Luxury car Fisker enters the Gulf market

Fisker, the world's first environmentally-responsible luxury car now available in the Gulf. Dubai-based Trading Enterprises and Fisker Automotive leadership unveiled the award-winning Karma sedan recently at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City. Fisker produces electric vehicles with extended range (EVer). The Ever powertrain consists of an efficient gasoline engine, an electric generator, a Lithium-ion battery pack, and two electric motors at the rear wheels. The Karma sedan allows the driver to select between two driving modes: Stealth mode for relaxed all-electric driving and Sport mode to access the vehicle's full power. The EVer powertrain on the Karma sedan uses dual electric motors to drive the wheels – the gasoline engine never directly drives the wheels. Trading Enterprises will distribute the Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio endorsed Fisker automobiles exclusively in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and the Levant. The region's first Fisker showroom will open in Dubai Festival City's automotive park before the end of the year. Depending on the chosen interior trims, accessories and paint combinations, the Fisker Karma will retail in the UAE for between AED500,000 and AED600,000. The launch was attended by Henrik Fisker, co-founder and executive chairman at Fisker Automotive, Barny Koehler, Co-Founder and CEO of Europe and Middle East, Fisker Automotive, Len Hunt, president - Automotive, Al-Futtaim Group, Colin Cordery, managing director, Trading Enterprises and other senior management from Al-Futtaim. Cordery said: "We are familiar with first-class automotive brands and understand the need to offer premium customers a technologically advanced vehicle that respects the environment. "Fisker offers an environmental alternative to traditional luxury vehicles and we are well placed and proud to partner with Fisker and support their vision of delivering uncompromised, responsible luxury to this part of the world. Al-Futtaim has built strength and credibility in delivering great customer experience and this latest partnership with Fisker automobiles further reiterates our position as the region's number one dealer of the finest automotive brands." Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo Di Caprio is an equity investor in Fisker Automotive who are committed to producing electric vehicles with extended range that deliver uncompromised responsible luxury. The company is on the forefront of designing and developing the world's first line of premium plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. Fisker said: "Today is a proud moment for the Fisker brand as it is the start to our journey in the Middle East. We could not have found a better business house than Al-Futtaim Group to partner us. Al-Futtaim is one of the strongest players in the automotive segment with proven capabilities in customer engagement, high standards of after-sales service, network of showrooms and parts distribution centers. We are honored to have a partner with such strong legacy." Following the unveiling of the Fisker Karma, Fisker said: "The Karma sedan is built according to the company's sustainable and Accountable Design philosophy, which represents a dramatic leap forward for the auto industry. Fisker's approach to responsible luxury goes well beyond minimizing fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Fisker uses renewable materials and the lowest-impact technologies at every stage of the engineering, production and marketing processes." The Fisker Karma sedan has already picked a number of global awards in its debut sales year, including Top Gear's Luxury Car of the Year, Automobile's Design of the Year Award, listing in TIME Magazine's Top 50 Innovations of 2012, a Global Green Design Award, and Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte named Karma Most Stylish Car of 2012. From Arabnews