What the car is and where it came from
The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan. It was the first car designed by Fisker Automotive. It was manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Finland. Production ran from 2011 to 2012.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
It runs on electricity from a plug until the battery depletes, then a gasoline engine powers a generator to keep the electric motors running. The EPA rated its all-electric range at 32 mi (51 km). In all-electric mode, it delivers 52 mpg‑US equivalent. In gasoline-only mode, it delivers 20 mpg‑US.
What it gets right
It establishes a clear visual hierarchy: long bonnet, low roofline, wide track, and a fastback silhouette that reads as a sports sedan before it registers as electric. It was the only car designed by Henrik Fisker to enter production.
What it does not
It does not deliver usable rear space—the EPA rated it as a subcompact car due to very small cabin interior volume. It does not offer a production convertible or hatchback variant—the Karma Sunset and Fisker Surf never entered production.
What it changed
It proved a designer-led electric sedan could reach production—briefly—and forced regulators to confront how to classify a large, heavy car with a tiny cabin. It also showed that derivative concepts (Sunset, Surf) could generate buzz without ever being built.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for buyers who prioritised design statement and plug-in capability over cabin space, real-world range or long-term viability. It is not for those needing practicality, regulatory consistency or proven reliability—only 1,800 units were delivered in North America and Europe through December 2012.
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you want to understand how early luxury EVs negotiated range anxiety, packaging trade-offs, and regulatory classification without solving any of them cleanly. No—if you expect performance, durability or resale logic.
