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Fisker Inc.

Fisker Inc. – Develops And Sells Electrification Technology.

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Fisker Inc. is a company that produces automobiles. The business develops and sells electrification technology, zero-emission automobiles, and electric vehicles. This automaker was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in California, USA.

About The Company

Fisker Inc is an American company that manufactures electric vehicles (EV). The Fisker Karma was manufactured by Fisker Automotive, which was replaced by Fisker Inc. The Fisker Ocean, an electrical sport utility vehicle (SUV) being developed by Fisker Inc., is anticipated to go into production in late 2022. It has an estimated range of 300-350 miles (480-560 km). Fisker was also developing solid-state battery technology that could provide up to 500 miles of range with a one-minute charge until 2021. In July 2020, Fisker Inc. announced a merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition, a SPAC supported by private equity company Apollo Global Management, and an IPO on the NY Stock Exchange. The company concluded the reversed merger on October 30, 2020.

History

Henrik Fisker and Bernhard in 2007 established Fisker Automotive. One of the first premium plug-in EVs in production, the Fisker Karma, was created by the business and debuted in 2008 before the first deliveries were made in 2011. After about 2,000 of the cars had been sold globally, production was halted in 2012 as a result of the insolvency of its battery provider, A123 Systems. Wanxiang Group acquired the assets of Fisker Automotive in 2014, and the new business was given the name Karma Automotive. The Fisker brand and trademarks were kept by Henrik Fisker.

Fisker Inc.
Image source: pxcrush.net

The creation of Fisker Inc., an American manufacturer designing and manufacturing cutting-edge electric vehicles with a more extended range, autonomous driving capability, and superior battery tech, with Geeta Fisker as president and CFO, was announced by chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker on October 3, 2016. Fisker first announced in July 2016 that he intended to create an entirely connected electric vehicle with autonomous driving capabilities and a beautiful exterior. Fisker Inc. unveiled the design and technical details of the upcoming electric car, the Fisker EMotion, on October 31, 2016. The Orbit, a truly automated, connected, electric shuttle destined for smart cities, public airports, and campuses, was introduced by the corporation in November 2017. In that same month, Fisker Inc. declared that it had submitted patent applications for designs of flexible solid-state batteries, with mass production of the batteries beginning in 2020. The business revealed its plans to create a bulk market for all-electric luxury SUVs in September 2018.

In 2019, the company released the official Fisker Flexee mobile application for iOS and Android. Customers can plan test drives for the Fisker Ocean e-SUV and make reservations through the application.

Vehicles

Fisker Inc has launched various electronic vehicles in the automotive industry. The Fisker Orbit, an autonomous electric shuttle connected, and intended for smart cities, was unveiled in 2017. For this product, Fisker Inc. collaborated with Protean Electric, a manufacturer of motor technology, as well as Jack Wong of the Chinese business Hakim Unique Group. A few of its popular products include Fisker Alaska, Fisker EMotion, Fisker PEAR, and Fisker Ocean.

Founder – Henrik Fisker

Henrik Fisker founded Fisker Inc in 2007. Henrik Fisker is a renowned designer and entrepreneur. Henrik is known for taking risks, embracing innovation, and defying conventional wisdom. He is a top automobile designer, entrepreneur, inventor, innovator, mentor, and brand ambassador. The BMW Z8, Rocket, Destino V8, and Force 1 are among his most famous works. He has previously served on the boards of Aston Martin, BMW Designworks USA, Fisker Automotive, and Fisker Coachbuild. He has served in a number of honorary capacities, including as a judge at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and as an advisor and judges for automotive design at the Royal College of Art, UK, in 2010.

Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche : The Legendary German Engineer who Founded Porsche

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Being born into a family of a plumbing business, Ferdinand Porsche was also expected to adopt the same profession. But, his interest resided somewhere else. He was intrigued by electricity, designing and machinery. He carved a deep niche for mechanical work, and his passion changed his life entirely. He started from serving as a chauffeur to be known as the Great German Engineer.

A Sneak Peek to Porsche’s Life

Porsche was born into a German family on 3 September 1865, in Liberec (now a part of the Czech Republic). He was an automotive engineer and probably the best of his time. Before he founded his own company, he worked for many influential people designing the Lohner-Porsche, Volkswagen-Beetle and many other intimidating cars. He also received the Car Engineer of the Century award in 1999, 48 years after he passed away. He played a major role in World War II and was a member of the Nazi Party.

