October 21, 2011
— Ace I missed some of this, or ABCNews did. Some of this is semi-important context.
First up, Fisker says "only" $169 million went for the Fisker Karma, being built in Finland. "Only" $169 million went to designing this car (and, they say, designing the tools to build it).
The larger part of their loan is supposed to go towards building a more mass-market vehicle, the Nina, which they claim will be built in Delaware, just as Biden had hoped. Sometime in 2013.
Eh. I don't know why we should be spending $169 million to design a luxe gas-hybrid for the very rich.
As for the mass-market vehicle: I am doubtful about this. I don't know much about cars, but I know this: Mass market vehicles are the province of the big auto manufacturers, because they are engineered to the penny. To keep costs down, they attempt to save, seriously, a nickle, dime, or quarter here and there in the design.
That kind of expensive engineering is really only justified when you're going to make tens of thousands of units, and price -- even a couple of hundred dollars' difference -- is a driving consideration for buyers.
Small companies tend to produce more expensive, higher-end vehicles. Because they're going to have inefficiencies, and they're not going to be engineered to the penny, and so cars they produce can't really compete on a price basis.
I'm thinking of, like, the DeLorean. Which was a failure. But imagine if DeLorean tried to make a Ford Escort competitor. Forget it. He wouldn't even have tried.
Why are we, the taxpayer, spending money on Fisker's engineering when we have multiple big automakers already doing that sort of thing? And do we have any confidence that a start-up will be successful in this venture?
And why are we giving a subsidy to high-end cars in the first place? If, absent our loan guarantees, the Fisker Karma would have cost $200,000 per vehicle -- What do we care? Leonardo DiCaprio is not price sensitive, is he?
I don't think any of this is going to work. The big auto makers make these cars at a loss. They do it because they sort of have to -- PR crap -- and the losses are hidden among their multibillion-dollar general operating costs.
But a couple of start-ups making only these sorts of high-expense, low-actual-performance, eco-prestige cars? Where do the losses get hidden in the budget when there's nothing to the budget except the losses?
Oh right -- it gets hidden in the US government budget.
If the big automakers want (or feel they need to) piss millions away on these cars, fine. The American taxpayer should not be drafted into subsidizing someone else's car.
Thanks to AndyU.
Posted by: Ace at
10:40 AM
| Comments (150)
Post contains 467 words, total size 3 kb.
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 10:43 AM (FcR7P)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:43 AM (8y9MW)
It enhances Democrat donations silly. It is pure corruption just like Al Gore's no controlling authority BS.
Posted by: Vic at October 21, 2011 10:43 AM (YdQQY)
Did we loan the money directly? Or, has the money been loaned by a private lender and we are simply guaranteeing those loans.
That's bad enough.. yeah. But what funds has the US actually expended?
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at October 21, 2011 10:44 AM (f9c2L)
I don't know about Fisker specifically, but apparently the Democrats are tied to Fisker at the hip, too: that is, it's "owned" mostly by Democrats and Democrat donors- including, I believe, some in the Administration (or with close ties to it). So take that as the first piece of evidence when examining Fisker's "character."
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:45 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 10:45 AM (jucos)
Posted by: Bawney Fwank at October 21, 2011 10:45 AM (u/RSM)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 10:45 AM (FcR7P)
12.5 months .... 12.5 months ... 12.5 months
ad infinitum, ad nauseum
Posted by: eastvalleyphx at October 21, 2011 10:46 AM (qiOph)
Posted by: fluffy at October 21, 2011 10:46 AM (3SvjA)
I believe it was government guaranteed loans. That's what I heard on the radio this morning, anyway.
But what difference does it make if it was a direct payment or loan guarantees when the whole thing goes down the drains? We'll be out the money either way.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:47 AM (8y9MW)
The next models will be the Pinta and the Santa Maria?
Posted by: Buzzsaw at October 21, 2011 10:47 AM (tf9Ne)
Hope they're thinking of using that defunct diner (Kate's Diner?) for a showroom.
It's Katie's Diner you bitter clinging fool! Best chicken pot pie in the tri-state area!
Posted by: Sheriff Joe at October 21, 2011 10:47 AM (u/RSM)
When I think of Fisker, I think of SCISSORING!!!ELEVENTY
Posted by: Rosie O'Donnell at October 21, 2011 02:46 PM (u/RSM)
Oh good! When?
