[kabalah70]

Why is it that companies like CODA and Think already have their vehicle listed on the IRS webpage for the tax rebate, when they probably won't even sell a single car this year, yet Fisker can't manage to do the same? Perhaps, Mr. Harris has some insight?
Wheego actually started seeling cars two months ago and they are listed as well. All of these companies are smaller operations, I believe, than Fisker, yet they seem to be accomplishing more in regard to the hurdles showing progress.

http://green.autoblog.com/tag/coda+sales/

http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/03/think-announces-36495-msrp-for-city-ev.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20057238-48.html

 

[Soflauthor]

Why is it that companies like CODA and Think already have their vehicle listed on the IRS webpage for the tax rebate, when they probably won't even sell a single car this year, yet Fisker can't manage to do the same? Perhaps, Mr. Harris has some insight?
Wheego actually started seeling cars two months ago and they are listed as well. All of these companies are smaller operations, I believe, than Fisker, yet they seem to be accomplishing more in regard to the hurdles showing progress.

At the end of the day, the only "progress" that really matters is when Fisker delivers its first operational Karma to its firm real retail customer, and then does it again and again in volumes that are meaningful.

A company succeeds because it excels at paying attention to detail. A lack of customer communication is one manifestation of Fisker's lack of attention to detail. Altho the IRS listing is a small thing, it's still another example of lack of attention to detail. If small companies can do it, Fisker should be able to as well.

What worries me is that Fisker's lack of attention to detail in related areas infects the end-product. I certainly hope not, but all of these small things are worrisome.

 

[kabalah70]

What worries me is that Fisker's lack of attention to detail in related areas infects the end-product. I certainly hope not, but all of these small things are worrisome.

This infection you talk about is why I am glad my car will be coming from Valmet and not the Boxwood plant. I fear for the quality of the product that will come from Boxwood, as eventually US Karmas will be made there. It is my understanding that Valmet will be involved in setting up the plant to work under a similar operating model as their plant, but my concern would be the employees, sorry to say.

 

[brian]

Yeah, I agree. I'm quite glad that Valmet is building my car. I know Henrik keeps pushing the fact that the Karma is "an American car," but is that really a *good* thing? No. American cars suck - I've owned a lot of them, and they've all been junk. I prefer to think of my Karma as a Finnish, Dutch, exotic.

-Brian

 

[DHarris]

Why is it that companies like CODA and Think already have their vehicle listed on the IRS webpage for the tax rebate, when they probably won't even sell a single car this year, yet Fisker can't manage to do the same? Perhaps, Mr. Harris has some insight?
Wheego actually started seeling cars two months ago and they are listed as well. All of these companies are smaller operations, I believe, than Fisker, yet they seem to be accomplishing more in regard to the hurdles showing progress.

http://green.autoblog.com/tag/coda+sales/

http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/03/think-announces-36495-msrp-for-city-ev.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20057238-48.html

kabalah70

I can't speak to why one company is listed vs. another but I know that we are working on it.

David Harris

 

[kabalah70]

I spoke with a Fisker Automotive Consumer Affairs representative today, who returned my call with actual information within a half hour (I was told 15 minutes) that the IRS posting is awaiting CARB certification which they expect in a few days. I call BS because there are cars that don't even exist that are listed with the IRS. Anyway, he was still waiting to hear back from someone regarding my other question about VIN data being populated for insurance and financing purposes. Finally, if you are still waiting to hear from your deal about the EVConnect scheduling of a Lear made Fisker Home Fast Charger here is Roy Yoshii's number at EVConnect (310) 751-0994.
I will repost this part under the charging thread.

 

[kabalah70]

They supposedly just, like an hour ago, got CARB certification. Rep says it should be a few days before the IRS website populates the credit listing.
Watch the link:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=219867,00.html

 

[kabalah70]

Still no listing on the IRS website. With all the incentives info they sent out, regardless of their little disclaimer, I foresee a big lawsuit, if people buy the car and cannot claim their tax credit because Fisker failed to supply the IRS with the appropriate paperwork to get the car certified for it. I asked the rep if this requirement for CARB was a Fisker requirement since it is obvious to me that it is not an IRS requirement because there are cars listed in the website that do not even exist for sale. I am really getting tired of Fisker Automotive's BS. If they continue not to shoot straight with their customer base they will not last to see Project Nina cars come into existence.

 

[brian]

I don't think a car has to be physicallyon that list to qualify. I'm pretty sure that list is just for reference because you only have to by a new car that's not for resale that has at least a 5kw battery and it qualifies. The IRS Tax form http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8936.pdf makes no mention of a qualifying car having to be on any list.

Here's what is says on the tax form:

For vehicles acquired (a vehicle is not “acquired” before the date on which title to that vehicle passes under state law) before 2010, this is a new vehicle with at least four wheels that:
? Draws propulsion using a traction battery with at least 4 kilowatts of capacity, and
? Uses an offboard source of energy to recharge the battery.
For vehicles acquired after 2009, this is a new vehicle with at least four wheels that:
? Has a gross vehicle weight of less than 14,000 pounds, and
? Is propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery that has a capacity of not less than 4 kilowatt hours and is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity.

Certification and other requirements. Generally, you can rely on the manufacturer’s (or, in the case of a foreign manufacturer, its domestic distributor’s) certification that a specific make, model, and model year vehicle qualifies for the credit and the amount of the credit for which it qualifies.
If, however, the IRS publishes an announcement that the certification for any specific make, model, and model year vehicle has been withdrawn, you cannot rely on the certification for such a vehicle purchased after the date of publication of the withdrawal announcement.


-Brian

 

[kabalah70]

That may be so, but it would be nice for Fisker to make the effort to ease our worries by getting listed on the page, as it states, "Manufactures of the vehicles listed below have provided appropriate information and have received from the Service acknowledgement of the vehicles eligibility for the credit and the amount of the qualifying credit." I know it would make me feel a load more secure. The page was last updated just yesterday, so it seems to me that this is another one of Fisker's 'we are having issues but we aren't going to tell you what there are' things. An update from Dave Harris would be nice, that is one with substantial information, not a simple 'we are working on it' type BS. I, for one, am getting tired of non-specific, non-informative updates that basically confirm the incompetence of the staff at Fisker Automotive.

 

[dennis]

I asked about the Federal tax rebate when I spoke with HQ Customer Service on Friday, and received the following email today from the CS Rep:

"I spoke with our Manager of Incentives and Public Policy, and he informed me that our application to qualify for the “Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicles (IRC 30D)” Incentive has been approved, and we are currently waiting for the IRS website to accurately reflect this information. "

- Dennis

 

[kabalah70]

Must have happened in the last week, because the IRS just updated the website on the 16th of Nov.

 

[LonePalmBJ]

Fisker listed on IRS website confirming $7500 US tax rebate

The IRS has finally updated their list of cars that qualify for the $7500 tax credit, and Fisker Automotive and the Karma are finally listed.

The main page, showing all manufacturers

The Fisker Automotive page

We all knew this was coming, but it's still nice to see it official.


Brent

 

[kabalah70]

Totally sweet. Yes, very nice to see it in Bback and white.