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Small U.S. automakers show off pricey offerings at Detroit show this week
By Ken Thomas
Associated Press
Published on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009
DETROIT: Several startup automakers are in hot pursuit of electric-powered vehicles, but they face an uphill road as they challenge major car companies like Toyota and General Motors in the race for the ''green'' car market.
California-based Tesla Motors Inc. and Fisker Automotive are displaying cars at the North American International Auto Show this week, grabbing attention with electric-drive vehicles that combine environmentally friendly chic with sports car sex appeal.
Tesla, which started in 2004, showcased its $109,000 all-electric two-seat Roadster sports car at the Detroit show and hopes to unveil its Model S electric car in late February, CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday before the Society of Automotive Analysts.
Musk announced that Tesla has been working with Daimler AG since late 2007 in a partnership to produce 1,000 electric Smart microcars. He said Tesla will produce the battery pack and charger for the vehicle, which is expected to be leased to customers.
''If the 1,000-vehicle fleet is a success and the economics make sense and the product is compelling, that will expand to tens of thousands of vehicles per year,'' Musk said. ''Daimler is really looking at this as a very serious product.''
Musk said the deal was nonexclusive and Tesla was looking to establish more strategic relationships with other automakers.
Fisker is showing off the production version of its $87,900 Karma plug-in luxury sports sedan, a four-seater with solar panels and the ability to drive gas-free for 50 miles. Fisker, which expects finished products in October, also unveiled the Karma S, a convertible expected in 2011.
''We really don't have any competition, at least in the next two years,'' in the luxury plug-in segment, said Henrik Fisker, the company's founder. ''Being able to do 50 miles on electric-only and then drive after as a normal car, as a normal hybrid, there's no other car that can do that.''
All swagger aside, the startups have plenty of doubters.
''No matter what [the car] does, no matter what's under the hood, you can't sell tens of thousands of an $84,000 car in the U.S. today,'' said Shai Agassi, founder and chief executive of Better Place, a Palo Alto, Calif., company developing electric vehicle networks.
Other startups seeking the electric path include Chinese automaker BYD Co., Miles Electric Vehicles and Aptera Motors.
DETROIT: Several startup automakers are in hot pursuit of electric-powered vehicles, but they face an uphill road as they challenge major car companies like Toyota and General Motors in the race for the ''green'' car market.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 07:18 AM, 01/14/2009
All the "new" green cars are fine. What happens some years down the road? Batteries need replaced. What's the cost? Who pays for the disposal of those dead batteries now classified as hazzardus waste? The initial cost of the "newer" technology is a big factor. How much gas can you buy for that extra 10 grand that you spend on that new car? Remember how the battery gets all of that corrosion on the terminals? So now you have 40 of those to keep clean. It will be a long time before I buy one.
Posted 01:37 PM, 01/14/2009
blah blab blah@ Charlie....we need this type ot technology..... you can either embrace it now...or continue in the path we are headed in now.
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:48 PM, 01/14/2009
blah blah blah? You still don't answer any of the questions. Sure we need the technology. No doubt about that. I will be dead long before the price comes down to a realistic level.
