By the editors of AutoWeek
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The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid is built in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Fisker hopes to begin building its Nina sedan in a former GM plant in Delaware by 2013.
Fisker Automotive Inc. has begun making the $88,000 Karma plug-in car, aiming to get its first production vehicles to U.S. and European dealers by next month.
Contract assembly of the car, capable of traveling about 50 miles solely on electricity before a gasoline engine engages, began Tuesday at Valmet Automotive's plant in Uusikaupunki, Finland, said Roger Ormisher, a spokesman for Fisker.
Valmet, which also builds vehicles for Porsche AG, is making the car under contract for Irvine, California-based Fisker.
"We're going to be ramping up very slowly, very carefully to ensure quality," Ormisher said. "This year we want to get over 7,000 deliveries."
Watch Video: Fisker Karma Hybrid
Fisker, begun by auto designer Henrik Fisker, is preparing to mass produce plug-ins in anticipation of growing demand for vehicles that consume little or no gasoline and emit less pollution linked to climate change.
The Karma will join a field that already includes all-electric models such as Tesla Motors Inc.'s $109,000 Roadster and Nissan Motor Co.'s battery-powered Leaf hatchback and General Motors Co.'s Volt plug-in.
Henrik Fisker, the carmaker's chief executive officer, said in a November interview the company will begin preparations for an initial public offering this year.
Read: 10 Luxury Hybrids on the Horizon
Fisker in January completed a $150 million financing round to help develop other models, including Karma variants and the $39,000 Nina sedan that's to be built next year in a former GM plant in Delaware.
Closely held Fisker last year closed on $529 million in loans from the U.S. Energy Department that will fund construction of its Nina production line.