By Gary S. Vasilash
Henrik Fisker is an automotive designer whose work includes the BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin DB9. And, of course, there was the Fisker Karma, the car that continued long after the Fisker Automotive ceased to exist. In 2016 Fisker Inc. was established.
Fisker Inc. says of itself: “Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to create the world’s most sustainable and emotional electric vehicles.”
Fisker Inc.’s first vehicle, the Fisker Ocean, is an electric SUV. (The Karma was part of the way to clean: a hybrid.)
Henrik Fisker recently said something interesting (well, he’s probably said plenty of interesting things of late, but this one, in particular):
“In the 21st century, our vehicles are more like rolling computers than the cars of the past, so we need to ensure that our customers are seeing frequent improvements and updates to software.”
He was talking about having over-the-air (OTA) update capability for the Ocean.
When one thinks of a computer, the word emotional probably doesn’t come to mind (unless something has just gone seriously awry and there is a thought about throwing it against a wall).
Although Apple once designed computers that had form factors that were far more appealing (or off-putting) than the run-of-the-mill IBM or Dell—think of the colorful iMac G3, iMac G4, PowerMac G4 Cube—today the products are well-designed, but not particularly emotional.
Henrik Fisker is a chairman and a CEO as well as being a designer.
Consequently, he has to be concerned with what sells.
Which seems to be things that are OTA-capable.
Let’s hope the design doesn’t become an occasional afterthought.
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