Early Life and Career

Porsche was the third child in his family, and his father, Anton Porsche ran a plumbing business. Though he grew a very strong interest in the mechanical aspect of engineering, he didn’t devote his entire time into experimenting with different equipment. He helped his father out in the workshop during the daytime and went to Imperial Technical School during the nights. After he finished his school and by the time he was 18, he got a job in Bela Egger and Co., an electrical company in Vienna. During his time in this company, he built his first electric hub motor.

Ferdinand Porsche
Image Source: automotivehalloffame.org

In 1897, he started working for Jacob Lohner and Co. in their newly established Electric Car Company. The first design of the company was Egger-Lohner vehicle or Porsche P1, a carriage-like car. In 1900, the modified version of this vehicle (from two wheels to four wheels) was displayed in the Paris World Exhibition, and this masterpiece received much appreciation. In 1901, Porsche designed Lohner-Porsche, the first model of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Porsche also upgraded his existing vehicles with many engines from Daimler and Panhard, breaking many speed records.

In 1905, he was awarded the Potting prize for being Austria’s most outstanding automotive engineer. By this time, he gradually got involved in the military services served as a chauffeur to the then crowned prince of Austria.

Working for the Major Automobile Companies

In 1906, Porsche was hired by Austro Daimler as the chief designer. In 1910, Daimler won the Prinz-Heinrich Fahrt, an automobile contest. The Austro-Daimler car for which they won the contest was solely designed by Porsche. He also designed many race cars, aircraft engines, trolley-buses and many other vehicles using HEV technology during his time at Austro-Daimler. In 1916, Porsche became the Managing Director, and in the same year, he received the honorary doctorate from Vienna University of Technology. In 1923, he left the company due to differences in future perception of the company’s development.

Soon after he left Austro-Daimler, he was hired as a Technical Director in Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. For his excellent work in this company, he received another honorary doctorate from Stuttgart Technical University. Again in 1929, Porsche left the merged company, Daimler-Benz, as his ideas for developing a light-weight Mercedes Benz was not accepted by the company’s board.

He started working for another company, but due to the Great Depression, his engineering skills had become almost needless to the world.

Founding Porsche

Though the economic condition dried up during the 1930s, Porsche made his way to establishing his own company. In April 1931, Porsche built his own consulting firm (for vehicles and engines) in Stuttgart with the financial support of Anton Piech and Adolf Rosenberger.

He started taking up big projects from reputed companies, but he also worked on his own designs. He managed to impress some companies that could sponsor his own projects, but eventually, all of them lost interest due to some of the other reasons. Also, the economic condition of that period wasn’t in favour of any newly born business.

In the early 1930s, Hitler wanted every citizen of his nation to own a car, which led to the hiring of Porsche for this project, the people’s car (Volkswagen). Soon, he got involved in many other Nazi projects. The first two prototypes of Volkswagen were released by 1935, and by the next three-four years, a lot of redesigning and pre-production took place.

In the meantime, a lawsuit was filed against Porsche by a Czech company, claiming breach of the company’s patent. The matter was finally resolved in 1961, ten years after Porsche’s death.

Life after World War II

The company went through a severe loss during the war, but he was ordered to continue with the Volkswagen designs. But, before the project could restart, he was captured by French authorities as a war criminal.

Ferry Porsche, Porsche’s son tried to run the business while he was in prison. He was finally got released on 5th August 1947, and in the meantime, Ferry designed Porsche 356, the first car to have the family name. Ferry rebuilt the business once again and made huge profits.

While the entire family returned to Stuttgart to re-establish their business, Porsche died in 30th January 1951 due to a stroke.

Mazda logo

Mazda Motor Corporation : Success Story that Seems Unreal

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Zoom Zoom! This magical sound will invoke a sense of enthusiasm and passion for driving in the minds of all automobile junkies. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Mazda Motor Corporation is one of the biggest Japanese automobile brands which have managed to capture the interest of the market for vehicles all over the world.

The Unusual Beginning

Initially located in Hiroshima, and named as Tokyo Cork Kogyo Company Ltd, Mazda was founded by Jurigo Matsuda in the year 1920. It’s funny how one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturing firm started out as a mere cork manufacturing factory! This is a classic example of how all giants have a humble beginning. Diversification was the concept that triggered their success. The firm slowly started expanding its production from making corks to include machined products. Soon enough, the firm rebranded itself as Tokyo Kogyo, dropping the term ‘Cork’ from it. Later, the company started manufacturing machine tools also.

