Fisker Karma Deliveries To Begin This Month

Many delays have beset the Fisker Karma. It was originally supposed to launch in late 2009 (before the Chevrolet Volt), but that date has been pushed back to this year. Finally, production has started at Valmet Automotive's plant in Finland.

According to Auto Car production is beginning with a paltry rate of just five cars per week, but that rate is expected to rise to 300 a week by November of this year. With 3,000 orders to fill, this should result in a wait until at least early 2012 for new customers (if all goes to plan).

Fisker intends to sell around 15,000 cars a year of the Karma, which is a lofty goal. Its development was helped to a large degree by the Department of Energy loan it received in 2009 for $528.7 million.

$169.3 million was designated for the Karma's development, with the remaining $359.36 million toward its lower-cost successor Project Nina. Project Nina is expected to sell in volumes of around 100,000 a year, produced at the company's Delaware plant in the United States.

Now, with production in progress, deliveries are scheduled to begin. There has been some high-profile individuals who have put their name on the list waiting for a Karma, one of such is actor Leonardo di Caprio.

He will be the first customer to have a delivered vehicle, and that should happen later this month. Other buyers like Colin Powell and Al Gore are on the list and they should be getting their cars soon after. Other news in the article is that convertible and shooting brake (two-door wagon) iterations of the Karma ore on their way, with introductions scheduled for the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.