Latest news with #MarquesMcCammon
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Automaker unveils next-gen EV designed to eliminate major driving concern: 'We're building a range of vehicles'
Karma Automotive has officially unveiled the Amaris, a powerful extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) that's set to redefine expectations for sustainable luxury vehicles. According to Motor1, the vehicle's hybrid powertrain comes with a gas generator and a four-cylinder range extender to recharge its battery. These features help address concerns about battery-related limitations and make the EV reach an estimated top speed of 165 miles per hour. By integrating a range-extending engine, Karma Automotive aims to offer a balance between performance and practicality. Unlike traditional battery electric vehicles, the Amaris's range extender allows it to travel longer distances without solely relying on charging stations. This design helps address one of the most common concerns among consumers hesitant about EV adoption: range anxiety. It also offers a cleaner alternative to conventional gas-powered cars. The Amaris is expected to enter production in the fourth quarter of 2026. "With our gorgeous Amaris 2-door coupe and soon-to-be-revealed Gyesera 4-door, we're building a range of vehicles that will deliver exceptional EV torque and performance paired with worry-free cruising range, a combination that only EREV can deliver," shared Marques McCammon, president of Karma Automotive, in a press release. Beyond performance, EVs offer several advantages over gas-powered vehicles, including lower maintenance costs and reduced pollution. A study from MIT found that gasoline-powered cars release an average of 350 grams of carbon pollution per mile driven over their lifetimes. Meanwhile, EVs, which operate on batteries charged through the average U.S. power grid, reduce that figure to around 200 grams per mile. Moreover, a Reuters report found that with a Tesla Model 3, you only need to drive 13,500 miles to make up for the environmental costs associated with manufacturing gas-powered vehicles. Note that figures will vary depending on the EV's power source, if it's being recharged using power generated from coal or eco-friendly resources. As more automakers explore electrification, concerns about battery production's environmental impact still persist. Mining minerals like lithium and cobalt for EV batteries does have a significant environmental impact. However, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, studies show that the overall carbon pollution from EVs remains significantly lower than that of gasoline-powered cars. The transition to greener energy sources aligns with growing consumer interest in eco-friendly practices. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If you're thinking of getting an electric vehicle, the benefits — like cost savings and lower environmental impact — can make it worth exploring. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Karma Automotive solidifies lineup with focus on energy range-extended powertrains
IRVINE, Calif. — In November 2023, Karma Automotive introduced the Kaveya coupe, a sleek electric vehicle pitched as the brand's halo model, launching an ambitious quest to go upmarket as an ultraluxury brand along with plans for a reimagined product portfolio. In the 16 months since, the Southern California company, which dates to 2014 when Chinese auto parts maker Wanxiang Group acquired some of the assets of bankrupt Fisker Automotive, has built out its future product lineup with three new nameplates, while shifting its focus from EVs to energy range-extended powertrains. And while the electric Kaveya remains in Karma's plans — the automaker said it'll launch in 2027 instead of 2026 — the brand is ready to execute, said Marques McCammon, the company's president. Want to keep up with the latest product planning news? Go to Automotive News' regularly updated database of product plans for brands that sell in the United States. Future Product Pipeline >5-year product timelines by brand > 'Everything right now is about what we do and what we deliver,' McCammon told a crowd inside the company's headquarters here on March 20. Karma, which McCammon likened to a grown-up startup during the presentation, took a pivotal step in late 2024 when it resumed output of the updated Revero sedan, an extended-range vehicle, at the automaker's Moreno Valley, Calif. Karma is now shipping about four Reveros a week out of the plant, McCammon told journalists, and should sell around 250 new vehicles in 2025. Pricing for the Revero sedan starts at $125,600 including shipping. Production of the Invictus, based on the Revero, is set to begin in the second quarter. The performance variant features carbon-fiber body panels, chassis upgrades and aluminum wheels. Pricing starts at $187,500 including shipping. The Gyesera sedan, first pitched as an EV, will now arrive as an extended-range vehicle, in the fourth quarter. It will be the Revero's successor. Karma said the change was in response to near-term market demand for EVs, which has softened. The Amaris coupe, which debuted March 20, will arrive in 2026. The Karma lineup will be rounded out by the Ivara crossover in 2028. Both the Amaris and the Ivara will have energy range-extended powertrains. The Ivara, which would be the automaker's first entry in the high-volume crossover segment, is critical to Karma's financial outlook. 