Al-Futtaim’s trading enterprises launches Fisker luxury hybrid cars in the Middle East

Fisker, the world’s first environmentally-responsible luxury car made its official Middle East appearance last night as Trading Enterprises and Fisker Automotive leadership unveiled the award-winning Karma sedan in front of global and regional media at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City.

Senior management from Al-Futtaim and Fisker Automotive pulled the wraps off the world’s first high performance electric luxury vehicle, making the privately held Dubai-based business group exclusive partner in the GCC and MENA regions.

The launch was attended by Henrik Fisker, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Fisker Automotive, Barny Koehler, Co-Founder and CEO of Europe and Middle East, Fisker Automotive, Len Hunt, President – Automotive, Al-Futtaim Group, Colin Cordery, Managing Director, Trading Enterprises and other senior management from Al-Futtaim.

Trading Enterprises will distribute the Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio endorsed Fisker automobiles exclusively in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and the Levant. The region’s first Fisker showroom will open in Dubai Festival City’s automotive park before the end of the year. Depending on the chosen interior trims, accessories and paint combinations, the Fisker Karma will retail in the UAE for between AED500,000 and AED600,000.

Colin Cordery, Managing Director, Trading Enterprises said: “We are familiar with first-class automotive brands and understand the need to offer premium customers a technologically advanced vehicle that respects the environment.

“Fisker offers an environmental alternative to traditional luxury vehicles and we are well placed and proud to partner with Fisker and support their vision of delivering uncompromised, responsible luxury to this part of the world. Al-Futtaim has built strength and credibility in delivering great customer experience and this latest partnership with Fisker automobiles further reiterates our position as the region’s number one dealer of the finest automotive brands.”

Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo Di Caprio is an equity investor in Fisker Automotive who are committed to producing electric vehicles with extended range that deliver uncompromised responsible luxury. The company is on the forefront of designing and developing the world’s first line of premium plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.

Henrik Fisker, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Fisker Automotive said: “Today is a proud moment for the Fisker brand as it is the start to our journey in the Middle East. We could not have found a better business house than Al-Futtaim Group to partner us. Al-Futtaim is one of the strongest players in the automotive segment with proven capabilities in customer engagement, high standards of after-sales service, network of showrooms and parts distribution centres. We are honoured to have a partner with such strong legacy.”

Following the unveiling of the Fisker Karma, Mr. Fisker said: “The Karma sedan is built according to the company’s sustainable and Accountable Design™ philosophy, which represents a dramatic leap forward for the auto industry. Fisker’s approach to responsible luxury goes well beyond minimising fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Fisker uses renewable materials and the lowest-impact technologies at every stage of the engineering, production and marketing processes.”

The Fisker Karma sedan has already picked a number of global awards in its debut sales year, including Top Gear’s Luxury Car of the Year, Automobile’s Design of the Year Award, listing in TIME Magazine’s Top 50 Innovations of 2012, a Global Green Design Award, and Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte named Karma Most Stylish Car of 2012.

Also last week, the Fisker Karma was awarded the prestigious Fast Company Magazine ‘Innovation by Design’ Awards to win the Transportation Category finishing ahead of competitors including the Boeing 787 airliner, the Faraday Bike and Ford’s Fusion. The Karma was also awarded a coveted Auto Bild Magazine “Golden Steering Wheel Award” as “Classic Car of the Future” – limousine category – voted for by readers of this highly respected publication.

Confirming the Fisker Karma’s status as a future classic, setting the trends of tomorrow’s cars today, Motor Trend Magazine in the USA nominated the car as one of its Top 10 Future Classics taking into account a car’s significance, rarity and purity of design.

Finally, in eco-conscious Sweden, the Fisker Karma was voted by Auto Motor Und Sport Magazine as the Environmental Car of the Year for 2012. The magazine praised the Karma for its ability to combine both desire and environmental compatibility whilst making a statement in automotive development.

Fisker produces electric vehicles with extended range (EVer™). The EVer powertrain consists of an efficient gasoline engine, an electric generator, a Lithium-ion battery pack, and two electric motors at the rear wheels. The Karma sedan allows the driver to select between two driving modes: Stealth mode for relaxed all-electric driving and Sport mode to access the vehicle’s full power. The EVer powertrain on the Karma sedan uses dual electric motors to drive the wheels – the gasoline engine never directly drives the wheels.