Electric car wars

ELECTRIC sportscar-maker Fisker Automotive will re-enter arbitration with Tesla Motors after Tesla moved to sue CEO Henrik Fisker, alleging the former BMW and Aston Martin designer did substandard design work as a contractor for Tesla and then used confidential information to develop his own rival plug-in hybrid sedan.

Overseas reports last week indicated that the two parties are now scheduled to meet before a judge in a Californian court on August 26. This could see the case dismissed, a trial date scheduled or a completion date set for voluntary resolution of the dispute.

Mr Fisker was reportedly hired to work on Tesla’s WhiteStar plug-in hybrid, which will join the Tesla Roadster already on sale.

Fisker Automotive said late in April that its WhiteStar-rivalling Karma hybrid, which was launched at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, was on track for delivery in the final quarter of 2009.

“The lawsuit is nonsense,” said Mr Fisker on April 24, 10 days after Tesla filed the lawsuit.

“Fisker Coachbuild has non-exclusive design contracts as shown by the cars we have designed for a variety of manufacturers.”

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