Henrik Fisker (born 10 August 1963) is a
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
automotive designer and entrepreneur based in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
. He is best known for designing luxury cars including the
BMW Z8
The BMW Z8 is a roadster produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1998 to 2006. The Z8 was developed under the codename "E52" between 1993 and 1999, through the efforts of a design team led by Chris Bangle from 1993 to 1995. The ext ...
,
Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin. Available both in coupé and a convertible bodystyles, the latter being known as the Volante, the DB9 was the successor to the DB7. It was first shown at the 2003 Frankfurt ...
,
Aston Martin V8 Vantage,
Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive in 2012. The cars were manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated th ...
,
Galpin-Fisker Mustang Rocket,
VLF Force 1 V10,
VLF Destino V8,
Fisker EMotion,
Fisker Ocean
Fisker Inc. is an American automotive company founded by Henrik Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker. Launched in 2016 and based in Southern California, Fisker Inc. is the successor to Fisker Automotive, which produced the Fisker Karma. Fis ...
, and
Fisker Orbit. He also designed the Viking motorcycle and
Benetti Fisker 50
The Benetti Fisker 50 is a superyacht concept designed by Henrik Fisker in California, to be built by Italian boat-building company Benetti in Livorno. Fisker and Benetti announced a partnership in 2015 to design and build a series of superyachts ...
superyacht
A superyacht or megayacht is a large and luxurious pleasure vessel. There are no official or agreed upon definitions for such yachts, but these terms are regularly used to describe professionally crewed motor or sailing yachts, ranging from to ...
, and is involved in the design of flexible
solid-state battery
A solid-state battery is a battery technology that uses solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte, instead of the liquid or polymer gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries.
While solid electrolytes were first discovered ...
technology. He is the founder of HF Design, co-founded
VLF Automotive
VLF Automotive is a small American-based automotive company formed in January 2016. It was founded as VL Automotive in 2012 by Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal, then renamed after Henrik Fisker joined the company.
Company history
The company wa ...
, founder and former CEO of
Fisker Coachbuild
Fisker Coachbuild was a car design firm based in Orange County, California. The company produced custom luxury cars. It produced the Tramonto and Latigo CS. It also designed and manufactured aftermarket parts such as aluminum alloy wheels, ...
, founder of
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive was an American company known for producing the Fisker Karma, which was one of the world's first production luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. It debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, and first ...
, where he served as chairman and CEO until March 2013, and currently is the founder, chairman, and CEO of
Fisker Inc.
Early life and education
Fisker was born in
Allerød, Denmark.
[Chuck Squatriglia]
"Henrik Fisker's 'Timeless' Automotive Designs,"
''Wired
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San ...
'', 2 July 2010. As a young boy he became interested in cars after seeing a
Maserati Bora
The Maserati Bora (Tipo AM117) is a mid-engine two-seat coupe manufactured by Maserati from 1971 to 1978. In common with other Maserati cars of the era, it is named after a wind, Bora being the wind of Trieste. The Bora ended Maserati's repu ...
on the highway, and soon started sketching designs in notebooks.
[Joann Muller]
"The Next Detroit,"
''Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
'', 21 May 2009. He graduated with a degree in transportation design from the
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design (stylized as ArtCenter College of Design) is a private art college in Pasadena, California.
History
ArtCenter College of Design was founded in 1930 in downtown Los Angeles as the Art Center School.
In 1935, Fred ...
in
Vevey, Switzerland
Vevey (; frp, Vevê; german: label=former German, Vivis) is a town in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne. The German name Vivis is no longer commonly used.
It was the seat of the district of ...
, in 1989.
["BMW still has love for Fisker's design,"](_blank)
''Automotive News
''Automotive News'' is a weekly newspaper written for the automotive industry, predominantly individuals corresponding with automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Based in Detroit and owned by Crain Communications Inc, ''Automotive ...
'', 21 March 2016.
