Skip advert
Advertisement
Opinion

'Fisker could be the new Tesla'

Steve Fowler thinks Fisker's innovative electric car plans could turn the Californian company into a heavyweight

Fisker

One of the next big car companies could be one you’ve never heard of, so how about this: Fisker?

Okay, so you may remember the ill-fated Fisker Karma from some years ago. Undeterred by that experience, company founder Henrik Fisker had dusted himself off, come up with another plan, secured substantial backing and will be launching the first model from an all-new Fisker car company in just a few weeks. He’s hired some of the best people in the business to work with him and has just revealed plans to develop two new models at his soon-to-open Fisker Magic Works in the UK.

What makes things different this time around? I caught up with Fisker himself this week to find out. “It’s the products, it’s the company’s philosophy and its brand and what we stand for,” he told me. “Our strategy to our investors was let’s spend all the billions we get purely on the product and not on building a manufacturing plant.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

Certainly from the first look at the Fisker Ocean, it’s a cool car. It’s been designed and engineered by Fisker and his team in California, and will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria. Magna is pretty good at that, given that it’s already building Jaguar’s E- and I-Pace, the Mercedes G-Class, and BMW’s 5 Series and Z4 models.

Next up, and potentially even more exciting, will be the Fisker Pear – again, designed and developed by Fisker, but this time built by Foxconn. You may not have heard of Foxconn, but the chances are you may well have used something it’s made – such as an Apple iPhone.

Yes, Fisker has taken a leaf out of the tech business book by getting someone else to build his cars for him, which he says means he can keep prices low; the Ocean is set to start at less than $40,000 (£30,000), with the Pear expected to be cheaper still. He promises they’ll be sold differently, too. Sure, fresh thinking can be risky, but it can pay off hugely. And it’s just what the car business needs to stay relevant to future generations of car buyers.

Do you think Fisker will be able to rival the likes of Tesla? Let us know in the comments...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Fisker Ocean prices slashed by up to £15,000, but aftersales support ‘not guaranteed’
Fisker Ocean UK - front action
News

Fisker Ocean prices slashed by up to £15,000, but aftersales support ‘not guaranteed’

The starting price for already-built Fisker Ocean models is now £30,900 as the EV maker struggles to secure fresh investment
9 Apr 2024
'Henrik Fisker is the automotive industry's next leading man'
Opinion - Henrik Fisker
Opinion

'Henrik Fisker is the automotive industry's next leading man'

Mike Rutherford believes that the EV company founder is destined to follow in the footsteps of Henry Ford and John DeLorean
20 Aug 2023
New details revealed of £300k Fisker Ronin convertible
Fisker Ronin - front
News

New details revealed of £300k Fisker Ronin convertible

Flagship five-seater convertible EV to pack 600-mile range when it arrives in 2025
11 Aug 2023
‘The Fisker Ocean is so good I’d buy one ahead of any of its rivals’
Opinion - Fisker Ocean
Opinion

‘The Fisker Ocean is so good I’d buy one ahead of any of its rivals’

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler was very impressed after driving the new Fisker Ocean electric SUV for the first time
2 Aug 2023

Most Popular

Cheap EV charging comes to public chargepoints via new ‘Plunge Pricing’ app
Octopus Energy’s Electroverse
News

Cheap EV charging comes to public chargepoints via new ‘Plunge Pricing’ app

Octopus’ ‘Plunge Pricing’ events promise to save electric car drivers an average of £6.50 per charge
17 May 2024
Skoda Scala vs Citroen C4 2024 twin test: which is the best-value family hatchback?
Skoda Scala and Citroen C4 - front tracking
Car group tests

Skoda Scala vs Citroen C4 2024 twin test: which is the best-value family hatchback?

The revised Skoda Scala takes on Citroen’s C4 in the battle to be the best-value family hatchback
18 May 2024
Car Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric at an unbeatable £201 a month
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric at an unbeatable £201 a month

Our Deal of the Day selection for 18 May will appeal to those who want an all-electric family car that’s not a SUV
18 May 2024