Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Fisker, Electric, Luxury
Fisker has found itself struggling with a range of technical issues shortly after the launch of the company’s Karma extended-range EV, from faulty battery packs to pesky software updates. According to one former employee, that’s no surprise. According to GigaOM, the worker in question reportedly left the company because of a push to get the production model out the door to satisfy Department of Energy loan requirements even though the early cars had a range of technical issues that still required sorting. The report lacks much in the way of specifics, and the unnamed defector now works for another EV startup, Coda, leading some to question the individual’s motives.
Fisker, meanwhile, says quality and customer satisfaction are top priorities for the company, and that the automaker has been quick to solve any issues that have surfaces thus far. Owners have access to a 24-hour VIP help line in the case of a technical problem.
While the DOE awarded the company a $529 million loan in 2009, Fisker has only been able to draw on a portion of the funds due to delays in the Karma development.
Whistleblower alleges Fisker Karma pushed to market prematurely to meet DOE loan conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/13/whistleblower-alleges-fisker-karma-pushed-to-market-prematurely/
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