Career
BMW (1989–2001)
![BMW Z8 - Flickr - Alexandre Prévot (2) (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/BMW_Z8_-_Flickr_-_Alexandre_Pr%C3%A9vot_%282%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 1989, Fisker began working at
BMW Technik, the company's advanced design studio in Munich. His first project there was the E1 electric concept car.
[John Phillips]
"What I'd Do Differently: Henrik Fisker,"
''Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was f ...
'', December 2011. From 1992 to 1997, he refined the Z07 concept car, which would become the
BMW Z8
The BMW Z8 is a roadster produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1998 to 2006. The Z8 was developed under the codename "E52" between 1993 and 1999, through the efforts of a design team led by Chris Bangle from 1993 to 1995. The ext ...
roadster, produced from 1999 to 2003. The car combined design elements from the company's past with a modern look, paying homage to the iconic
BMW 507
The BMW 507 is a roadster that was produced by BMW from 1956 until 1959. Initially intended to be exported to the United States at a rate of thousands per year, it ended up being too expensive, resulting in a total production figure of 252 cars ...
(produced from 1956 to 1959). Fisker also worked on the design of BMW's first
SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definiti ...
, the original
X5, and a mid-size luxury
crossover
Crossover may refer to:
Entertainment
Albums and songs
* ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album)
* ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987
* ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album)
* ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album)
* ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
introduced in 1999.
From 1999 to 2001, Fisker was the president and chief executive officer of
Designworks
Designworks is a global creative consultancy owned by BMW and based in Santa Monica, California, United States. Designworks has two further studios, in Munich, Germany and Shanghai, China. Established independently in 1972 by Charles Pelly, it ...
, a BMW industrial design studio headquartered in
Newbury Park, California
Newbury Park is a populated place and townReal Estate Communications, Inc. (1984). ''California Real Estate Directory''. Page 201. in Ventura County, California, United States.
Most of it lies within the western Thousand Oaks city limits, while ...
.
[ Fara Warner]
"Creative Drive,"
''Fast Company'', 31 August 2001.
Ford and Aston Martin (2001–05)
Fisker left BMW for the
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobi ...
in 2001, where he served as design director at
Aston Martin. He was in charge of the production design of the
Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin. Available both in coupé and a convertible bodystyles, the latter being known as the Volante, the DB9 was the successor to the DB7. It was first shown at the 2003 Frankfurt ...
(in production from 2004 to 2016), bringing in elements from the history of Aston Martin cars. The DB9 was available as both a coupe and a convertible. Fisker also designed the
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (in production from 2005 to the present).
["Aston Martin High End Luxury Sports Cars,"](_blank)
Rags To Riches, 15 April 2016. It was named the coolest car of the year and the best sounding car of the year by ''
Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' in 2005. The Vantage is the best selling Aston Martin of all time.
The extent of Fisker's involvement in designing both the DB9 and V8 Vantage has been disputed, however, with former director of design at Aston Martin
Ian Callum
Ian Stuart Callum (born 30 July 1954) is a Scottish car designer who has worked for Ford, TWR, and Aston Martin. In 1999 he became the Director of Design for Jaguar Cars, later Jaguar Land Rover, a position he held until mid 2019.
In 201 ...
saying the two cars were largely designed under his watch before Fisker joined the company.
From September 2001 to August 2003, Fisker was creative director of Ingeni, Ford's London-based design and creativity center. In August 2003, he became the director of Ford's Global Advanced Design Studio in
Irvine, California
Irvine () is a master-planned city in South Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on December 28, 197 ...
, where the
Ford Shelby GR-1
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a high performance concept car developed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford. It was first introduced to the public at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as a clay model. A fully functional concept was revea ...
was designed.
In 2005, Fisker left Aston Martin and the Ford Motor Company.
[Jerry Garrett]
"Fisker's Vision: A Handbuilt Coach With Lots of Horses,"
''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', 11 September 2005.
