Fisker Postpones Atlantic to Late 2014 at Earliest

FiskerFiskerUnited States of America, 2007 > present5 models
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2 videos
has delayed the introduction of its smaller, more affordable AtlanticFisker AtlanticUnited States of America, 2013 > present8 photos
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to late 2014 or 2015, two years after it was originally due to go on sale. That is according to a new presentation that Fisker is showing to potential investors. 

The presentation also says that Fisker aims to sell the Atlantic with a starting price around $55,000 and use the platform for future models, including a crossover. 

The major problem facing Fisker is that in February the US government froze its $529 million loan to the company. That has forced it to find significantly more private investment than originally planned and slowed the pace of Atlantic engineering. According to Fisker, the Atlantic is 90% engineered, but it will likely have to reduce costs to bring the car to market. Fisker is trying to find partners in the auto industry with which is can share its bespoke parts and reduce costs. 

When the government froze the loan, Fisker had to back out of plans to buy a former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, for $20 million. 

The Fisker KarmaFisker KarmaUnited States of America, 2009 > present2 versions
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is built at Valmet Automotive in Finland.

Fisker has had a rough year. In addition to the loss of the government loan, it has had to recall the Karma twice since introducing it in late 2011. Both times were for cooling issues related to the battery. There were also two well-documented fires. Fisker also had to raise the price of the Karma by $6,100 for the base model and $6,150 for the top model at the beginning of the year. 

Source: Automotive News