'Our profitability is tied to Ivara, so 2028, 2029 is when we expect the business to be profitable,' McCammon said He said Karma's ownership remains committed to the brand and noted he meets with the board quarterly. McCammon said he's made it clear to the board that Karma will attract new capital and financial support from U.S. investors but declined to specify beyond equity markets. Sign up for the Automotive News Cars & Concepts newsletter, a weekly roundup of new and future product, design and auto show news. The Revero, with roots dating to the 2011 Fisker Karma, features a 28-kilowatt-hour battery pack along with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine mated to an onboard generator for a total of 536 hp and 550 pound-feet of torque. It has an electric-only range of 80 miles and a total range of 360 miles. While details about the Amaris' powertrain and range have not been released, Karma said the coupe will use a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine as a generator. Ed Kim, chief analyst at automotive research firm AutoPacific, said Karma has an opportunity to use its energy range-extended powertrain knowledge to gain an advantage. The powertrain was ignored for a long time, Kim said, but that's changing with high-profile use cases such as the Ram 1500 Ramcharger and Scout Motors' Harvester extended-range EV energy system. 'All of a sudden, it's super relevant and they [Karma] happen to have it,' Kim said of the energy range-extended setup. 'That is their powertrain.' But how well-heeled consumers will respond to Karma remains to be seen. And Karma's product rollout is taking place just as a trade war unfolds and threatens to drive new-vehicle prices higher. Karma could see some impact despite its vehicles being built in the U.S. Analysts believe some exotic brands will be able to absorb the impact of U.S. auto tariffs because their customers often aren't deterred by higher prices. McCammon said if Karma were to raise prices to mitigate the impact of any tariffs, customers would generally be less sensitive to such changes but acknowledged the brand doesn't enjoy the legacy or history of some competitors, which means Karma models need to be a relative value proposition. McCammon is positioning Karma to be an ultraluxury U.S. brand and said it's an opportunity to return to a time 'where American ingenuity reigned atop the most prominent brands in the world,' pointing to Packard, Duesenberg, Cord and Auburn. Karma customers, who McCammon said are typically entrepreneurs or business owners, are familiar with established ultraluxury and luxury brands. A Karma might be a third, fourth or fifth vehicle in someone's fleet, he noted, with many of those customers also owning a Mercedes-Benz, Bentley or Aston Martin. Karma has 36 dealerships globally, including in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East. The company's sales goal for 2025 — about 250 — is modest, but McCammon told Automotive News that the brand still intends to eventually reach annual deliveries of around 5,000. 'At that point, we're solid and profitable and we're able to innovate the way that we want,' McCammon said. 'For us to get to that stability is about half of that. We don't need to do a lot. We just need to do what we do well.' Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Karma Automotive Hosts Create Karma 2025, Where the Technologies and Communities of Tomorrow's Vehicle Experiences Come Together
Karma Automotive's Next-Generation of Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREV) Breaks Cover with the Stunning Amaris 2-Door Coupe IRVINE, Calif., March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Karma Automotive today hosted Create Karma 2025, drawing together industry innovators, educators, civic and business leaders for an inspiring forum on the future of automotive technology and its transformative impact upon Southern California. At Create Karma 2025, the company discussed its leadership role in advancing game-changing technologies including AI and SDV (Software-Defined Vehicles), and presented its strategy for creating career pathways for SoCal youth – in collaboration with partners assembled for Create Karma 2025 – to develop the workforce of tomorrow. Further, the event