Fisker Coachbuild (2005–07)
![FiskerLogo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/FiskerLogo.jpg)
In 2005, Fisker teamed up with
Bernhard Koehler
Bernhard Koehler (born 7 November 1849 in Berlin; died 30 March 1927 in Berlin) was a German industrialist and art collector.
Life
Koehler, who came from a family of merchants, grew up in Berlin. In 1876, Koehler founded the ''Mechanische Werk ...
, a colleague from his days at BMW and Aston Martin, to start a new luxury car custom design firm,
Fisker Coachbuild
Fisker Coachbuild was a car design firm based in Orange County, California. The company produced custom luxury cars. It produced the Tramonto and Latigo CS. It also designed and manufactured aftermarket parts such as aluminum alloy wheels, ...
, based in
Orange County, California
Orange County is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States, a ...
.
Coach-built (or custom-built) one-of-a-kind cars were extremely rare after the 1950s, primarily due to the difficulty and costliness created by strict Federal safety and pollution rules. With Fisker Coachbuild, Fisker planned a modern version of
coachbuilding
A coachbuilder or body-maker is someone who manufactures bodies for passenger-carrying vehicles.Construction has always been a skilled trade requiring a relatively lightweight product with sufficient strength. The manufacture of necessarily ...
, dealing in runs of 150 cars.
The company's first car was the
Fisker Tramonto
Fisker Coachbuild was a car design firm based in Orange County, California. The company produced custom luxury cars. It produced the Tramonto and Latigo CS. It also designed and manufactured aftermarket parts such as aluminum alloy wheels, ...
, a roadster with a re-bodied
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG, with a longer hood line and slimmer rear. The company's second car was the
Fisker Latigo CS
The Fisker Latigo CS is one of the two models developed and produced by Fisker Coachbuild. It debuted at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show along with the Fisker Tramonto. The Fisker Latigo CS was intended to be limited to a run of 150 cars. Ultimatel ...
, with a re-bodied
BMW 645Ci coupe. Fewer than 15 of the vehicles were ever built.
In 2007,
Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles (electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to grid- ...
hired Fisker to perform initial design work on the
Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is a battery-powered liftback car serving as the flagship model of Tesla, Inc. The Model S features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive layout, although earlier versions of the Model S featured a rear-motor and rear-wheel drive ...
electric sedan,
[Claire Cain Miller]
"Tesla Promised Another $40 Million, Loses Lawsuit,"
''New York Times'', 3 November 2008. which was introduced in 2012. That year, he also designed the body of the
Artega GT
The Artega GT was a RMR layout, mid-engined, rear wheel drive 2-seat sports car produced by German automobile manufacturer Artega Automobile, Artega between 2009 and 2012. The ''GT'' was Artega's first model. A total of 153 units were produced.
...
two-door sports car,
Artega Automobile
Artega Automobil GmbH & Co. KG is a German sports car manufacturer based in Delbrück, Germany. Founded by Klaus Dieter Frers in 2006, the company's first product was a mid-engined sports coupé released in 2007. In early 2010, a private equity a ...
's first model, which was produced between 2009 and 2012. It spawned the 2011 Artega SE, an electric sports car with an identical body.
Fisker Automotive (2007–13)
In August 2007, Fisker and Quantum Technologies teamed up to launch the luxury electric car startup
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive was an American company known for producing the Fisker Karma, which was one of the world's first production luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. It debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, and first ...
in
Anaheim, California
Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most ...
.
[Kirsten Korosec]
"The Fortune Q&A: Henrik Fisker,"
'' Fortune'', 6 April 2016. The first car to be produced by Fisker Automotive was the
Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive in 2012. The cars were manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated th ...
, a luxury plug-in hybrid sports sedan that was unveiled in a preproduction version in January 2008 at the
North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
[Bradley Berman]
"Henrik Fisker Resigns From Fisker Automotive,"
''New York Times'', 13 March 2013. At the auto show the following year, Fisker Automotive displayed the production version of the Karma. Fisker noted that the Karma would be the only car able to drive 50 miles on electric-only, and then proceed to drive as a regular car.
