Fisker announces three new EV models

Ambitious EV start-up Fisker Inc has loudly trumpeted its plan to build four new models by 2025 and much more quietly revealed it still doesn’t have a technical basis for them.

Fisker is run by the serial EV entrepreneur Henrik Fisker, who last month detailed to his plan to roll out the Ocean SUV by 2022.

The next three models he says will be built by 2025 are a crossover, a sports sedan based on the 2017 E-motion concept and the Alaska ute.

No arrival order or any further details were offered. The ute was covered in the published image, but Fisker did briefly show the Alaska uncovered last February.

Fisker has previously tweeted the Ocean will be based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular EV architecture, but not long after the new vehicles were revealed a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday (US time) confirmed no deal had been done.

“We have not achieved our goal of signing a cornerstone agreement with VW by the end of July 2020 as we previously anticipated,” Fisker said in the filing.

“We look forward to continuing discussions with VW again in September after the traditional European summer holidays.”

“We remain in conversation with several other potential [car-makers] and suppliers that would be able to fit within our unique business model and we believe will enable us to enter into definitive manufacturing and supply agreements before year-end,” the company added.

That’s not the only question mark over Fisker’s plans at the moment.

A reverse-merger float on the New York stock exchange is planned for October that is forecast to generate the $1.1 billion that will get the Ocean into production.

It also has yet to secure a deal for someone to build its vehicles, as a key plank of the Fisker Inc business plan is avoiding the capital expense of manufacturing plants as a well as dealer networks.

In announcing the three vehicles Fisker was typically enthusiastic about their potential.

“Each of these vehicles will have their unique character, moving away from the auto industry convention of creating similar products just in different sizes,” a media post stated.

“We will shake up each product segment we enter with incredible emotional design, radical new features and a unique customer experience, all of which will set Fisker’s vehicles and service apart from the what is available in the market. Thank you for joining us on the journey to a clean future for all!”

In response to online questions after the reveal of the three new vehicles, Fisker said right-hand drive would be introduced “ASAP” after manufacturing starts, which logically suggests Australia will be a market for the brand.

The Ocean is a five-seat 4.6m wagon that will be come in both rear and all-wheel drive configuration. It will offer up to 225kW of power, a claimed 480km range and a vegan interior. In the US it will also be offered with contract-free leasing and on subscription.

In North America, the Fisker Ocean will be priced from $US37,499 (about $A52,000).