Pick-up and take-over! Nissan targets Fisker Alaska as EV ute solution to fight Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV

March 7, 2024March 5, 2024 John Mahoney 1754 Views Alaska, Cybertruck, F-150, Fisker, ford, Lightning, nissan, Rivian, Tesal

Nissan has engaged in crisis talks with EV-maker Fisker that could see the Japanese brand gain access to the failing Californian brand’s Alaska all-electric ute.

According to Reuters the talks between the two parties are already at an “advanced” stage but have not been finalised. But they could see Nissan plough as much as $US400 million ($A610m) into the EV start-up.

As a return, Fisker will allow Nissan to build its own ute based on the incoming Alaska pick-up scheduled for 2026.

It’s thought the new ute will give the Japanese firm the car it needs to claw back sales in the US market’s biggest pick-up segment following the end of Titan full-size ute production.

There’s no word yet on whether or not the new ute might be exported. If it does it would make sense for the ute-mad for the Australian market.

The battery-powered Nissan ute would share platforms and tech with the Alaska but be built in the Japanese firm’s own US based factory in either Mississippi or Tennessee.

Before the emergency talks, Fisker had already announced that it was in trouble and was planning on slashing its headcount by 15 per cent to save costs. Development of both the Alaska and PEAR small car had also been slowed.

It had also confirmed to the media it was in talks with a large car-maker in regards to a development partnership but did not explicitly name Nissan.

Before the news Nissan might be ready to do a deal, shares in Fisker were down 45 per cent.

It’s been reported Nissan is now able to pursue new joint ventures following the restructuring of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.

Fisker, meanwhile, blames high interest rates that led to a general slowdown in demand for EVs as the chief protagonist for its current fate.

Despite that, with new investment in place Fisker says it aims to deliver between 20,000 and 22,000 Ocean SUVs in 2024.

Originally, the Alaska pick-up was scheduled to launch in 2025 priced from US$45,000 ($69,000). Based on an extended version of the Ocean platform, the incoming Fisker was intended to compete with the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the Rivian R1T and Tesla’s Cybertruck.