U.S. To Exit Fisker At Hefty Taxpayer Loss

Washington —The Energy Department said Tuesday it will auction off its outstanding $168 million loan to the now-closed electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker Automotive Inc., a move that will likely mean significant losses to taxpayers. It would be the second automaker to fail after receiving loans that were later sold by the government at a loss.

Peter W. Davidson, executive director of the Energy Department’s loan program office, said in a blog posting Tuesday that the department will exit Fisker, whose Karma luxury sedan was driven by celebrities such as Al Gore, Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Fisker was initially was awarded $528 million from the $25 billion Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing loan program, but received only $192 million. The Energy Department said it has already recouped more than $28 million from Fisker’s accounts.

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