Photo: 2012 Karma with Henrik Fisker, left, and Bernhard Koehler, right.
Fisker Automotive announced Tuesday that automotive wise man Tom LaSorda has been appointed CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, with full responsibility for day-to-day operations. Thomas W. LaSorda (no relation to the erstwhile Dodgers manager) is a seasoned auto industry exec, with 30 years in the biz, first at GM and later as the CEO of Chrysler. Co-Founder Henrik Fisker will become Executive Chairman.
Fisker delivered a bundle of bad news earlier this month – it had to put its second production vehicle, Project Nina, on hold, a move which led to the freezing of a new round of DOE loans (the company claims to still have plenty of private financing). The company may now be angling for a merger or alliance with a larger automaker, and industry insider LaSorda is just the man to make it happen. “As part of our future strategy, we will be seeking strong partnerships and alliances as Fisker continues to grow as a brand,” said he.
Henrik Fisker, revered mainly as an auto designer, seems to see his change of roles as a logical next step. “We have created a new automotive company, launched a new Electric Vehicle extended range technology and brought the Fisker Karma to market successfully in a remarkably short timeframe,” said Fisker. “I am looking forward to working closely with Tom as we steer the company into its future as an iconic global automotive brand with a range of desirable cars that offer environmentally responsible luxury.”
Image: Fisker Automotive