Posted by: Rosies Meaty Piss Flaps at October 21, 2011 10:48 AM (jucos)
The only way it makes any sense is as a money-laundering scheme.
Posted by: Wm T Sherman at October 21, 2011 10:48 AM (w41GQ)
To quote Instipundit: "Faster, please."
We have close to 10 auto manufacturers building in the US, more selling. Definitely not a money laundering scheme.
I love their line that they couldn't find any place in the states that was "capable" of manufacturing the car.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:48 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: AllenG
.........
I agree.. and this is a highly speculative endeavor.. and likely to fail. But, I just wanted to keep the facts straight.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at October 21, 2011 10:49 AM (f9c2L)
Posted by: Presnit Training Pants at October 21, 2011 10:49 AM (jucos)
When I heard "plug-in," my interest perked up immediately.
Posted by: Fightin' Joe Biden at October 21, 2011 10:49 AM (w41GQ)
Posted by: Thoughtful Voter at October 21, 2011 10:49 AM (Xm1aB)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 10:50 AM (FcR7P)
Ahem:
Chevy can't sell the Volt at $40K-ish. If the "Nina" (what the hell?) is around the same price--then this is also going to be a Solyndra-esque farce.
Also, pay no attention to who the principals are here--another bunch of green energy criminals that wouldn't know a business case sans subsidies if it gave them a second Chakra release.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at October 21, 2011 10:50 AM (B+qrE)
Fisted by Fisker.
Um, what kind of business would build in a high cost state like Delaware, and not in cheap Texas? The kind thats in bed with crooked Dems!
Posted by: The Schwalbe : © at October 21, 2011 10:50 AM (UU0OF)
Posted by: chazmartel at October 21, 2011 10:51 AM (wlSqE)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:52 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 10:52 AM (FcR7P)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 02:50 PM (FcR7P)
That would be hilarious.
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 10:52 AM (jucos)
Posted by: tasker at October 21, 2011 10:52 AM (rJVPU)
And that is exactly why we are still bailing out Fannie and Freddie.
I would like to see the Republicans pass a law making it illegal for the U.S. government to guarantee a loan of any kind, including this world bank BS.
Posted by: Vic at October 21, 2011 10:53 AM (YdQQY)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 02:50 PM (FcR7P)
That would be hilarious.
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 02:52 PM (jucos)
With a "GPS Unit" that is a Sextant and a Compass.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:53 AM (8y9MW)
I'll be in my bunk.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:54 AM (8y9MW)
Dude, I'm standing right here!
Posted by: Detroit at October 21, 2011 10:54 AM (YXmuI)
Posted by: nerdygirl at October 21, 2011 10:54 AM (q1/gb)
Yes you.
First rule of Troll-Smashing: Check the Hash. It's the only way to verify you're firing on a legitimate target.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:54 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: tasker at October 21, 2011 10:55 AM (rJVPU)
Well, yes. But I'm sure that's only because the neanderthal government of that era hadn't seen the computer-age light, and so wasn't guaranteeing that kind of loan.
Or something.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:56 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Solomon Grundy at October 21, 2011 10:56 AM (usXZy)
Posted by: Dave at October 21, 2011 10:56 AM (Xm1aB)
Fisker is doing this exactly backwards.
Posted by: GnuBreed at October 21, 2011 10:57 AM (ENKCw)
Posted by: Dr Spank at October 21, 2011 10:57 AM (L8TIZ)
Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at October 21, 2011 10:58 AM (vahvH)
Sorry. I'm busy doing anything else.
Seriously, road-tripping for yard-sales? Please tell me this is your wife/fiance/girl-friend's idea, and you're getting nookie out of it.
Otherwise I will have to demand your man card.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 10:58 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: nerdygirl at October 21, 2011 10:58 AM (q1/gb)
Why are we, the taxpayer, spending money on Fisker's engineering when we already have two big automakers already doing that sort of thing, thanks to taxpayer money ?
Posted by: Barney Frank at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (e8kgV)
Better: he sold his VW bus and Woz sold some stuff and together they had just enough to build their first order of Apple Is.
Imagine the OWS crowd ever doing anything of that sort.
