Fisker declares entry into biggest U.S. market with a “Ferrari” of pickup trucks

22 July 2023

Fisker is on a roll and is broadening its horizons. After tickling the electric vehicle market with the introduction of its Ocean SUV, the company now confirms its foray into the electric pickup truck industry. CEO Henrik Fisker promises an experience tantamount to what Ferrari would offer, should the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer venture into pickup trucks - well, that's one way to get our attention.

The vehicle, once rumored under the pseudonym 'Alaska program,' is now confirmed, marking an interesting addition to the growing line-up of electric pickup trucks. Names like Rivian, Ford, GM, and the ever-intriguing Tesla Cybertruck are already making waves in this segment. Amidst these already blooming ventures, Fisker's entry looks promising as it targets the swelling premium pickup market, especially in the U.S.

Sustainability is at the core of Fisker's goals, and the yet-to-be-named pickup truck plans to carry that forward, leveraging innovative sustainable (in plain English - recycled) materials. The aim is to build the most eco-friendly truck out there, in line with the Ocean SUV, which flaunted the tagline "world's most sustainable car."

The company's commitment to practicality is equally impressive. The Fisker Ocean made headlines with its unique drop-down rear window, facilitating transportation of extra-long items. Borrowing a leaf from this innovative feature, the upcoming pickup is expected to implement similar creativity, promising novel solutions to carrying long loads. What these solutions will exactly look like remains shrouded in excitement and anticipation.

In terms of dimensions, the truck will likely resonate with the proportions of the Rivian R1T, featuring a spacious double cab and a 4.5-foot-long pickup bed. This compact sizing deviates from traditional pickup trucks, including Ford's F-150 Lightning and Tesla's Cybertruck. Yet, the company is brimming with enthusiasm about the ingenious features planned to maximize the truck's practicality.

The truck will share the FM29 platform with the Ocean SUV, suggesting some of the existing technologies and design elements will be carried over. However, it's also expected to acquire a unique designation due to a stretched platform. The Ocean's 113 kWh battery could potentially power the pickup truck, although this has not been officially confirmed.

The new vehicle will be a proper pickup, embodying the height, stance, and ground clearance of a truck with an attractive sporty look, assures Henrik Fisker. The manufacturing details are still under wraps, although the company's partner Foxconn and the notion of 'local production' are potential contenders. With the U.S. government's tax incentives for locally manufactured EVs, local production seems like a feasible choice.

It seems fans will have to maintain their patience until at least 2025 before they can claim ownership. Meanwhile, Fisker continues to reiterate the ingenuity and sustainability mantra in its forthcoming ventures, promising an exciting ride into the future of electric vehicles. Comparing a pickup truck to a Ferrari, though, sounds a bit like a stretch, sure - straight-line performance will be part of the package, but once that novelty wears off, the truck will have work to do - or will it? The world is changing - pickups are no longer working horses, Prius is no longer a lone warrior, and Elon Musk is packing his bags for Mars.

On a side note - isn't it quite interesting that Foxconn, who recently forced Lordstown Motors into bankruptcy, allegedly basically bought the company and the former Lordstown manufacturing complex for next-to-nothing, will be the one manufacturing a first pickup truck from Fisker?

Via