Fisker Says It Is Expanding To Begin Development of 'Project Nina' PHEV
By John O'Dell February 4, 2010Automaker Will 'Dramatically' Boost Hiring at Southern California Headquarters
By John O'Dell, Senior Editor
Fisker Automotive has begun relocating its year-old Michigan engineering center and the two dozen jobs there to its Southern California headquarters and says it will "dramatically" boost hiring at its headquarters as it ramps up development of its next extended-range plug-in hybrid program.
The nascent automaker, which has yet to begin selling its first vehicle - the $88,000 Fisker Karma extended-range plug-in hybrid is slated to go on sale later this year after several delays - says it will begin production of a new family of more-affordable plug-ins in 2012.
It recently announced a deal to acquire a former General Motors assembly plant in Delaware for manufacture of the cars - a sedan, a coupe and an SUV-styled crossover - which are collectively code-named Project Nina.
Like the Karma (left) - which is being built to Fisker specs by a contractor in Finland - the Nina family will use electric drive systems and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged with an on-board gasoline engine-generator when the initial battery charge from the power grid is depleted.
Fisker founder and CEO Henrik Fisker - a noted auto designer-turned-car-builder - has said the Project Nina cars will start at $47,400 (before any federal tax credits and state or local incentives).
He said today that Fisker is closing its Pontiac, Mich., office in order to consolidate "the entire team in California" to improve efficiency and speed up development of the Nina cars.
The Irvine-based company will be hiring engineers, designers, and sales, marketing and administrative personnel over the coming months.
Fisker recently received a $528.7 million federal loan - and raised $115 million in private capital - to fund its aggressive expansion and vehicle development and manufacturing programs.
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