Fisker Looks for Strategic Partners in China, Hasn’t Built a Car in Six Months

The Karma might look gorgeous but things aren’t looking very good for its maker, Fisker, right now. In 2012, despite having delivered some 2,000 Karmas, it’s had its federal loan frozen, issued a number of recalls on the Karma, saw its battery supplier, A123 Systems, go bankrupt and 16 of its cars being destroyed by hurricane Sandy and, to top it all, it hasn’t built a single car in the past six months.

So the company is looking for partners and investors. And what better place to turn to than a country that wants to acquire high-end EV technology? That would be China; according to a report from Reuters, Fisker’s top executives are trying to find a strategic partner that would help them get things started again.

Read more »

Chinese-Israeli Qoros Brand to Debut GQ3 Cross Hybrid and Estate Concepts in Geneva

Newly formed automobile brand Qoros has shared fresh information about its presence at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March.

Besides the world premiere of its first production model, the GQ3 compact saloon, Qoros will also display two new concept models named the Cross Hybrid Concept and Estate Concept, both of which are based on the sedan.

"Intelligent modular vehicle platform technology allows us to create new vehicle concepts quickly and efficiently," commented Vice Chairman of Qoros Auto, Volker Steinwascher. "The Qoros GQ3 is the first of many models that will be based on this platform, and the technology will allow us to develop a complete model family in a very efficient manner."

Read more »

China's GAC Group Shows Off its Goods, Announces Chrysler Tie-Up at 2013 NAIAS

Towards the end of the previous decade, we remember several Chinese automakers making their way to the Detroit Auto Shows vowing to begin selling cars in the United States. Unless we missed something, that never happened.

At this year's event, the only carmaker from China is the GAC Group (Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd), which brought along three vehicles, including the Trumpchi sedan that's loosely based on the Alfa Romeo 166, the Trumpchi GS5 SUV and the electric-powered E-jet concept saloon you see in the live shots from Detroit.

Read more »