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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Nothing Like A Recall to Shed Light on a Few Things -- Absolutely Nothing About the Bakken

Updates

February 7, 2012: Fisker continues to lay off more employees in the even as it seeks more government loans (bailout). The story was found in the India Times.


Original Post
Link here.
Fisker Automotive is recalling all 239 of its 2012 Karma luxury plug-in hybrid cars because of a fire hazard.

Prices on the 2012 model start at $103,000, including the destination charge.

In a report filed recently on the agency’s Web site, Fisker said some hose clamps were not properly positioned, which could allow a coolant leak. “If coolant enters the battery compartment an electrical short could possibly occur, causing a thermal event within the battery, including a possible fire in the worse case,” the company told the safety agency.
Other data points:
  • This is the company in Finland to which the Obama adminstation loaned $529 million to develop $100,000 cars
  • All 239 cars -- that's it -- $529 million for 239 cars; and they now cost $103,000
  • But this is very, very interesting: "fewer than 50 vehicles are in the hands of consumers" -- which means the rest are with the company, the board of directors, insiders, etc. I doubt many are in show rooms -- and, if so, which show rooms
This sounds like a bunch of foreigners got a cool half-billion dollars to build themselves some personal luxury cars.

But, again, we are starting to see a common theme in coal-powered cars: coolant and batteries don't mix -- huge fire danger.

Again, without the Drudge Report, one wonders how much of this would really be reported by the mainstream media. It should be noted that the original link did not include that little tidbit about the half-billion-dollar loan from the Obama administration.

It was also interesting to note that The New York Times tried to dilute the irony of this story by peppering it with a half dozen other vehicular (and scooter) recalls. Italian scooter recalls? Give me a break.

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By the way, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots regarding a half-billion-dollar loan to a foreign car company and a re-election campaign. See first comment below if you need a hint.

By the way, that link:
".... follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla is a California startup focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns."



Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie, Baccara

6 comments:

  1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125383160812639013.html

    anon 1

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for the link. Some folks will need a hint to connect the dots from government loans to re-election campaigns.

    Presidents have learned a lot since Watergate. They have become much more sophisticated.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fisker Automotive is an AMERICAN auto manufacturer based in Anaheim CA.
    It is comical to me that you are hypercritical of some news media and yet you get basic facts COMPLETELY incorrect.
    And has Fisker ceased production ? If not then 2011 production of 239 as you reference would seem to be a misleading statement but I know you can't make things up. As Rick Perry would say "oops you just did". Thanks for the comic relief, Your blog posts that veer from bakken facts are a laugh a minute.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The facts speak for themselves.

    Finnish workers; $500 million loan for cars being built overseas.

    239 cars. $500 million. $100,000 cars.

    All being recalled. The entire line.

    It would be comedy if it weren't so tragic, but if you don't mind shipping US jobs overseas, who am I to argue.

    Of course, the bigger story has nothing to do with cars and Finland. It has something to do with politics and presidential re-election campaigns. That was the reason for posting the article. Most folks have figured that out. A few haven't.

    Thanks for taking time to comment. A page view is a page view.

    ReplyDelete
  5. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/overcharged/2011/12/30/gIQAzQ0yUP_story.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, excellent link.

    As usual, the comments are as interesting as the article.

    ReplyDelete

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