featured the World Premiere of the stunning Karma Amaris, the company's next-generation EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) performance coupe. "Create Karma is our platform to bring the industry, our partners, and our community together to tell our story, spark new ideas, and meaningfully contribute to the future of Southern California," says Marques McCammon, President, Karma Automotive. "This event is about more than just unveiling new products – it's about redefining what's possible in innovation and how that can create a better future for our communities and the broader industry." Create Karma 2025 featured three chapters – Community, Technology, and Experience –each highlighting a key aspect of Karma's vision for the future. Community: Karma announced the newly-formed Clean Transportation Technology Collaborative, a partnership bringing together regional leaders in education, workforce development, business, and technology to accelerate career pathways and job creation in the automotive, software and clean energy sectors in Southern California. Karma Automotive's fellow members of the Collaborative include: CerraCap Venture, Inland Southern California United Way, Orange County Business Council, San Diego State University, Sustain SoCal, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside. Technology: In partnership with Intel Automotive, Karma Automotive is developing Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) which will transform both the manufacturing process and driving experience with smarter, quicker-thinking, more power-efficient vehicles. At Create Karma 2025, the company demonstrated SDV's revolutionary impact, and how it unlocks AI's potential. This served as a continuation of the presentation by Karma Automotive and Intel Automotive at CES 2025, now focusing on the progress of the two company's joint development activities to bring concept to reality. Experience: Karma Automotive World Premiered its next-generation EREV vehicle, the stunning Karma Amaris alongside its stablemates, the 3rd Generation Karma Revero and Revero Invictus; and spotlighted its upcoming ultra-luxury EVs including the Karma Kaveya super-coupe. Attendees were also given an exclusive look at the brand's desig philosophy, along with insights into the company's vision for performance and sustainability. Announcing the Karma AmarisThe Karma Amaris will deliver a zero-comprises mix of exclusivity, high-performance and efficiency, and is anticipated for production in Q4/2026. Karma Automotive's first production 2-door coupe, Amaris will feature a more powerful evolution the company's proven EREV powertrain utilizing a larger, turbocharged 4-Cylinder ICE generator. Resulting acceleration from 0-60mph is estimated at less than 3.5 seconds, culminating with an estimated top speed of 165mph. The powerful yet timelessly elegant carbon fiber and aluminum body of the Amaris features the latest evolution of the Comet Line design language first established with the Karma Kaveya super-coupe. Pricing for Amaris will be announced at a later date. About Karma Automotive Karma Automotive is America's only full-line ultra-luxury vehicle manufacturer, and a pioneer of EREV (Extended-Range Electric) vehicles which it manufactures at its Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) in Moreno Valley, CA. Its Executive, Product Development, and Design headquarters are located in nearby Irvine, CA. The Karma portfolio embodies California's spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial boldness, reflected by the signature Comet Line which is the central hallmark of Karma's new design language. Sales of the 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedan, the world's first luxury EREV plug-in hybrid, are now underway in the USA and EU, offering luxury balanced with conscientiousness delivered without compromise. Sales of Revero's ultra-exclusive, performance-tuned stablemate, Karma Invictus, will begin in Q2 2025, followed by the Gyesera EREV four-seater in Q4 2025, and the Amaris coupe in Q4 2026. The Karma Kaveya super-coupe, with up to 1,000HP and butterfly-doors, will arrive in 2027, and the Karma Ivara GT-UV will arrive in 2028: both EVs will incorporate SDVA (Software-Defined Vehicle Architecture) developed in collaboration with Intel Automotive. Further, Karma Automotive will provide Tier 1s and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with business-to-business SDVA solutions, as it does today with Karma Connect, its proprietary Vehicle Data Management and Over-the-Air services platform, which presently provides services to the world's second largest OEM. Karma Automotive's dealer network spans North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East. ( Media Contact: Joe Richardson, (917) 716-6617 Joe@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Karma Automotive
