Published August 14, 2012
By Jeff Cobb
As Fisker Automotive continues to overcome public relations concerns right up to this moment, it has named former Chevy Volt vehicle line director, Tony Posawatz, as its new CEO.
Posawatz left GM in an early retirement six weeks ago, and replaces former Chrysler executive Tom LaSorda who only took the helm from Henrik Fisker in February this year.
Fisker’s new chief brings decades of General Motors experience with him, and is seen as having needed strengths in this time when Fisker must shore up its position with the stumbles of the Karma plug-in hybrid and as it seeks to launch its Atlantic.
Henrk Fisker said as much, saying Fisker's hiring Posawatz is "continuing strengthening of the management team." Tom LaSorda will leave the company.
On Posawatz’s immediate plate are the need to tackle the aftermath of such concerns as three Karma recalls including hose clamp and battery pack issues, two fires, one of which just happened Friday, a stop on major federal loans and preparation for the Atlantic.
Based in Irvine, Calif., Fisker aspires to be a worldwide automaker and is also setting up a presence in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and other markets.
The Atlantic was to be produced next year in Delaware, but Fisker is mulling its options having lost the greater portion of a $529 million federal low interest loan that was to go toward Atlantic production.
Posawatz is very well regarded in the industry, and for years was associated with the Volt, and personally has passion to see such vehicles succeed.
He is reportedly already on the job after ending his early retirement early and we will be watching with interest as he continues with a plug-in hybrid albeit not with a monolithic corporation, but a small startup using one of his former employer's engines, and starting over in what is otherwise quite a different set of circumstances to manage.
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