["E-Car Start-Ups Try to Compete With Major Companies,"](_blank)
''New York Times'', 13 January 2009. At the 2009 auto show, Fisker also unveiled the company's second model, the Karma Sunset, a two-door retractable-hardtop convertible based on the regular Karma. It was designed as the world's first plug-in hybrid convertible, and Fisker Automotive's first roadster. The
Fisker Surf
The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive in 2012. The cars were manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated the ...
, unveiled at the 2011
Frankfurt Motor Show
The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility shows. It cons ...
, was designed as a four-door plug-in hybrid hatchback, a roomier version of the Fisker Karma. Like the Karma, it was able to operate in an energy-saving mode. Neither the Sunset or Surf have been produced.
In 2008, Fisker raised over $90 million from investors including venture capital firm
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Kleiner Perkins, formerly Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), is an American venture capital firm which specializes in investing in incubation, early stage and growth companies. Since its founding in 1972, the firm has backed entrepreneur ...
and actor
Leonardo DiCaprio.
[Katie Fehrenbacher]
"A look under the hood: why electric car startup Fisker crashed and burned,"
Gigaom
Gigaom is a technology focused analyst firm and media company. The company evolved from a blog which offered news, analysis, and opinions on startup companies, emerging technologies, and other technology related topics. It was started by Om Malik ...
, 17 April 2013. In September 2009, Fisker Automotive was awarded a $528 million loan guarantee by the
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees U.S. national energy policy and manages the research and development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons in the United Stat ...
(DOE). The automaker was one of four recipients of the
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program is a $25 billion direct loan program funded by Congress in fall 2008 to provide debt capital to the U.S. automotive industry for the purpose of funding projects that help vehicles ...
, to encourage the domestic manufacture of electric cars. The funds were to be used to develop the Karma, as well as an affordable family-size plug-in hybrid car. The loan facility was frozen at $192 million in February 2012, after the DOE claimed that Fisker missed its milestones.
According to the DOE, the government recouped a total of approximately $53 million ($28 million from the company plus $25 million from the sale of the loan to Hybrid Technology, months before assets of Fisker Automotive were sold to
Wanxiang
Wanxiang Group Corporation () is a Chinese multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Its automotive components subsidiary (Wangxiang Qiaochao) is the largest China-based automotive components company meas ...
for $149.2 million). In total, Fisker Automotive raised $1.2 billion in public and private funds.
![Fisker at speed in the fog trimmed](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Fisker_at_speed_in_the_fog_trimmed.jpg)
Fisker resigned as chairman from Fisker Automotive in March 2013, because of disagreements with management about business strategy.
[Yuliya Chernova]
"Henrik Fisker Sues Aston Martin for $100 Million in Damages,"
''Wall Street Journal'', 4 January 2016. Later that year, the company declared voluntary bankruptcy. Assets of Fisker Automotive were sold at a bankruptcy auction in 2014 to Chinese automotive parts firm
Wanxiang
Wanxiang Group Corporation () is a Chinese multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Its automotive components subsidiary (Wangxiang Qiaochao) is the largest China-based automotive components company meas ...
for $149.2 million.
In September 2015, Fisker Automotive was renamed Karma Automotive.
[John Irwin]
"Designer Henrik Fisker joins Bob Lutz's team to jump-start new luxury automaker VLF in Auburn Hills,"
'' Crain's Detroit Business'', 9 January 2016. The Fisker Karma was renamed the Karma Revero in 2016.
[Mike Ramsey]
"Karma Automotive Renames Updated Electric Car, Moves Production to U.S.,"
''Wall Street Journal'', 25 April 2016. Fisker is not affiliated with Karma Automotive or its parent company Wanxiang.
