Fisker gives us a closer look at the $30K PEAR SUV with new details and range updates
After revealing the budget-friendly crossover earlier this month, Fisker is giving us a closer look at the $30,000 all-electric PEAR, including new range updates.
Check out the Fisker PEAR electric SUV
Fisker showcased its PEAR EV for the first time at its Product Vision Day earlier this month after teasing the crossover for over a year.
The PEAR is Fisker’s second all-electric SUV, behind the slightly larger Ocean (which began deliveries in early May). Fisker has been touting the PEAR will have a starting price below $30,000, which the EV maker reiterated Thursday.
Fisker revealed the PEAR will be 15 feet (4,500 mm) smaller than the Ocean SUV. A new light steel body structure will also help reduce the parts required by 35%.
The EV maker believes improvements like these will help reduce input costs, enabling them to offer the vehicle at a lower price point.
Since the vehicle is designed to make travel easier in cities, the PEAR features a “Houdini trunk,” allowing owners to load and unload in tight situations while avoiding damage due to low ceilings.
Rather than folding up like a typical trunk, the vehicle’s lid and glass slide behind the rear bumper beam, protecting it in the event of a rear crash. Fisker activated the Houdini trunk earlier this month at slow speeds but said the production version will move at high speed.
Then you have the “froot,” or what most call the frunk. It will be offered with an insulated option to help keep food hot or cold (perfect for delivery drivers in the city).
The PEAR will include a “Lounge Mode,” enabling all seats to fold flat (including the rear seat folding into the trunk) to establish a spacious lounge space. With an optional 17.1-inch rotating screen, you can sit and watch a movie or enjoy other entertainment.
Another option will include seating for six with a sizable two-seat bench replacing the front passenger seat and center console.
The $30,000 Fisker PEAR SUV will have two battery options with range estimates of either 180 miles (the most sustainable version) or 320 miles for longer road trips. It will be offered in both rear wheel and AWD options with 20-inch wheels (22-inch optional).
Fisker says the electric crossover will be its first vehicle to use its in-house High-Performance Computer (Fisker Blade) that “will offer a completely new connected and digital customer experience for the era of software-defined vehicles.”
The new PEAR will be built in the US in collaboration with Foxconn at its Ohio factory, enabling it to qualify for the IRA tax credits. Manufacturing and deliveries are expected to begin in July 2025.
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The Stripe logo on a smartphone with U.S. dollar banknotes in the background.
Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images
Stripe cut 300 jobs, representing about 3.5% of its workforce, mostly in product, engineering and operations, CNBC has confirmed.
The payments company, valued at about $70 billion in the private markets, still expects to increase headcount by 10,000 by the end of the year, which would be a 17% increase, and is “not slowing down hiring,” according to a memo to staff from Chief People Office Rob McIntosh. Business Insider reported earlier on the cuts and the memo.
A Stripe spokesperson also confirmed to CNBC that a cartoon image of a duck with text that read, “US-Non-California Duck,” was accidentally attached as a PDF to emails sent to some of the employees who were laid off. Some of the emails mistakenly provided affected employees with an incorrect termination date, the spokesperson said.
McIntosh sent a follow-up email to staffers apologizing for the “notification error” and “any confusion it caused.”
“Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes,” he wrote.
In 2022, Stripe cut roughly 1,100 jobs, or 14% of its workers, downsizing alongside most of the tech industry, as soaring inflation and rising interest rates forced companies to focus on profits over growth. The Information reported that Stripe had a few dozen layoffs in its recruiting department in 2023.
Stripe’s valuation sank from a peak of $95 billion in 2021 to $50 billion in 2023, before reportedly rebounding to $70 billion last year as part of a secondary share sale. The company ranked third on last year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
In October, Stripe agreed to pay $1.1 billion for crypto startup Bridge Network, whose technology is focused on making it easy for businesses to transact using digital currencies.
Brothers Patrick and John Collison, who founded Stripe in 2010, have intentionally steered clear of the public markets and have given no indication that an offering is on the near-term horizon. Total payment volume at the company surpassed $1 trillion in 2023.
WATCH: Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal
Thinking about upgrading your EV? Rivian (RIVN) launched a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T. Here’s how you can snag some savings.
Rivian R1S and R1T upgrade deal offers up to $6,000
Rivian delivered over 51,500 vehicles last year as the EV maker gains momentum. Although it was only slightly higher than the ~50,100 delivered in 2023, Rivian is expected to see even more growth this year.
After shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant last April and renegotiating supplier contracts, Rivian has seen “significant cost improvements,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe.
Rivian also began delivering its next-gen R1S and R1T models last year. The new Large and Max battery packs have redesigned modules and more efficient packaging, “making them easier to manufacture and service.” For example, Rivian’s new EVs use seven ECUs, down from 17 in the first-generation R1T and R1S.
With new plant upgrades, reworked supplier contracts, and more efficient vehicles, Rivian is now passing the savings on to customers.
Rivian introduced a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1T or R1S. The bonus amount varies by trim:
- Tri with Max battery: $6,000 USD / CAD 8,600
- Dual with Max battery and Performance upgrade: $4,500 USD / CAD 6,500
- Dual with Max battery: $3,000 USD / CAD 4,300
The offer is for current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the US and Canada. Rivian launched the new promo on January 21, and it runs through March 31, 2025.
After you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle, Rivian will apply a discount toward the MSRP. You must take delivery by March 31, 2025. In the fine print, Rivian stated, “You must request a trade-in estimate to qualify for this offer, but trade-in of a vehicle is not required.”
Any other models are excluded from the offer. These include Dual Standard configurations, Dual with Large battery configurations, custom builds, demo vehicles, and pre-owned vehicles.
The new offer follows Rivian’s previous upgrade promo introduced last October, giving qualifying gas-powered vehicle owners or lessees up to $3,000.
Check out the Rivian R1 Shop to view eligible models. You can see eligible Rivian R1S here and R1T models here.
Electrek’s Take
Rivian’s R1S was already the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, with nearly 27,000 models sold. With more driving range and power at a lower cost, the electric SUV could see even more demand in 2025.
Then again, with the arrival of new luxury electric SUVs, like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Volvo EX90, Rivian will face more competition in the US.
Rivian’s latest promo comes as the Company looks to carry the momentum from the end of 2024 into the new year. The EV maker is offering other deals, including 1.99% APR for 60 months on the R1 Dual with a Max Battery and Performance upgrade.
Even if you are not eligible for the promo, we can still help you find deals on Rivian’s electric SUV in your area. You can use our links below to view offers on the Rivian R1S and R1T near you today.
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