Here’s Why the Fisker Ocean Won the Red Dot Award

• 2023 Fisker Ocean wins prestigious Red Dot Design Award for Best Electric Vehicle for 2023.

• The award, originally established in 1955, evaluates the electric vehicle category for product function, aesthetics, ease of use, and responsibility/sustainability.

• The Fisker Ocean entered production in Graz, Austria, late last year, with contract manufacturer Magna planning to produce just over 42,000 units in 2023.

Fisker hasn't even begun delivering its electric SUV model yet, but it has already won a prestigious award for its design. The EV startup headed by former Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker has revealed that the Ocean SUV has won the Red Dot Design Award for the Best Electric Vehicle for 2023.

Founded in 1955, the award is one of the top prizes in the field of design, with over 50 design experts evaluating products in each category against their competitors. The jury examines four design qualities in determining the winner: product function, aesthetics, ease of use, and responsibility/sustainability.

"We are particularly proud to win knowing Red Dot judged us on 'the quality of responsibility: Is the product sustainable or durable?'" Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said.

The Ocean SUV entered production in Austria in November of last year, with Magna Steyr assembling the EV under contract. Among other attributes, the Ocean boasts some 110 pounds of biodegradable and recyclable materials, which no doubt played a part in securing the top award in its category. Additionally, the Graz, Austria, factory is itself carbon-neutral.

"We built our company to make the world's most emotional and sustainable vehicles," Fisker added. "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move the world toward cleaner and more sustainable mobility, and every design choice Fisker makes supports that mission."

When it comes to efficiency, the electric SUV also benefits from a SolarSky roof, which features solar panels that could provide up to 1500 miles of range per year. The automaker expects the Ocean to offer a 350-mile EPA rating, which would also place it among the longest-ranged electric SUVs currently on sale.

Fisker and Magna have previously disclosed that they plan to build just 300 units in the first quarter of 2023, even though production technically began months ago. Overall, Fisker says it expects to build 42,400 units this year, but the first US deliveries won't happen until the second quarter of this year.

This means Magna plans to accelerate production quite rapidly. The Austrian contract manufacturer plans to produce over 8000 Oceans in the second quarter of this year, followed by 15,000 examples in the third quarter, with the remaining 19,000 vehicles expected to roll off the Graz assembly line in the fourth quarter—a stretch target, for sure.

After production ramps up for the Ocean, Fisker will launch the smaller Pear crossover in 2024, to be produced in Lordstown, Ohio, by Foxconn. Fisker says the Pear is on target for a $29,900 base price.

Does Fisker have enough brand recognition in the marketplace compete favorably with offerings from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and others, or is it too obscure at the moment? Let us know what you think.