Posted by: Ian S. at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (tqwMN)
General Motors is a pension and health benefits provider which incidently manufactures cars at a loss
Posted by: Jeremy Clarkson at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (Y+DPZ)
this is just another way for Obama to funnel money to groups who support him.
What a cesspool of corruption.
Posted by: real joe at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (xovnt)
You're really underestimating the damage we can do in November and December.
Posted by: 112th Congress at October 21, 2011 02:56 PM (Zs83Q)
Thanks guys, but I'm just as worried about what HE will do in November, December, and most of January.
Keep a fuckin lid on him, OK?
Posted by: eastvalleyphx at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (qiOph)
There may not be any words, but there is a letter, which should be used multiple times in a row, followed by an ellipsis:
Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff...
Posted by: Lance McCormick at October 21, 2011 10:59 AM (zgHLA)
Posted by: Dave at October 21, 2011 11:00 AM (Xm1aB)
Posted by: nerdygirl at October 21, 2011 11:00 AM (q1/gb)
Fisker claims that they couldn't build the Karma in the US because they could not find a plant that satisfied their needs or were all incapable of doing so. Yet, they say they will build the Nina in Delaware of all places, next year. They just magically found an auto plant in Delaware that could build the Nina? Why can't they repurpose that same plant to build the Karma?
Posted by: EC at October 21, 2011 11:00 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: John Delorean at October 21, 2011 11:01 AM (QQn2V)
That's the sound of the air going out of this scheme?
Or Barney Frank in an interview?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:01 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: tasker at October 21, 2011 11:01 AM (rJVPU)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 11:02 AM (FcR7P)
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 11:02 AM (PLixr)
I must have missed that one.
I had a yard sale a couple of weekends ago though. First one in over 20 years. Made some serious jack. And it was all legal here in Missouri.
We had one earlier this year, too. Had to get rid of some stuff, and figured we might as well get some money out the bargain. GoodWill/Salvation Army/etc. are good enough, but sometimes it's nice to get something back besides a warm feeling of gratitude.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:03 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: tasker at October 21, 2011 11:03 AM (rJVPU)
Posted by: moki at October 21, 2011 11:03 AM (dZmFh)
Posted by: nerdygirl at October 21, 2011 03:00 PM (q1/gb)
I thought they were cars.
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 11:03 AM (jucos)
I mean, this is a sure thing, right?
What I find curious about the location is that cars are heavy, very big, and relatively fragile. Shipping becomes a big cost driver in production. Most car production in the US takes place along the line between the great lakes and the gulf of Mexico. Why would you locate a manufacturing plant right on on the Atlantic, on a peninsula? Oh that's right, Delaware is so blue you cant tell the land from the ocean. So Solyndra was in California, this mess was in Delaware; Cronyism is so obvious.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Camellia Sinensis Operative at October 21, 2011 11:03 AM (0q2P7)
If you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?
Posted by: Doc Emmett Brown at October 21, 2011 11:04 AM (QKKT0)
Posted by: Nazis at October 21, 2011 11:04 AM (Xm1aB)
Because they're lying. Any plant in America could have been retooled quite quickly to suit their needs.
I suspect they don't want to have to deal with the UAW on their first car, and are delusional enough to believe it will sell well enough to cover the higher manufacturing costs on the cheaper car. They didn't go into a right-to-work state, because they didn't want to anger the union, either.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:05 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Nazis at October 21, 2011 11:05 AM (Xm1aB)
They couldn't get the UAW fatasses to agree to less than 50 bucks an hour and the SCOAMF wouldn't give them the slush money if they built it in a Right to Work state
Posted by: kbdabear at October 21, 2011 11:06 AM (Y+DPZ)
That's the sound of the air going out of this scheme?
Or Barney Frank in an interview?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 03:01 PM (8y9MW)
Maybe it's "ffffffffffuuuuuuuuu..." Can't seem to find the cartoon I saw it in. Think I saw it on an ONT a long, long time ago.
Anyway, incoherent rage and frustration.
Posted by: Lance McCormick at October 21, 2011 11:06 AM (zgHLA)
Posted by: nerdygirl at October 21, 2011 11:06 AM (q1/gb)
Standard procedure for corrupt politicians is to disqualify the other bidders that didn't provide the bribe money. I was privy to some of the legal fallout from equipment purchases for the Denver Airport and the corruption was hilariously transparent.
