Fisker Sets Up a Dealer Network
Michael Kanellos: March 24, 2009, 9:49 AM
Fisker Automotive announced its dealer network today.
And not a moment too soon. I've been wondering how I can spent the $87,900 I've saved up for a luxury four-door plug-in hybrid later this year.
The 32 outlets are spread around the country and some are owned by the same dealership. None seem to be the kind of place where the owner might ride a bull on late night TV ads or offer balloons and hot dogs for the kids.
Palm Beach Motor Cars, for instance, is one of them. Fisker hopes to have 40 locations by June.
The Fisker Karma will come out later this year, which could make Fisker one of the first known companies to release a plug-in hybrid. Toyota will come out with plug-ins later this year as well. Volume for plug-ins and electric cars, though, will kick in in 2010 when Toyota ramps up production, General Motors releases the Volt and Nissan begins to sell its electric commuter cars.
Plug-in and electric cars are coming -- make no mistake. The big questions now is whose cars will sell. Can Toyota, Nissan and GM make a dent in the mass market? Will high-end cars like the Karma, or the Model S from Tesla take off? Can startups like Tesla and Fisker survive?
The dealership strategy marks yet another bone of contention between Tesla and Fisker. Tesla will sell direct. Fisker looks to dealers. Tesla is full electric and killed plans for a plug-in hybrid. Fisker is plug-in hybrid focused.