HF Design (2013–present)
In 2013, Fisker formed HF Design & Technology, a Los Angeles-based design house. That year, HF Design entered into a partnership with Lauge Jensen Motorcycles (owned by
Lego heir Anders Kirk Johansen) to design a high-volume motorcycle. The design was completed in 2014.
In November 2014, Fisker made his return to car manufacturing with the
Galpin-Fisker Mustang Rocket, a coachbuilt custom-bodied Mustang, fitted with a 725-horsepower V8 engine. It has a top speed of 200 mph and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. A collaboration between HF Design and
Galpin Auto Sports (the largest Ford dealer in the US), the car debuted at the 2014
Los Angeles Auto Show. In 2017, it was renamed the VLF Rocket V8, reflecting the fact that it would be manufactured by Fisker's company VLF Automotive.
Benetti Fisker 50 yacht
In 2015, Fisker's HF Design teamed with
Benetti Yachts to create a series of
superyacht
A superyacht or megayacht is a large and luxurious pleasure vessel. There are no official or agreed upon definitions for such yachts, but these terms are regularly used to describe professionally crewed motor or sailing yachts, ranging from to ...
s named the
Benetti Fisker 50
The Benetti Fisker 50 is a superyacht concept designed by Henrik Fisker in California, to be built by Italian boat-building company Benetti in Livorno. Fisker and Benetti announced a partnership in 2015 to design and build a series of superyachts ...
, based on Fisker's exterior and interior designs, with the hull to be built of carbon fiber, using reclaimed wood and integrated solar panels, and onboard amenities to include a beach club, spa, bars, a pool and sunbathing areas on multiple decks. In April 2016, Fisker revealed a fuller view of the $37 million 50-meter (164-foot) superyacht designed in California and scheduled for production in
Livorno, Italy
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
.
[Hannah Elliott]
"See the $37 Million Benetti Superyacht Designed by Henrik Fisker,"
''Bloomberg Businessweek
''Bloomberg Businessweek'', previously known as ''BusinessWeek'', is an American weekly business magazine published fifty times a year. Since 2009, the magazine is owned by New York City-based Bloomberg L.P. The magazine debuted in New York City ...
'', 7 April 2016.[Danielle Muoio]
"Legendary car designer Henrik Fisker is building a $37 million luxury yacht lined with solar panels,"
''Tech Insider'', 3 July 2016. It has yet to be produced as of 2022.
VLF Automotive (2016–2019)
In January 2016, Fisker formed
VLF Automotive
VLF Automotive is a small American-based automotive company formed in January 2016. It was founded as VL Automotive in 2012 by Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal, then renamed after Henrik Fisker joined the company.
Company history
The company wa ...
with manufacturer and former
Boeing
The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and p ...
executive Gilbert Villarreal, and auto engineer and former
General Motors executive
Bob Lutz, to manufacture small-run handcrafted luxury cars.
[Hannah Elliott]
"GM Icon Bob Lutz, Henrik Fisker Announce New Company, VFL Automotive,"
''Bloomberg Businessweek'', 8 January 2016. Based in
Auburn Hills, Michigan, VLF is the successor to VL Automotive, which was launched in 2013 and led by Villarreal and Lutz.
VLF unveiled the
Force 1 V10 American supercar at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 12 January 2016.
[Nick Mafi]
"Henrik Fisker Unveils His Newest Sports Car, the VFL Automotive Force 1,"
'' Architectural Digest'', 15 January 2016.[Nathan Bomey]
"Henrik Fisker launches Force 1 'super car' despite Aston Martin threats,"
''USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...
'', 12 January 2016. Fisker collaborated with Tudor Championship racing driver
Ben Keating
Ben Keating (born August 18, 1971) is an American amateur racing driver and business owner operating out of Victoria, Texas. Keating is the owner of 28 car auto dealerships across Texas, The Keating Auto Group. Since starting auto racing in 200 ...
on the car, a re-engineered
Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is a sports car that was manufactured by Dodge (by SRT for 2013 and 2014), a division of American car manufacturer FCA US LLC from 1992 until 2017, having taken a brief hiatus in 2007 and from 2010 to 2012. Production of the two- ...