Posted by: Bob Saget at October 21, 2011 11:07 AM (SDkq3)
Let's see... the books and videos we couldn't sell at the yard sale went to Half-Price books, for cash. Just about everything else went to Goodwill. Though we delivered it to them.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:07 AM (8y9MW)
Posted by: Dave at October 21, 2011 11:07 AM (Xm1aB)
They're even more retarded than I thought.
Posted by: EC at October 21, 2011 11:08 AM (GQ8sn)
Ahhhh no.
Obama already put kickbacks into Michigan in the form of auto bailouts, and handing over GM and Chrysler to the unions, he didn't have anything he owed to Michigan. This was a kickback to true blue Delaware. I'm sure this place is all union all the time.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Camellia Sinensis Operative at October 21, 2011 11:08 AM (0q2P7)
And into the airport rental lots
Posted by: kbdabear at October 21, 2011 11:08 AM (Y+DPZ)
Heh. Fuckem, the're New Yawkaws. Tell Mayor Cockholster about it bitches.
Posted by: Mixtli at October 21, 2011 11:09 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Doc Emmett Brown at October 21, 2011 11:09 AM (QKKT0)
Posted by: California red at October 21, 2011 11:09 AM (DXTKe)
Posted by: Ford at October 21, 2011 03:06 PM (Zs83Q)
At twice the cost. I believe Mercury wanted it to be a high performance sports car.
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 11:09 AM (jucos)
A fucking Lotus costs half that much. The look-at-me-wastin'-my-money-est car in the world. Half.
Not even retarded multi-multi-millionaires want $100,000+ cars.
So we'll all pay for them, for them. Because fuck us.
Posted by: oblig. at October 21, 2011 11:09 AM (cePv8)
Posted by: Dave at October 21, 2011 11:10 AM (Xm1aB)
It's true, normal cars run on rape.
Posted by: Al Gore's PowerPoint deck at October 21, 2011 11:10 AM (tqwMN)
Then why let the first one be built in Finland? I agree it was a kickback to Delaware, but I they had to have some reason to build in Finland. As others have noted, the cost of shipping is nearly prohibitive. It's why all the Asian auto-makers now have at least one factory in the US.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:10 AM (8y9MW)
With the help of UAW lobbying efforts for advanced vehicle manufacturing and federal dollars, the plant will become a production facility for Fisker Automotive, a new American car company that plans to produce 100,000 electric hybrid vehicles per year by 2014.
“The rebirth of this idled plant is a positive and exciting step forward for this industry and a boost for the economy and for skilled automotive workers. We hope to see this happening more and more throughout the country,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. He and Region 8 Director Gary Casteel joined Biden and Fisker executives for the Oct. 27 announcement.
=====
My apologies if someone has already posted that.
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 11:11 AM (PLixr)
Posted by: Havedash at October 21, 2011 11:11 AM (sFD5n)
Posted by: Cherry pi at October 21, 2011 11:11 AM (OhYCU)
I used to know someone who is. Well, I guess technically I still know them, but they were a client of a former employer, and I didn't take their contact information with me.
It sounds like something Hertz would do.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:12 AM (8y9MW)
Hope they don't get them mixed up. Would hate to see Leo dial the wrong number and make his Fisker go apeshit and plunge him off the PCH
Posted by: kbdabear at October 21, 2011 11:12 AM (Y+DPZ)
Competition for the Escort? What kind of drugs are you on? The XR4Ti was meant as a BMW 3-series fighter.
Posted by: Waterhouse at October 21, 2011 11:12 AM (mjSSA)
Well, well, well.
It looks like this isn't the first time Joe Biden used "rape" to take a shot at the Republicans.
Back in March of this year Biden the Shithead said this at a Democrat fundraiser:
“When a woman got raped, blame her because she was wearing a skirt too short, she looked the wrong way or she wasn’t home in time to make the dinner.
We’ve gotten by that. But it’s amazing how these Republicans, the right wing of this party – whose philosophy threw us into this God-awful hole we’re in, gave us the tremendous deficit we’ve inherited – that they’re now using, now attempting to use, the very economic condition they have created to blame the victim – whether it’s organized labor or ordinary middle-class working men and women. It’s bizarre. It’s bizarre.”
