When California-based carmaker Fisker Inc. debuted its first model, the Fisker Ocean, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month, it represented a new opportunity for CEO Henrick Fisker to stake his claim in the electric vehicle industry.
"It's the world's most sustainable vehicle," Fisker told Cheddar. "At least that's our aim."
The all-electric SUV is expected to have a driving range of 250-300 miles on a single charge and will feature a solar roof and multiple parts made from recycled products.
This isn't Fisker's first rodeo. His company Fisker Automotive entered the hybrid vehicle market back in 2007 but failed to gain footing. The company declared bankruptcy in 2013 after receiving millions in federal assistance and taking over a former GM plant in Delaware.
Fisker retained the name and brand, however, and relaunched as Fisker Inc. in 2016 with the goal of producing an affordable, all-electric vehicle that could compete with the likes of Tesla.
The Fisker Ocean's current sale price is $37,499 (or $29,999 with a $7,500 federal tax credit). The company is accepting reservations online and via a proprietary app with a launch date of 2022.
For comparison, Tesla's Model X SUV runs for $84,990, though the midsized Model Y is set to launch in 2021 for about $48,000.
Similar to its omnipresent competitor, Fisker Inc. will skip over dealerships with a direct-to-consumer sales model. The company is also offering a flexible lease option that allows buyers to turn in their cars at any time.
Fisker has touted partnerships with still-unnamed automakers who he says will help lift the financial burden of developing the vehicle for mass production.
"We are working with some very large auto suppliers and that really means we don't have to spend billions of dollars developing everything ourselves," Fisker added.
One of the more luxurious features, "California Mode," allows drivers to lower all nine windows in the car at once. The idea is to create the feel of a convertible while retaining its full roll-cage.
Other sustainable features include a "vegan interior," repurposed rubber waste for various parts, and fully recycled carpeting throughout.
A rare magnum of Dom Pérignon Vintage 1961 champagne that was specially produced for the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana has failed to sell during an auction. Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen handled the bidding Thursday. The auction's house website lists the bottle as not sold. It was expected to fetch up to around $93,000. It is one of 12 bottles made to celebrate the royal wedding. Little was revealed about the seller. The auction house says the bids did not receive the desired minimum price.
The New York Times and President Donald Trump are fighting again. The news outlet said Wednesday it won't be deterred by Trump's “false and inflammatory language” from writing about the 79-year-old president's health. The Times has done a handful of stories on that topic recently, including an opinion column that said Trump is “starting to give President Joe Biden vibes.” In a Truth Social post, Trump said it might be treasonous for outlets like the Times to do “FAKE” reports about his health and "we should do something about it.” The Republican president already has a pending lawsuit against the newspaper for its past reports on his finances.
OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.
President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
U.S. sports betting is booming as NFL and college football fuel massive activity. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt breaks down trends, growth, and what’s next.
President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.
Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
