Fisker Karma wins 2 prestigious design and innovation awards

Amid the troubles surrounding Fisker Automotive, a pair of rays of sunlight beamed upon the company in the form of two awards. The company announced today it had received First Prize in the Transportation Competition of the International Design Awards, as well as the Silver prize in Electric Vehicles in the Edison Awards.

The last few months has seen a number of troubles beset Fisker Automotive, from a battery pack recall (due to defective batteries supplied by A123 Systems), to the Department of Energy loans being frozen and the subsequent layoffs and delays in getting the Fisker Atlantic into production. These two prestigious awards could go a long ways to counteracting the perception that problems surrounding the company.

The International Design Awards are meant to recognize "visionary design," discover new or emerging talent, and to increase the appreciation of product design. The Fisker Karma has the looks required to make certain types of people drool upon seeing the car, so it's not entirely surprising for the car to win a design award.

“As a car designer, there’s nothing like having your work recognized and appreciated by other people in different disciplines of the same industry,” said Fisker co-founder and executive design director Henrik Fisker. “We are honored to have the IDA recognize and endorse the sleek and bold design of the Fisker Karma.”

The Edison Awards is one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards, which focus on innovative or excellent new products or services, are in their 25th year and is meant to represent the spirit of innovation exemplified by Thomas Edison. The Fisker Karma was awarded the Silver prize in the Electric Vehicles category of transportation products.

Thomas Stat, 2012 Edison Awards Steering Committee Chairman said, “As the pace of innovation quickens and the “race to next” becomes ever more competitive, it’s increasingly important to take a moment out of our hectic lives to recognize excellence in innovation and greatness in the teams of innovators who make our future. We are honored to present Fisker Automotive with an Edison Award as one of the leading innovators of today and tomorrow. I had the privilege to directly experience the elegance, luxury, and power of the Edison Award-winning 2012 Fisker Karma in New York City. I've never seen so many heads turned from pedestrians and other drivers as the Fisker Karma drove past them.”

In the last few months the Fisker Karma also won BBC Top Gear’s Luxury Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine’s 2012 Design of the Year Award, and was nominated as one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Best Inventions of 2011.