Fisker Automotive and Technology Group will open a 150 employee manufacturing plant in California that will build its luxury sedan, that had been known as the Karma.
The manufacturing facility in Moreno Valley, a short distance from their headquarters in Costa Mesa in Orange Count, CA.
Fisker will produce its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at this California manufacturing facility for worldwide sale. At the start of production, the company expects to create 150 full-time manufacturing jobs.
“FATG believes in the quality, work ethic and competitiveness of manufacturing in the United States,” said James Taylor, chief Marketing Officer of FATG. “California’s natural beauty, trend setting, technology, and environmental focus are perfectly aligned with our Karma re-launch.”
Taylor said the proximity of this plant to our engineering and design headquarters will yield the highest quality product and maximum flexibility to meet our customers’ expectations.”
“The governor has established ambitious goals for California to lead the world in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the development and adoption of clean vehicle technologies. I am proud to welcome Fisker Automotive’ s new advanced manufacturing vehicle technology plant in Moreno Valley, California,” said Michael Rossi, senior advisor on Jobs and Business Development to California Governor Jerry Brown.
The Karma was produced under contract in Finland by Fisker Automotive prior to its shutdown and bankruptcy filing in Delaware.
The luxury vehicle was praised for its looks, but was plagued by a host of problems as Fisker burned through a combination of private capital and a portion of a federal loan and a $20 million financial package from the state.
The new owners have vowed to fix the problems.
Fisker assets were purchased out of bankruptcy by Wanxiang, a Chinese parts supplier and assembler of hybrid buses.
Fisker also ended up with the former GM Boxwood plant in the asset deal. The plant was to have built the mid-sized Fisker Atlantic plug-in hybrid. The new ownership group has indicated that it wants to develop the Atlantic, but has set no timeline for its introduction.
New Castle County has indicated it might attempt to buy the plant as a way to ensure the site remains available for manufacturing or other industrial purposes.
During the past year, the spotlight has shifted away from Fisker and toward Tesla, a maker of a pure electric veicle that is also built in California.
Tesla has announced plans to build a $35,000 electric sedan with a 250-mile range. While some remain skeptical, bringing in the car at that price would take a bite out of the market for smaller luxury vehicles that is now dominated by BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Cadillac and other nameplates.
