Dear Fisker Buzz Members,
Many of us at Fisker Automotive including Tony Posawatz read Fisker Buzz. We are posting this e-mail which has or is in the process of being sent to all Fisker Owners. We appreciate your passion and patience and will continue to update you as additional information is available.
Once again,
Thank you for being an enthusiastic and passionate community.
David Harris
Fisker Automotive
The Letter from Tony Follows:
October 26, 2012
Dear Fisker Owners;
Last week Fisker’s battery supplier, A123 Systems, Inc., filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in order to facilitate its business restructuring. This sort of restructuring is not an uncommon occurrence in emerging technology sectors. While a “bankruptcy” is bound to create some confusion and uncertainty, I want to assure you that the A123 bankruptcy is not expected to affect Fisker’s day-to-day business and to let you know that we stand firmly behind our cars.
Having recently joined Fisker as CEO after successfully bringing several award-winning cars to market -- the Chevy Volt included -- during my 30-year career at General Motors, I am very interested in what you have to say about your experience as an early adopter of our exclusive EVer™ technology. I will personally be making efforts to engage in a dialogue with you as we, together, establish a new automotive brand.
A123 spent nearly 12 years as a leading developer of innovative battery and energy storage technology but, ultimately, was not able to continue doing business in its current form and is now restructuring through bankruptcy. As part of that restructuring, A123 intends to sell its automotive operations to Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI). All the details are on A123’s website.
Fisker welcomes the prospect of JCI, a recognized and strong Tier One automotive supplier with which we already have a relationship, acquiring A123’s automotive operations in order to continue production of the battery pack that we currently use on the Karma.
We will remain in contact with both A123 and JCI as this process unfolds to ensure that we reach the best possible future solutions. I will keep you fully informed as we learn more details. In the meantime, our existing battery pack inventory is expected to cover our needs through at least the first quarter 2013.
You may remember that A123 announced in March that it would voluntarily conduct a field service campaign to replace battery packs in 2012 model year Karmas to fix potential latent manufacturing defects in some prismatic cells made in its Livonia, Michigan facility that could result in underperformance and decreased durability. As a result of the bankruptcy restructuring, it now appears that A123 will not, in fact, provide this service.
That said, I want to be clear on one point: Fisker Automotive will honor our warranty commitments due to these manufacturing defects and will continue to provide you with an unparalleled standard of customer service. That is our commitment to you.
Now I want to share my sincerest gratitude for your commitment to us in being a Fisker owner.
Starting a new car company is not easy. We’ve certainly had our share of challenges and we know you have experienced them, too. We’re not making excuses; I think that’s just part of being pioneers.
The fact is the Karma has been winning awards all over the world for its design and innovation. Top Gear magazine named it their Luxury Car of the Year 2011, the first American, and the first electric car to win. Automobile magazine named it their Design of the Year 2012, over the best from Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Ferrari. TIME magazine listed the Karma as one of its 50 Best Inventions. Auto Bild, perhaps Europe’s most respected auto publication, gave the Karma its Golden Steering Wheel award for hybrid cars over the home town favorites of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. And the Karma just won Fast Company’s Innovation by Design awards over entries from the heavy hitters at Boeing and Ford.
Quite simply, the Karma delivers a package of style, performance, exclusivity and technology unmatched by any other car.
Having something so special is what makes it so important to me that we do a better job in bringing you, our customers, along for this exciting endeavor. This note is the beginning of my effort to create a program that will provide you with more regular updates and a greater level of transparency.
I would ask you to be a bit patient as we coordinate this program with our employees and our retailers, but take comfort in the knowledge that this is something I take very seriously and have every intention of seeing through.
As an owner you have access to our customer service line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where our representatives are available to answer any questions about the Karma you may have. Find the Fisker Customer Service number for your country here. You may also be interested in hearing what some of your fellow owners have to say about their ownership experience by clicking here.(http://m.fiskerautomotive.com/en-us/roadside-assistance)
We are making history and that’s something to really be proud of. We’re glad to have you with us.
