Responding to the news that high voltage battery supplier A123 Systems has found a manufacturing issue with its battery cells, Anaheim-based Fisker Automotive said today that it has enhanced its warranty and will provide complete battery replacement to owners of its 2012 Fisker Karma. The firm--which has been seeing some major stumbling blocks as it looks to spin up deliver of its electric cars--said it has launched the "significant upgrade" to its VIP Customer Care Coverage as a result of the A123 issues.
A123 Systems explained today that it discovered that it had a manufacturing defect in some of its prismatic cells, which could result in battery underperformance and decreased durability. A123 is replacing all of the batteries in the Fisker Karma, and Fisker also said it is extending its full vehicle warranty from 50 months/50,000 miles to 60 months/60,000 miles in North America, and coverage extended from 48 months/100,000 km to 60 months/100,000 km in Europe. The replacements came after Fisker saw a high-voltage battery power loss in its car being reviewed by Consumer Reports, where the auto shut down after driving only 180 miles.
Fisker reported that so far, it has delivered 630 vehicles to customers in North America and Europe; the firm has been working through some significant stumbling locks as it attempts to ramp production. The firm set a new CEO in February, after laying off staff that month to conserve cash; the firm also had at least two other recalls, one in January and another late last year, as it has been ironing out issues with early Karmas.
Labels: automotive
