The Fisker plug-in hybrid saloon has officially been revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for all the details and images.


While the rest of the automotive industry retracts, 'right-sizes' and closes facilities, Fisker Automotive is in the process of expanding. Today the company announced the opening of its new 34,000 square foot engineering and development center in Pontiac, Michigan.

The facility will be used to help bring the company's high-performance hybrid sedan to market. In order to make the car a production reality, Fisker felt it was necessary to get a foothold in the Michigan automotive industry.

"The available talent, supplier base and infrastructure in Michigan will help us reach our production goal," said Fisker Automotive COO Bernhard Koehler. "While Fisker Automotive will continue to be headquartered in Irvine, California, the new facility will allow us the opportunity to collaborate with our Michigan supplier base and have everyone under one roof."

The facility follows Tesla Motors' announcement of a 30-person layoff and closure of its Michigan design studio. In another victory for Fisker over Tesla, the maker of the Karma, recently won a suit in arbitration that had been brought by Tesla, alleging design theft among other things.