Tony Posawatz
CEO, Fisker Automotive
Many of us at Fisker Automotive including Tony Posawatz read Fisker Buzz. We are posting this e-mail which has or is in the process of being sent to all Fisker Owners. We appreciate your passion and patience and will continue to update you as additional information is available.
Once again,
Thank you for being an enthusiastic and passionate community.
David Harris
Fisker Automotive
The Letter from Tony Follows:
October 26, 2012
Dear Fisker Owners;
Last week Fisker’s battery supplier, A123 Systems, Inc., filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in order to facilitate its business restructuring. This sort of restructuring is not an uncommon occurrence in emerging technology sectors. While a “bankruptcy” is bound to create some confusion and uncertainty, I want to assure you that the A123 bankruptcy is not expected to affect Fisker’s day-to-day business and to let you know that we stand firmly behind our cars.
Having recently joined Fisker as CEO after successfully bringing several award-winning cars to market -- the Chevy Volt included -- during my 30-year career at General Motors, I am very interested in what you have to say about your experience as an early adopter of our exclusive EVer™ technology. I will personally be making efforts to engage in a dialogue with you as we, together, establish a new automotive brand.
A123 spent nearly 12 years as a leading developer of innovative battery and energy storage technology but, ultimately, was not able to continue doing business in its current form and is now restructuring through bankruptcy. As part of that restructuring, A123 intends to sell its automotive operations to Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI). All the details are on A123’s website.
Fisker welcomes the prospect of JCI, a recognized and strong Tier One automotive supplier with which we already have a relationship, acquiring A123’s automotive operations in order to continue production of the battery pack that we currently use on the Karma.
We will remain in contact with both A123 and JCI as this process unfolds to ensure that we reach the best possible future solutions. I will keep you fully informed as we learn more details. In the meantime, our existing battery pack inventory is expected to cover our needs through at least the first quarter 2013.
You may remember that A123 announced in March that it would voluntarily conduct a field service campaign to replace battery packs in 2012 model year Karmas to fix potential latent manufacturing defects in some prismatic cells made in its Livonia, Michigan facility that could result in underperformance and decreased durability. As a result of the bankruptcy restructuring, it now appears that A123 will not, in fact, provide this service.
That said, I want to be clear on one point: Fisker Automotive will honor our warranty commitments due to these manufacturing defects and will continue to provide you with an unparalleled standard of customer service. That is our commitment to you.
Now I want to share my sincerest gratitude for your commitment to us in being a Fisker owner.
Starting a new car company is not easy. We’ve certainly had our share of challenges and we know you have experienced them, too. We’re not making excuses; I think that’s just part of being pioneers.
The fact is the Karma has been winning awards all over the world for its design and innovation. Top Gear magazine named it their Luxury Car of the Year 2011, the first American, and the first electric car to win. Automobile magazine named it their Design of the Year 2012, over the best from Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Ferrari. TIME magazine listed the Karma as one of its 50 Best Inventions. Auto Bild, perhaps Europe’s most respected auto publication, gave the Karma its Golden Steering Wheel award for hybrid cars over the home town favorites of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. And the Karma just won Fast Company’s Innovation by Design awards over entries from the heavy hitters at Boeing and Ford.
Quite simply, the Karma delivers a package of style, performance, exclusivity and technology unmatched by any other car.
Having something so special is what makes it so important to me that we do a better job in bringing you, our customers, along for this exciting endeavor. This note is the beginning of my effort to create a program that will provide you with more regular updates and a greater level of transparency.
I would ask you to be a bit patient as we coordinate this program with our employees and our retailers, but take comfort in the knowledge that this is something I take very seriously and have every intention of seeing through.
As an owner you have access to our customer service line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where our representatives are available to answer any questions about the Karma you may have. Find the Fisker Customer Service number for your country here. You may also be interested in hearing what some of your fellow owners have to say about their ownership experience by clicking here.(http://m.fiskerautomotive.com/en-us/roadside-assistance)
We are making history and that’s something to really be proud of. We’re glad to have you with us.
Tony Posawatz
CEO, Fisker Automotive