What's bizarre is Joe Shit-for-Brains Biden's fascination with rape analogies and fantasies.
Posted by: soothsayer at October 21, 2011 11:13 AM (G/zuv)
Posted by: joeindc44 at October 21, 2011 11:14 AM (QxSug)
Posted by: Shiggz undecided - weighing pros-cons-balls at October 21, 2011 11:14 AM (I9fXA)
It's an effective way to demonize your opponent?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at October 21, 2011 11:14 AM (8y9MW)
What's a "skilled" UAW worker, one who doesn't have to be retrained after his lunch break?
Posted by: kbdabear at October 21, 2011 11:15 AM (Y+DPZ)
Posted by: Shiggz undecided - weighing pros-cons-balls at October 21, 2011 11:15 AM (I9fXA)
Posted by: t-bird at October 21, 2011 11:15 AM (FcR7P)
Posted by: Waterhouse at October 21, 2011 03:12 PM (mjSSA)
I think that bodys were built by Karmann Coachworks in Germany. Very ugly if memory serves me.
Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 11:15 AM (jucos)
Expecting a failure. You have to understand the way liberals think about business is not the way you or I do. They knew it was going to be a flat out failure so they didn't want to put a lot of capital toward starting production on a loser.
You and I would say, "If you know this is a loser, why build it at all?" well *shut up* they explained; Building that car was a democrat political football loss or not, just like the Volt. Had to be done.
Welcome to true blue Socialism where the government does control the means of production.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Camellia Sinensis Operative at October 21, 2011 11:16 AM (0q2P7)
DeLorean was a piece of work, more showman than anything. But the Vega wasn't his, it was Ed Cole's and Cole was the boss and he wanted exactly what he wanted...lots of Chevy folks saw the looming disaster ahead but none of them could do anything to stop it even if they wanted to.
Fisker's been around a while, as I said on the other thread I'm pretty sure he'd had Valmet in mind for the Karma probably from the beginning.
As for doing anything in Delaware...we'll see.
Posted by: JEM at October 21, 2011 11:16 AM (o+SC1)
What's bizarre is Joe Shit-for-Brains Biden's fascination with rape analogies and fantasies.
Posted by: soothsayer at October 21, 2011 03:13 PM (G/zuv)
Well, his audience is quite rape aware, look how the women get treated by the OWS crowd. They just tell them to take whatever greasy, stinky, disease dripping dick that is forced into them and keep their mouths shut, unless their attacker wants ass to mouth. So it is effective on the current free minds of his constituents.
Posted by: Mixtli at October 21, 2011 11:18 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Jeffersonian at October 21, 2011 11:22 AM (oZ3AI)
Yeah, that was his plan well before getting the DoE loan. Avoiding a huge capital investment like a car plant makes sense for a startup. Valmet may have given Fisker a particularly sweet deal too, since the contracts they had with Porsche end next year.
Posted by: Waterhouse at October 21, 2011 11:22 AM (mjSSA)
The problem was that by the time Ford got done diddling with the thing for the US market it could no longer be built on the same line with the rest of the Sierras.
So they were put together at Karmann, at much higher cost, and while the Euro-market Sierras got a bunch of improvements they were too expensive to tool and certify for the US market so the US car never got them.
Didn't help that the original 2-door was by far the ugliest of any of the Sierras.
Posted by: JEM at October 21, 2011 11:23 AM (o+SC1)
Posted by: Bob Saget at October 21, 2011 11:24 AM (SDkq3)
Posted by: JEM at October 21, 2011 11:27 AM (o+SC1)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at October 21, 2011 11:29 AM (dIHHd)
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 11:32 AM (PLixr)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at October 21, 2011 11:38 AM (dIHHd)
All of the concerns brought up about Fisker and the Karma were fully disclosed in the business plan.
However, due to the innovative nature of the car, the business plan was presented to the Department of Energy in the form of an interpretive dance. If officials didnÂ’t fully comprehend the risks while learning the birds and trees would be happy and grateful if the government gave Fisker a half billion, that is their problem.
Posted by: jwest at October 21, 2011 11:40 AM (qeYI9)
Posted by: Tommy V at October 21, 2011 11:46 AM (ik7C6)
I kinda thought the trunk-load of coke was a very nice accessory.
