Fisker Automotive plans to establish a new technical center in the Midwest as the company moves toward production of a hybrid automobile that could be built in Delaware.
The new facility, currently planned for opening in spring 2013, will bring Fisker closer to key component suppliers and low-emission technical expertise at the heart of the American automotive industry. It will also be closer to Fisker’s intended production facility for the Atlantic in Delaware, a company release noted.
The Atlantic project in Delaware has been in mothballs, due to the suspension of a federal loan that would retool the former GM plant in Delaware.
However, the company has expressed optimism that the situation will be resolved next month. Fisker has raised a large amount of money on the private equity market.
“This important step signals our commitment to bringing the Fisker Atlantic to market as soon as we can,” said Fisker Automotive, CEO, Tony Posawatz. “We will be bringing our own engineering footprint closer to our supplier base and the expertise and professional workforce that have driven the American automotive industry for more than a century.”
The company previously had a technical center in Pontiac, Mich. from fall 2008 through spring 2010 as final development and engineering was completed on the company’s first car, the Fisker Karma sedan.
“We brought the Fisker Karma to market in record time with the help of our previous Michigan Technical facility, and now is the time to open up a permanent Technical Center to support the final Atlantic development,” said Fisker Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Henrik Fisker.
“Fisker is an innovative high-tech and design-led company with our roots firmly in California. Our global headquarters, together with design and advanced engineering, will remain in Anaheim, but with this latest move we will benefit by having the best of both worlds,” added Posawatz.
The Fisker Atlantic design prototype, first revealed in April 2012, is a luxury four-door sports sedan with a practical interior. It is aimed at young families who want to drive a practical, low-emission, vehicle that also combines design flare, sports performance and premium engineering, the release noted.
The Atlantic will use the latest second generation EVer (Electric Vehicle with extended range) technology. A significant amount of the components for the car have already been designed and the new Technical Center will spearhead final product development, component readiness and production launch, according to the company.
Fisker Automotive is currently in the process of evaluating different locations in the Midwest area and intends to announce further details of the Technical Center’s final location and expected staffing levels early in the new year.
