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Karma – Technical Specifications 2016–2021
Karma builds luxury electric and extended-range vehicles that refuse to look like appliances. Born from Henrik Fisker's vision in California, the brand survived bankruptcy to emerge with a singular obsession: proving that sustainable performance and striking design aren't mutually exclusive. Their extended-range powertrains deliver daily electric driving without range anxiety, setting them apart in a crowded luxury EV market.
FoundedJune 16, 2014Henrik Fisker, Valerie Fisker
HeadquartersIrvine, CaliforniaUSA
Models in the Catalog3
Annual production~0.01 million vehicles
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About Karma
Karma didn't start as a car company. It started as a question — what if luxury could be sustainable? Founded in 2009 by Fisker Automotive (yes, that Fisker), Karma emerged from the ashes of Henrik Fisker's original vision in Irvine, California. The brand survived bankruptcy, restructuring, and enough drama to fill a business school case study. What survived was something genuinely different — a company obsessed with electric range, solar charging, and the idea that eco-conscious driving didn't mean sacrificing performance or style. Not many luxury startups can say that.
Here's what makes Karma tick. They're obsessed with extended-range electric vehicles — think of it like hybrids, but more intelligent and way more ambitious. The company positions itself at the intersection of sustainability and luxury, which sounds like marketing speak until you actually examine what they've built. Solar roof panels that genuinely charge the battery? Standard. Regenerative braking systems that recover energy most manufacturers waste? Expected. Production numbers stay deliberately small — fewer than 3,000 units annually — because Karma isn't chasing volume. They're chasing perfection. And they're backed by serious capital from Chinese investment groups, which gives them the runway to take risks traditional Detroit automakers won't touch.
The current lineup tells the story. You've got the sleek sedans leading the charge, followed by five-door SUVs for families who refuse to compromise. And yes, all-electric models are emerging as the brand doubles down on pure EV technology. The Revero remains their flagship statement — a car that looks like nothing else on the road and drives like Karma actually believes in what they're building. That's not corporate speak. That's the difference between a brand and a real company.
History
Karma burst onto the automotive scene in 2012 as a relative unknown with ambitious plans. Founded by Henrik Fisker—yes, that Fisker, the designer who'd already made waves at Aston Martin and BMW—the brand represented something genuinely different. The company launched from California with a singular vision: create luxury electric vehicles that didn't look like appliances. Fisker believed EVs could be beautiful. Most manufacturers at the time thought they had to be weird-looking to justify the technology. His bet? Aesthetics and performance could coexist.
The Revero arrived as Karma's flagship—a sleek, four-door luxury sedan with an extended-range electric powertrain. Think of it like this: battery power for daily driving, a small turbocharged engine kicking in when the battery depleted, giving you guilt-free range anxiety relief. Early reviews were glowing. The design was stunning. But here's where things got complicated. Production problems plagued the company almost immediately. Battery suppliers struggled. Manufacturing delays mounted. The startup cash ran dry faster than anyone anticipated, and by 2014, Karma filed for bankruptcy protection. Not exactly the triumphant debut anyone had imagined.
Then came the plot twist. Chinese automaker Wanxiang Group—a massive supply-chain company you've probably never heard of—acquired Karma out of bankruptcy in 2014 for around $149 million. Sounds like a rescue? Sort of. Wanxiang had deep pockets and manufacturing expertise, but they also had different priorities than Fisker's original vision. The brand limped along, refining the Revero and struggling to build meaningful volume. Production numbers stayed embarrassingly low—we're talking hundreds per year, not thousands. The company shifted ownership again in 2020 when Wanxiang restructured, eventually landing under new leadership that promised a turnaround. Sound familiar? It's the classic startup death spiral—brilliant idea, execution nightmare.
The modern era brought the GS-6, a refined version of their core sedan with improved battery technology and updated styling. They introduced the Gyesera as a bolder, more aggressive interpretation of their design language—longer, lower, more dramatic. Both models represented Karma's attempt to prove the brand could compete with Tesla and Porsche in the premium EV space. Quality improved. Reliability grew. But market penetration remained stubbornly limited. Karma has become the brand people respect but nobody actually buys. That gap between critical appreciation and commercial reality? Still there.
Today Karma operates as a niche luxury EV manufacturer focused on design-forward, performance-oriented vehicles. The company's survival has depended almost entirely on Wanxiang's patience and capital—something that wouldn't work for a typical startup. They're pushing toward expanding their electric lineup with new models planned for coming years. Will they ever achieve mainstream success? Probably not. But Karma's story matters because it shows how even brilliant design and genuine innovation can stumble when manufacturing and capital management fail. The lesson hits hard.
Karma Model Categories
Electric Vehicles
Future of mobility: with up to 600 km range.
View all electric cars →The Bottom Line on Karma
The Bottom Line on Karma
Karma — think of it as the comeback nobody expected. A brand that crashed, burned, and somehow clawed its way back with electric ambition and a serious attitude. Their SUV lineup proves they're not just surviving — they're building something worth paying attention to. And their pivot toward electric powertrains shows they finally learned the lesson: adapt or disappear. Ever wonder what drives a company to reinvent itself? Desperation mixed with determination. That's Karma's story. Three models. One clear message. They're here to stay.
Frequently asked questions about Karma
How many models does Karma currently offer?
Karma's got three models on the roster right now — the GS-6, Gyesera, and Revero. All sedans. All luxury-focused. The brand doesn't chase volume like the big players do — they're betting on exclusivity and electric innovation instead. Want to see the full sedan lineup? That's where you'll find them.
When was Karma founded?
Here's the story: Karma Automotive launched in 2014 in California. But it's not exactly a startup from scratch. The company bought up Fisker Automotive's assets after that brand went bankrupt — so you're looking at a resurrection, not a creation. They took the Revero concept and turned it into reality. Same DNA as the original Fisker Karma, but with new management and a clearer vision. Think of it like inheriting a half-finished masterpiece and finally getting it right.
What's Karma's signature technology?
Extended-range electric vehicles. That's Karma's thing. Here's how it works: battery-electric drivetrain paired with a small gas turbine that acts as a generator, charging the battery while you drive. You get the efficiency of electric motors without the range anxiety that pure EVs cause. Smart compromise, honestly. The Revero pioneered this approach for Karma, and it's become their calling card. No traditional transmission, no conventional engine driving the wheels — just electric motors doing the work while the turbine keeps the battery topped up. It's different from what Tesla does, different from what Porsche does. Distinctly Karma.
Does Karma make electric vehicles?
Technically, yes — but not in the way you might think. Karma doesn't make pure battery-electric vehicles like Tesla does. Instead, they're all-in on extended-range electric technology. The electric lineup includes the GS-6, Gyesera, and Revero. All use that turbine-assisted battery system. It's electric propulsion with a safety net. Some people love it. Others want full battery-only. Depends what matters to you.
Which is Karma's most popular model?
The Revero. No contest. It's the model that made people care about Karma again. Gorgeous design, that extended-range electric system we talked about, and a price tag that screams exclusivity. The Revero's what you think of when you hear "Karma" — it's the statement piece. The newer GS-6 and Gyesera are solid, but the Revero's got the history, the presence, the recognition. It's what put them back in the game.
Source: Karma Automotive (official), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Wikipedia, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Automotive News·Last updated