop solar panel offers grid-free charging. Pricing for the Fisker Karma is expected to start around $80,000.
Source: Fisker Automotive
Press Release(Click to expand)
Fisker Automotive and Valmet Automotive Have Signed Final Assembly Contract for the Fisker Karma
Fisker Automotive, Inc., a green American premium car company, today announced that they have signed the final assembly contract with Valmet Automotive to manufacture the Fisker Karma in Finland. Valmet Automotive will be the engineering and manufacturing supplier for Fisker Automotive.
The Fisker Karma is a new four-door plug-in hybrid sports sedan and its production is planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2009. The first vehicles will be delivered in fourth quarter 2009 with an annual production projected to reach 15,000 vehicles.
For the production of the Fisker Karma, a new body welding line will be built at Valmet Automotive. The painting and assembly process can be easily adapted to the production of electric and hybrid cars.
"The agreement is very significant for us and our employment situation in the years to come," says Ilpo Korhonen, President of Valmet Automotive. "With the planned full production volume, the cooperation with Fisker Automotive will employ some 500 blue collar workers at Valmet Automotive."
"Fisker Automotive and Valmet Automotive make a great, professional team. The schedule is demanding, but I'm confident that with good cooperation the production will start on schedule. A hybrid drive train, battery technology and a new body design with light weight materials is a great challenge to our engineering and production teams. Our supplier quality management team is also involved in the project," said Ilpo Korhonen, President of Valmet Automotive.
"We are pleased with the current progress in this working relationship and know that we have the team that will help us meet our production goal," said Fisker Automotive COO, Bernhard Koehler.
"We are very pleased to have the final contract signed and are looking forward to a long business relationship with Valmet," said Fisker Automotive CEO, Henrik Fisker.
With the nice design of the car, it's probably one of the best 80K car around. I'm just curious how far it can go with both electric and gas. Hope the solar panel is not too expensive.
What a great car. I hope they sell many. Tesla and Fisker seem to be able to place new car technology must faster than huge car manufacturers with larger bank accounts.
Dont buy this vehicle. This company should get taxed MORE. While our domestic auto industry is dying, companies like Fisker creates 500 jobs... in FINLAND! What a slap in the face. All these green a-holes will be driving this crap thinking they're contributing to anything. Chevy Volt! Help America!
I dont, and even if I did, most japanese and korean vehicles have factories right here in the US and do employ hundreds of thousands of people. And the point if that this car company is a start up and should be creating jobs here in America not in Finland, from all places.
