Karma Automotive Ties Up With BMW For Electric Drive Technology

The automotive maker previously known as Fisker Automotive recently changed its name to Karma and, apparently, is getting down to business.

Having promised a plug-in hybrid as early as 2016, it has announced that it has formed a partnership with BMW concerning electric drive and charging systems technology.

The Chinese-owned brand wants to cut the development time and costs of the new luxury sedan by “borrowing” the German’s brands expertise. “Carmakers buy parts from other carmakers, especially in expensive areas like powertrain technology”, Karma’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jim Taylor, told Automotive News. “As we launch the vehicle under the new name Karma, using BMW components will be a big help to the brand.”

Ironically, its founder, Henrik Fisker, had also worked for BMW, designing the Z8 and then heading its DesignWorksUSA subsidiary before launching his own brand in 2008. Funding was problematic, though, and in 2013 the insolvent start-up was bought by the Wanxiang Group.

Earlier this year, it was reported that it would be revived in mid-2016 under the Elux nameplate. Later, Wanxiang leased a manufacturing location in California and teased an updated version of the Karma.

Taylor wouldn’t reveal which petrol engine will power the plug-in hybrid now that GM has ceased production of the unit used by the initial model. Perhaps it will be another GM powerplant or, after the tie-up with the German premium automaker, a BMW one such as the 1.5-liter turbo of the i8.

The “rebooted” saloon will just be the first in the brand’s line-up, which in the future will also include an all-electric vehicle.