Fisker to deliver first EV transport to Pope Francis next year

“I got inspired reading that Pope Francis is very considerate about the environment and the impact of climate change for future generations,” said co-Founder Henrik Fisker. “The interior of the Fisker Ocean papal transport will contain a variety of sustainable materials, including carpets made from recycled plastic bottles from the ocean.”

California-based Fisker FSR, +0.41% said it plans to start production of Fisker Ocean SUVs on Nov. 17, 2022. Prices start at $37,499 in the U.S., excluding applicable subsidies, and at EUR32,000 in Germany, including VAT and applicable subsidies. Premium versions, with a range of 350 million, will also be available.

The company said there are currently more than 16,000 reservation holders for the Ocean.

Fisker’s stock rose 2.4% in premarket trading Friday. It has rallied 9.9% over the past three days, after the company reported first-quarter results that showed losses that widened to $176.8 million and forecast a rise in expenses.

The stock has shed 15.8% year to date through Thursday. In comparison, shares of fellow EV makers Tesla Inc. TSLA, +0.38% have declined 16.9% this year and Nikola Corp. NKLA, -1.64% have lost 16.3%, while the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.41% has gained 10.7%.