Report: Fisker Karma full production delayed to February 2011

The last time we checked in on the production start date for the Fisker Karma, Henrik Fisker was telling a crowd at the Los Angeles Auto Show that production units would be delivered to customers in September 2010. Unfortunately, it looks like the 1,300+ people who placed early orders will have to sit tight a while longer.

Ray Lane, managing partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers told Reuters this week that about 70-100 test cars will be built this year but that full production won't begin until February 2011. When first announced in early 2008, Fisker promised production by late 2009. The delays are not surprising for such a complex car from a new company.

Former Tesla marketing VP Darryl Siry makes a good point about Fisker's communications strategy. Fisker has not been very open about the development process in the way that General Motors has been with the Chevrolet Volt. Instead, most of the announcements have been short on details. For a company with no history in mass production and development, the best approach is either to be open about the process and non-committal on a date or to just stay quiet until the car is ready.

[Source: Reuters, Darryl Siry]