SRT chassis with a new Fisker-designed body. Production began at VLF's Auburn Hills manufacturing facility in August 2016, with approximately 50 of the hand-built two-seaters scheduled to be manufactured.
[Michael Martinez]
"Trio goes full speed ahead on Force 1 in Auburn Hills,"
''Detroit News'', 29 August 2016. Fisker designed the F1 V10 Roadster, which has an all carbon fiber exterior and comes with a 745-horsepower V10 engine. According to VLF, it can reach a top speed of 210 mph and go from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. It debuted at the
Shanghai Auto Show
Auto Shanghai (), officially known as the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (), is a biennial international automobile show that alternates with the Beijing Auto Show (Auto China) as China's yearly international automotive ...
in April 2017.
Fisker Inc. (2016–present)
In July 2016, Fisker expressed interest in designing a fully connected electric car with autonomous driving features and an aesthetically pleasing look. On 3 October 2016, Henrik Fisker launched
Fisker Inc.[Paul A. Eisenstein]
"Tesla's Rival is Back: Fisker Launches All-New Battery-Car Company,"
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC. The division operates under NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, a division of NBCUniversal, which is, in turn, a subsidiary of Comcast. The news division's var ...
, 4 October 2016. The company's first vehicle, named the Fisker EMotion, is an all-electric sedan.
[Hannah Elliott]
"Henrik Fisker Is Starting a Namesake Car Company Again,"
''Bloomberg Businessweek
''Bloomberg Businessweek'', previously known as ''BusinessWeek'', is an American weekly business magazine published fifty times a year. Since 2009, the magazine is owned by New York City-based Bloomberg L.P. The magazine debuted in New York City ...
'', 3 October 2016. Fisker Inc's long-range electric vehicles are targeting a minimum range of 400 miles per charge, which would be a far longer range than any electric vehicle to date. However, this date has been pushed back until at least 2024 for production of the EMotion. The car will be equipped with a
solid-state battery
A solid-state battery is a battery technology that uses solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte, instead of the liquid or polymer gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries.
While solid electrolytes were first discovered ...
being developed by Fisker Inc. (delayed until 2025).
In September 2018, Fisker announced the development of Fisker Inc.'s mass-market all-electric SUV. In 2017, Fisker Inc. announced that it had filed patents on flexible solid-state battery designs. A prototype of the battery debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2018. In October 2018, Fisker announced new funding for battery development through Caterpillar Venture Capital.
The solid-state batteries are intended to deliver longer vehicle range and faster charging times.
In 2018, Fisker was named to the board of directors of First Cobalt, a North American cobalt refinery that produces battery materials.
On July 8, 2020, Fisker announced the completion of a $50 million Series C financing round funded by Moore Strategic Ventures, the private investment arm of
Louis Bacon
Louis Moore Bacon (born July 25, 1956) is an American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist. He is the founder and chief executive of Moore Capital Management.
''Forbes Magazine'' estimates his net worth to be US$1.81 billion, mak ...
. On July 13, 2020, Fisker announced that Fisker Inc. would offer an
initial public offering
An initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and usually also to retail (individual) investors. An IPO is typically underwritten by one or more investme ...
on the
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed ...
through a merger with
special-purpose acquisition company Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp., which is backed by private equity firm
Apollo Global Management. The deal values Fisker Inc at US$2.9 billion, with an IPO share price of $10. On October 30, 2020, Fisker Inc. officially closed its merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. The company is now publicly listed and traded on the
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed ...
under the ticker (NYSE:FSR). Henrik Fisker will continue to serve as the CEO and Chairman of the merged company. On June 28, 2021, Fisker stock was added to the
Russell 3000 Index
The Russell 3000 Index is a capitalization-weighted stock market index that seeks to be a benchmark of the entire U.S stock market. It measures the performance of the 3,000 largest publicly held companies incorporated in America as measured by ...
