Things continue to go from bad to worse for the electric-hybrid car-maker Fisker Automotive. After super storm Sandy flooded and short-circuited 16 Karma sedans last month, leading to a massive hybrid-electric bonfire, Fisker have said that they’ve had to shut down the production lines because of their battery supplier going bankrupt.
Fisker CEO, Tony Pasowatz, says the one month hold-up is due to bankrupt battery maker, A123 Systems, which is currently in the process of being sold and is unable to provide the battery packs for the Fisker Karma four-door, electric-hybrid.
This is yet another blow to the fragile, Californian auto-maker, a blow which it can ill-afford after: the New Jersey port fire; a Consumer Reports test car breaking down; and previous supply and reliability issues with A123 System batteries. Fisker does say it has an inventory, but one which Pasowatz describes as “(getting) a little low,” and one which is obviously much smaller after last month’s unfortunate Port Newark fire.
Fisker say they will re-start production as soon as the A123 sale goes through. The auction is set to take place this week, with American firm Johnson Controls (who build and supply many automotive parts, like the interior of the locally built Mercedes-Benz C-Class), and Chinese company, Wanxiang Group Co. expected to be the main bidders.
It is unclear how soon the new owners will be able to deliver the much needed lithium-ion cells to Fisker. We’re predicting a waiting period of months instead of weeks. Tesla Model S instead anyone?