Cork to Cars

Jujiro Matsuda Mazda Motor Corporation
Image Source: evomalaysia.com

The year 1931 was quite a bit unusual for Tokyo Kogyo. They did something that nobody had ever attempted to do. They introduced a three-wheel truck into the market. The concept was so bizarre yet so catchy. This was crazy enough for the firm to attract the attention of their target customers. The idea took off in 1945 when there was a high demand for military supply production.

It was only in the year 1960, that the company manufactured its very first passenger car, modelled Mazda R360 coupe. This was a major turning point for the company, and soon, it entered into an agreement with Felix Wankel to manufacture the German company’s famous rotary engine. This rotary engine has a lot of significance, as it has given a certain set of characteristics to the vehicles to increase its efficiency.

The Real Revolution

The release of the Mazda Cosmo Sports 110S model, in 1967, brought the real revolution, as the car featured the German rotary engine. Ever since then, the firm started expanding its market across the European continent. Soon enough, after the year 1970, Mazda started expanding their production and reached to the US as well. Later on, the Ford Motor Company purchased a 25% stake in Tokyo Kogyo, leading the two firms to work together.

It was in the year 1984 that the firm officially changes its name from Tokyo Kogyo to Mazda Motor Corporation. Mazda then developed a US production facility, which was located in the suburban areas of Detroit. All these major changes took place in a very short span of time, and the company saw exponential growth in their market value and revenue. The name Mazda slowly began to make a mark in the automobile industry, and it is safe to say that the company has come a long way from manufacturing quirky three-wheeled trucks to becoming the super players in the market.

A major event in the timeline of Mazda Motor Corporation took place, when the firm sold its 50% share of the Detroit plant to Ford Motor Corporation, and thus, created a joint venture named AutoAlliance International Inc.

The Downfall and Rise

After a long success streak, in 1994, Mazda faced its first downfall. The company fell into loss, and this, maintained to be for another 5 years. Following which, Ford took over the major shares of operations in Mazda and named Henry J Wallace as the President. It was for the very first time in history that a non-Japanese had headed a Japanese firm. After a few years, in 1999, Mazda regained its lost glory as the firm attained its profit status after a long six years.

Mazda Motor Corporation Today

Mazda now positions itself as the high-end Japanese Automobile technology giant, which started out as a cork manufacturing factory somewhere in Hiroshima. The firm still has its headquarters in Hiroshima and is headed by Akira Marumoto, who is the Representative Director of the firm. The automobile giant now focuses more on the manufacture and sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with a net worth of 284 billion dollars. With their vision to make driving more fun and carefree, they have developed several successful models that have been accepted wholeheartedly by the customers all over the globe. The network of Mazda has spread over countries like the US, Germany and China. The success story of Mazda Motor Corporation is truly an inspiration for all the beginners, who envision making it big in the business world.

dodge

Dodge: Story of Classic Vintage and Disputed Success Since 1900

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The two brothers, John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin Dodge, started carving a niche in the world of automobile, since 1900. And in this journey of 119 years, Dodge has become a connoisseur of high-style vehicles. It is well known for producing high-powered cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and minivans. The company’s headquarters is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.

Early History of Dodge Brothers

The Dodge brothers grew an interest and skill for machines from their father, who specialized in making engines for marine automobiles. Before founding Dodge, the two brothers worked at the Murphy Boiler Works, in Detroit. In 1897, they established Evans & Dodge Bicycle Company with Fred S. Evans but sold it after a couple of years.

In 1990, the two were established for manufacturing chassis components and other required parts for the automobile industries. The company started flourishing from the very beginning, due to their excellent work and two prime customers, Old Motors and Ford Motor. Initially, they had a workspace in the Boydell Building, but later a plant was built in Mark Avenue. Dodge started receiving huge contracts from Ford, and hence, the main factory was established in Hamtramck, in 1910, to sign in for even higher orders.

Dodge Brothers
Image Source: davidsiwik.net

Relationship with Ford

The once started contract with Ford, an investment of $10,000 brought the entrepreneurs $1.7 million profit and $3.8 million in dividends from their stock, in 1914. The business relationship between these two companies started becoming harsh after Ford reduced the dividends to the stockholders, and the brothers filed a suit in 1916 against the company. This lawsuit proved quite profitable to the company, as it received 10 per cent of the dividend $19 million in 1918. And later, they received a return of $32 million from their total production for Fords.

