Fisker and Nissan could negotiate investment

According to an agency report, Nissan could invest in Fisker and, in return, gain access to Fisker's EV pickup platform. Negotiations between the two carmakers are at an advanced stage, and the deal could be finalised this month.

Reuters reports, citing insiders, that Nissan could invest more than 400 million dollars in Fisker and will build the electric pickup Alaska planned by Fisker in one of its US assembly plants from 2026 – as well as its own electric pickup based on this platform.

Fisker had questioned its future a few days ago. However, this is a mandatory disclosure for publicly traded US companies if liquidity is insufficient for the next twelve months without further financing. Fisker had also stated that it was negotiating “with a major car manufacturer” about a possible investment and a development partnership without disclosing any sums or names. According to Reuters, it is likely to be Nissan.

The Fisker Alaska, unveiled as a study in the summer of 2023, was a pickup interpretation of the Ocean SUV, known to be built by Magna in Austria. Should a cooperation with Nissan go through, using parts from the Ocean would be rather difficult. Further development work is necessary to modify the model for production at Nissan.

However, there is already an indication that Fisker wants to go exactly this route: the Alaska is no longer listed on the company’s German website, but an electric pickup called Kayak. According to the information, the vehicle will be available from 45,400 dollars “without any incentives” – precisely the price Fisker quoted for the Alaska. On the US website, the electric pickup is still called Alaska. While Fisker announced a production start in 2025 at the unveiling, the website now says that “more information regarding availability and estimated production timelines for Alaska will be shared in the future.”

Nissan operates two vehicle plants in the US, one each in Tennessee and Mississippi – where it already has EV experience with the Leaf. With the Leaf and the Ariya SUV imported from Japan, Nissan currently has two EVs in its US range. The Fisker cooperation could noticeably shorten the path to an EV pickup. However, Fisker has no production expertise, as the company designs and develops the vehicles and takes care of things like procurement, but production is outsourced to partners.

Nevertheless, those responsible seem certain that such a deal is possible and could be realised at a manageable cost. Nissan is looking for “many, many opportunities,” according to a Reuters informant. One of the sources said that the term sheet is already finalised, and the deal is still going through due diligence.

reuters.com, fiskerinc.com (Alaska)