.
Controversies
Tesla Motors v. Fisker Coachbuild (2008)
On 14 April 2008,
Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles (electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to grid- ...
filed a lawsuit against Fisker Coachbuild, Fisker and Koehler, contending that they had fraudulently agreed to a design contract in 2007 only to gain access to confidential information, before announcing a competing vehicle, the Fisker Karma. Both the Tesla and Fisker vehicles in question were designed as serial hybrid cars, with a gas engine powering a generator that charges a battery to power the electric motor, and both were initially planned for delivery in 2010. The lawsuit sought to prevent Fisker from using Tesla design documents, along with a return of the money from the Tesla contract, plus punitive damages. Fisker filed for arbitration in May 2008. An arbitrator ruled in their favor in November 2008, finding "overwhelming" evidence showing that Fisker did not do anything wrong.
Subsequently, Tesla was ordered to pay $1.14 million in legal fees and costs to Fisker.
Fisker Automotive congressional hearing (2013)
Following his resignation from Fisker Automotive in March 2013, Fisker voluntarily testified on 24 April 2013, at a congressional hearing led by the
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
The Committee on Oversight and Reform is the main investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives.
The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful panels in t ...
on the
Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-re ...
's $192 million disbursement to Fisker Automotive through the
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program is a $25 billion direct loan program funded by Congress in fall 2008 to provide debt capital to the U.S. automotive industry for the purpose of funding projects that help vehicles ...
. Fisker Automotive had failed earlier that week to meet the deadline for repayment on the loan, which was originally approved as a $529 million loan guarantee.
[Brad Plumer]
"What Fisker's failure tells us about Obama's clean-energy programs,"
''Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...
'', 24 April 2013.
Fisker v. Aston Martin (2015–16)
On 4 January 2016, Fisker filed a suit against
Aston Martin and three of its executives for $100 million in damages for civil extortion, claiming that his former employer was trying to prevent him from unveiling his new luxury sports car hybrid, the
VLF Force 1 V10, at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. The complaint claimed that after Fisker released a single pen-on-paper sketch of the Force 1 in December 2015, he received a letter from Aston Martin claiming the design was too similar to their
DB10 and demanding that he either change the design or not display the car at the auto show. Aston Martin had previously sued Fisker in 2015 over his car design for the Thunderbolt. That case was settled after Fisker agreed not to move forward with the vehicle.
Following the January 2016 auto show debut of the Force 1, it was clear that the vehicle was not similar to the DB10. Aston Martin subsequently stopped threatening to interfere with the development of the Force 1, and the matter was resolved in April 2016.
Personal life
Fisker is married to Geeta Fisker, who is the co-founder and CFO of
Fisker Inc.
See also
*
Fisker Coachbuild
Fisker Coachbuild was a car design firm based in Orange County, California. The company produced custom luxury cars. It produced the Tramonto and Latigo CS. It also designed and manufactured aftermarket parts such as aluminum alloy wheels, ...
*
Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive was an American company known for producing the Fisker Karma, which was one of the world's first production luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. It debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, and first ...
*
VLF Automotive
VLF Automotive is a small American-based automotive company formed in January 2016. It was founded as VL Automotive in 2012 by Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal, then renamed after Henrik Fisker joined the company.
Company history
The company wa ...
*
Fisker Inc.
References
External links
Official websiteFisker Inc. website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisker, Henrik
1963 births
Living people
Danish automobile designers
BMW designers
Ford designers
Aston Martin
Danish yacht designers
Motorcycle designers
Danish chief executives
European founders of automobile manufacturers
Art Center College of Design alumni
Businesspeople from Los Angeles
People from Allerød Municipality
Automotive businesspeople