Founding Dodge Motors

In 1914, Dodge Motors was established with a capital of $5 million. In the same year, they designed their first car- Dodge Model 30/35 touring car. The two brothers already had a reputation in the U.S market for selling the best quality motor parts, and in 1916, their cars were ranked the second best in the U.S.

The company also supplied light wheeled vehicles to the U.S Army and nearly 12,800 cars and trucks were supplied during World War I.

The Unstable Acquisitions

The death of both the Dodge brothers in the year of 1920 led to the constant downfall of the company for the next few years. In 1925, from the second position in the U.S market, it shifted to the fifth place, resulting in selling the company to an investment group, Dillion, Read & Co. Frederick Haynes remained the president of the company, even after it was sold to a different owner.

In October 1925, Dodge acquired 51% interest in Graham brothers for $13 million, and later, acquired the remaining part in May 1926. The Graham brothers established Graham-Paige Company to build a new series of passenger cars, but none of this could take the company to its previous position. So, in 1928, Dodge was again sold to Chrysler Corporation, and it started building Chrysler trucks.

The Chrysler Age

Under the leadership of Chrysler, many new models were launched one modifying the other. In 1932, a new factory was built in Los Angeles, California, to build Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth vehicles.

Chrysler was very inventive about war vehicles, and Dodge was already popular for its contribution in the U.S army. During World War II, the company (Dodge America) built over 400,000 trucks for the war, and Chrysler Canada built over 180,000 Dodge trucks for British and the Commonwealth militaries.

Postwar, a lot of new models came up, and again, stabilized the name of the company. The Dodge Custom 4-door sedan (1946), Coronet (1956 ), and Coronet 440 sedan (1967) were some of the bestsellers of the comoany during that period.

The oil crisis of 1973 led to a change in the design of many car models, and the number of imported cars from the company’s Japanese partner, Mitsubishi increased. An entire series of luxurious cars were introduced, like Dodge Charger, 1977 Dodge Diplomat sedan, and 1976 Dart 4-door sedan.

Chrysler introduced ‘K-Car’ in the 1980s, but it was replaced by LH, a 1990s leading vehicle, to launch some of the high-rated cars, like LH Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler Concorde and Eagle Vision.

The Modern Age

In 1998, Chrysler Corporation merged with Daimler-Benz AG, and Dodge became the new company’s low-price division.

In 2009, Fiat came in a joint venture with Chrysler under Sergio Marchionne, with the UAW, and the U.S Government to form Chrysler Group LLC. For this partnership, the U.S government-provided a loan which was repaid with interest in 2011, five years prior to the date. In 2014, both Chrysler LLC and Fiat merged to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and announced that the company will be based in London.

Tesla to Bring Support For YouTube Along Next Update to its In-car Software

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Tesla
Image Source: autoblog.com

Tesla has always brought something different for its users. This time, the company reported that it will be bringing YouTube to the central screen of its Tesla cars, soon. The company’s founder and CEO, Elon Musk, during a Q&A session held at the E3 event in Los Angeles, revealed that the company has been working towards hosting video streaming on the central infotainment screen of the Tesla cars since past one year, and YouTube will be the first video streaming service coming to it.

Last August, Musk responded to a Twitter request about bringing video streaming to the Tesla cars’. In the tweet, Musk had indicated that the streaming service will come along with the ‘Version 10” of its in-car software. Currently, Tesla cars are running the ‘Version 9’ of the software on its infotainment screen. At that time, Musk did not give any names on which streaming service it would be, but during the Q&A, Musk clearly mentioned YouTube as one of the video services for the central screens of the Tesla cars.

The company has already offered games and has been hosting “Easter eggs” on the central screen of the cars, and this will be the first time that any of the automobile company will stream YouTube over its cars’ infotainment screens.

Along with YouTube, Bethesda’s Fallout Shelter will be joining Cuphead, Missile Command, Asteroids, Lunar Lander, and Centipede as one of the games to be played on the big central screen of Tesla cars.

Though people are questioning the need of videos and games on the screen of a car, the company has clarified that the owner or the passengers of the car will only be able to see the videos or play the games while the car is parked. In most of the cases, people only sit inside a car when they are charging it at the Supercharger stations. This way, now the passengers and the drivers will enjoy their time through YouTube and video games, at the charging station while waiting for their cars to get fully charged.