Bridge of Weir are to be the leather supplier of choice for the all-new Fisker Premium electric range. Henrik Fisker, Fisker Automotive Co-founder, CEO and Executive Design Director says: ‘Bridge of Weir produce the finest leather I have seen in a car, and now that they can do this with zero waste, their low-carbon leather just had to feature in Fisker cars.’

Jonathan Muirhead, Chairman of the Scottish Leather Group, added: ‘This company is founded upon innovation and making great steps forward. My great grandfather saw it in 1910 with the Model T Ford, and several generations since have continued this tradition inside and outside the automotive industry. I think this latest step, with the game-changing Fisker range, is up there with the Model T in terms of great leaps forward. We are extremely proud to have been chosen to be a part of the journey.’

Bridge of Weir’s locally sourced leather will make up the bulk of the interior material on the Fisker Karma Ecostandard and Ecosport models, with seats, steering, dash, door-casings and centre-console trim wrapped in low carbon leather. The four-door Karma coupe can accelerate from 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds; yet can also achieve the equivalent of more than 100 miles per gallon and 83 g/km co2 emissions in real world driving on an annual basis, and is now on sale across Europe priced from around €85,500. Bridge of Weir will also go on to supply low-carbon leather to the full Fisker range, including the recently announced ‘Surf’ model.

Fisker are the only premium manufacturer in the world to produce true electric vehicles with extended range (Ever trademark). These vehicles can effectively charge themselves from an on-board petrol power generator, banishing the ‘range anxiety’ usually associated with electric cars. Combining striking, elegant design with high performance, ultra-low fuel consumption and zero emissions on demand, Fisker are committed to creating the pure driving passion. The addition of Bridge of Weir as a supplier serves to reinforce the brand’s attention to detail when it comes to sustainability.

With a production process supported by Bridge of Weir’s innovative new thermal energy plant in Scotland, Fisker vehicles can boast that even the interior leather is low carbon and manufactured with zero waste. Opened in 2010, the thermal energy plant is the only one of its kind in the world leather industry, and takes what was previously waste sent straight to landfill and converts it directly to energy for heating the huge volumes of recycled water required in the manufacturing process.