États-Unis
Fisker
Fisker is an American automaker specialized in electric vehicles, inseparable from the figure of Danish designer Henrik Fisker. The story begins in 2007 with Fisker Automotive, founded by Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler, which launched the Fisker Karma in 2011, a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan. This first company collapsed when its battery supplier, A123 Systems, went bankrupt following a recall, halting production in late 2012. The assets were later acquired and gave rise to the Karma Automotive brand, distinct from what followed. In 2016, Henrik Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker founded a new company, Fisker Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California. This time the ambition was to produce affordable, fully electric vehicles designed with an eco-responsible approach. In 2020, Fisker Inc. went public on the New York Stock Exchange through a reverse merger with the SPAC Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp, backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Rather than building its own plant, Fisker chose a contract manufacturing model, entrusting production to Austrian supplier Magna Steyr. The first production model, the electric Ocean SUV, was unveiled and then brought to market in 2023. The brand also presented several ambitious concepts: the affordable Pear city car, the Alaska pickup, and the prestige Ronin convertible. However, the Ocean's launch was marked by production difficulties, software and mechanical issues, and sales below targets. In 2024, Fisker Inc. was delisted from the NYSE and filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy law. In North America, the brand delivered Oceans to the United States and Canada before ceasing operations, which makes it today an automaker with a limited but very real fleet.
Historique / disparuePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireAméricaines
History
History of Fisker
Fisker is an American automaker specialized in electric vehicles, inseparable from the figure of Danish designer Henrik Fisker. The story begins in 2007 with Fisker Automotive, founded by Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler, which launched the Fisker Karma in 2011, a plug-in hybrid luxury sedan. This first company collapsed when its battery supplier, A123 Systems, went bankrupt following a recall, halting production in late 2012. The assets were later acquired and gave rise to the Karma Automotive brand, distinct from what followed. In 2016, Henrik Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker founded a new company, Fisker Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California. This time the ambition was to produce affordable, fully electric vehicles designed with an eco-responsible approach. In 2020, Fisker Inc. went public on the New York Stock Exchange through a reverse merger with the SPAC Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp, backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Rather than building its own plant, Fisker chose a contract manufacturing model, entrusting production to Austrian supplier Magna Steyr. The first production model, the electric Ocean SUV, was unveiled and then brought to market in 2023. The brand also presented several ambitious concepts: the affordable Pear city car, the Alaska pickup, and the prestige Ronin convertible. However, the Ocean's launch was marked by production difficulties, software and mechanical issues, and sales below targets. In 2024, Fisker Inc. was delisted from the NYSE and filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy law. In North America, the brand delivered Oceans to the United States and Canada before ceasing operations, which makes it today an automaker with a limited but very real fleet.
Public founding or origin of Fisker.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Fisker's technical strategy rested entirely on battery-electric propulsion, with no combustion-engine lineup. The Ocean SUV was built on an electric architecture developed by Magna and adapted by Fisker, designated FM29. The lithium-ion batteries came notably from supplier CATL, offering, depending on the version, a capacity of about 71 kWh or 106 kWh, with front-wheel-drive (single-motor) or all-wheel-drive (dual-motor) configurations. Fisker emphasized range, eco-design (recycled materials in the cabin), and distinctive features such as the SolarSky solar roof and the retractable Houdini rear trunk. The cabin was built around a large rotating central screen and over-the-air software updates. The announced concepts targeted varied platforms, including a high-performance convertible. The brand also stressed modern driver-assistance systems and active safety.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
An American manufacturer of carefully designed electric vehicles whose range was limited to the Ocean SUV before the 2024 bankruptcy.
Reputation
Fisker's reputation remains fragile and closely tied to its 2024 bankruptcy. The Ocean was praised for its design, its announced range, and its cabin, but early reviews and owner feedback pointed to software bugs, mechanical failures, and deficient after-sales service. Several recalls and investigations tarnished confidence. The automaker's cessation of operations raises legitimate concerns about long-term support, parts, and resale value, generally perceived as low and uncertain. For a small North American fleet, maintenance and the supply of specific components may prove more complex than for an established brand.
Strengths
Fisker stood out for its carefully crafted design by Henrik Fisker, a strong eco-responsible approach (recycled materials, solar roof), and original features such as the Houdini trunk and the rotating screen. The outsourced manufacturing model at Magna Steyr aimed to reduce industrial costs. The Ocean offered a competitive announced range in the family electric SUV segment.
Points to watch
The main point of concern is the automaker's 2024 bankruptcy, which weakens support, parts supply, and resale value. The Ocean suffered from software bugs, mechanical failures, recalls, and an immature service network. Reliance on an external manufacturer and on specific components complicates maintenance. The lineup was limited to a single model that was actually marketed.
Models
Fisker models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Fisker Inc. deliberately avoided building its own plant, favoring industrial outsourcing. The Ocean SUV was assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, on the basis of an electric platform developed by Magna. Series production began in November 2022 and ceased in March 2024, with roughly 11,000 units built in total. The brand therefore never operated its own assembly plant in North America; the vehicles sold in the United States and Canada were imported from Europe. Plans for future models pointed to various industrial avenues, but they did not reach series production before the automaker's bankruptcy.
Tires and wheels
Like any electric SUV, the Ocean is heavy because of its battery, which puts more strain on the tires and requires suitable load indexes. Wheel diameters generally fall within the large formats typical of the segment, around 20 to 22 inches depending on the trim, with a tire width of about 255 mm. In Quebec, 3PMSF-certified winter tires are essential and mandatory during the cold season; it is often wise to mount a winter set on smaller-diameter wheels to reduce cost and improve traction. Check the exact bolt pattern, offset, and center bore before any wheel purchase.