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Former BMW designer Henrik Fisker announced plans Tuesday to relaunch his electric vehicle efforts three years after a bankruptcy with his venture that made high-priced cars popular with celebrities.
Fisker's effort aims to revive his rivalry with Tesla, promising a premium, all-electric successor to his 2012 Fisker Karma with "a patented battery that will deliver a significantly longer life and range than any battery currently on the market," a statement from the reconstituted company Fisker Inc. said.
The relaunch comes after a high-profile bankruptcy by Fisker Automotive, which received $192 million in US government loans and left $139 million of that unpaid.
[...] In addition, Fisker is developing a "mass-market, affordable electric vehicle that will retail for less than its competitors, but will feature a longer electric range," it added.
Now that the bigger car companies are getting into the electric vehicle (EV) market, has Fisker missed its window?
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday October 07 2016, @07:51PM
Well if you default, that's sort of bad for the average tax payer, no?
If Fisker is going after more federal funds, I'm writing my congressman.
On the other hand if you payback those federal loans, even if slower than expected, I'm fine with that?
There is also a big difference between a LOAN and a Research GRANT. Grants aren't often expected to be repaid.
Fisker had loans, and he squandered it making cars nobody could afford.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 07 2016, @08:14PM
> If Fisker is going after more federal funds, I'm writing my congressman.
No you aren't. You are just another internet tough guy, all talk no action.
> There is also a big difference between a LOAN and a Research GRANT. Grants aren't often expected to be repaid.
If the government expects to get some of its money back it shouldn't get involved at all.
But if the government is giving the money away for free, then that's OK.
Frojack logic!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 07 2016, @08:14PM
Further, government research tends to be available to everyone.
To see people laud a government handout to a millionaire with the only return being playthings for the rich is the definition of limousine liberal.
But hey, look at that branding.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 07 2016, @10:36PM
> Further, government research tends to be available to everyone.
That's absolutely not true. Nearly every invention developed under government contract ends up with the ip rights assigned to the contractor, not the public.