Posted by: Iron Balls McGinty at October 21, 2011 11:46 AM (Gkhxf)
Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at October 21, 2011 11:49 AM (vahvH)
Valmet has a lot of experience building very expensive cars to the standard that BMW, Porsche, etc. buyers expect.
The GM plant in Wilmington? Well, you remember the Saturn L-series, right? Just to refresh the memory, GM then took a perfectly nice Opel design and spent something like SIX YEARS figuring out how to (a) put plastic skin on it and (b) build it with UAW labor. By the time it was introduced it was two product generations out of date, never mind that the British V6 it used had quite a reputation for engine-destroying cam-belt-tensioner failure.
So I don't at all blame Fisker for being cautious about trying to do anything in Wilmington. It sounds like they're serving up the New England version of the political crap sandwich that Tesla's dishing out here with the ex-NUMMI plant in Fremont.
Posted by: JEM at October 21, 2011 12:01 PM (o+SC1)
Posted by: landofskybluewater at October 21, 2011 12:06 PM (JoIcn)
But this is from a green auto blog, about why Fisker chose DE:
"Second, the plant is about the size Fisker was looking for. Further, the plant is already set up to install GM's 2.0-liter Ecotec engine, which is what will be installed in the Karma sedan and convertible. Moving along, GM had recently upgraded the plant's paint shop, leading to the quality kind of paint jobs that Fisker is looking for. Finally, the plant has easy access to shipping lanes and a UAW workforce that will require very little training."
So they were using the UAW workforce as a supposed reason to choose that plant, but has the workforce just been sitting idle for two years?
Are they getting paid? What was that plan?
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 12:13 PM (PLixr)
Date: February 3, 2011
From: John Maloney
Subject: President Myers and Chairman Riccio's Resignation I want to bring everyone up to speed with what's happening with our local. On February 1, 2011 President Myers and Shop Chairman Riccio resigned their elected offices with the Local and took salary positions with Fisker.
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 12:14 PM (PLixr)
Posted by: The Schwalbe : © at October 21, 2011 12:23 PM (UU0OF)
Fisker's silence worries Delaware labor unions
Groups have not had contact with each other since the spring
......
Delaware labor leaders, once Fisker's lifeline to what the company called a prized work force, have not heard from the company in months. They have resorted to prodding state officials for updates. Regional United Auto Workers representatives also are not happy.
====
Working theory: Fisker used the promises to the UAW to get the government loans. Fisker then put plans to retool the DE plant on the backburner, focused on Finland, and hired the two top Union guys away from the union when they started asking questions about the union workers. Genius!
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 12:33 PM (PLixr)
Posted by: steevy at October 21, 2011 12:40 PM (fyOgS)
Posted by: Rex the Wonder God at October 21, 2011 12:43 PM (vahvH)
If you want to know why I think it's a "big deal", you can ask! First, I didn't say it's a big deal. But second, as I said, I suspect Fisker used promises of UAW jobs to get money from the government. Then hired the two top guys when the union members started asking why, a year and a half later, they hadn't gotten those jobs yet.
Posted by: MayBee at October 21, 2011 01:30 PM (PLixr)
Posted by: Zelsdorf Ragshaft III at October 21, 2011 01:39 PM (+Igjh)
Posted by: epobirs at October 21, 2011 01:44 PM (kcfmt)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at October 21, 2011 03:38 PM
I know that Scandi is a derogatory term here, but...First off, no Finn considers themselves Scandinavian. That would be the Norwegians and Swedes. Second Valmet has been doing work on high end cars for Porsche, BMW, and Bentley among others for a long time. Not exactly Detroit, which is a shithole. And personally, I don't much care for Delaware either.
Posted by: Deanna at October 21, 2011 02:18 PM (rtZew)
Posted by: The Night Eternal ePub at October 21, 2011 04:48 PM (A5Ehp)
You really make it seem so uderstandable with your presentation but I find this topic before really hard to understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me.
Posted by: The Litigators epub at October 21, 2011 05:05 PM (7PCfU)
Posted by: The Snow Angel ePub at October 21, 2011 05:19 PM (5E6Sn)
Posted by: Thinking, Fast and Slow ePub at October 21, 2011 06:59 PM (ZWjFn)
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Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at October 21, 2011 10:42 AM (jucos)