Dernière mise à jour: August 22, 2026
The search Fisker car Justin Bieber usually refers to the 2012 Fisker Karma given to Justin Bieber for his 18th birthday. The luxury plug-in hybrid was presented to him on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 1, 2012, by his manager Scooter Braun, with Usher also involved in the gift.
The car later became even more recognizable after Bieber had it covered in a highly reflective chrome finish. Beyond the celebrity connection, the Karma was an important early example of a luxury extended-range electric vehicle.
Table of Contents
- What Was Justin Bieber’s Fisker Car?
- How Justin Bieber Got the Fisker Karma
- Fisker Karma Battery and Powertrain Technology
- Why Bieber’s Chrome Fisker Became Famous
- Fisker Karma vs Modern Electric Cars
- What Happened to Fisker Automotive?
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Quick Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Celebrity | Justin Bieber |
| Vehicle | 2012 Fisker Karma |
| Type | Plug-in hybrid / extended-range electric sedan |
| Gift date | March 1, 2012 |
| Occasion | Bieber’s 18th birthday |
| Gifted by | Scooter Braun, with Usher |
| Original price | Around $100,000+ depending on trim |
| Electric range | About 33 miles EPA |
| Power | About 403 hp |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Famous modification | Chrome exterior finish |
| Original manufacturer | Fisker Automotive |
What Was the Fisker Car Justin Bieber Owned?
The Fisker car Justin Bieber received was a 2012 Fisker Karma, a four-seat luxury sedan designed by Henrik Fisker. It was not a fully battery-electric vehicle in the modern Tesla sense.
Instead, the Karma used electric motors to drive the rear wheels while carrying a gasoline engine that could generate electricity once battery charge became low. This setup is commonly described as an extended-range electric or series-hybrid design.
The Karma’s styling, low roofline, large wheels and premium price made it one of the most distinctive electrified cars available in 2012.
Internal linking opportunity: Link this section to articles about early electric cars, plug-in hybrids vs EVs, or Henrik Fisker and Fisker Automotive.
How Justin Bieber Got the Fisker Karma
Bieber received the car when he turned 18 on March 1, 2012. Scooter Braun surprised him with it during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Braun explained that he wanted Bieber, who was already known for liking cars, to drive something environmentally conscious while still standing out. CBS News reported that the Karma was valued at around $100,000 at the time.
The gift quickly attracted attention because the Fisker Karma was still rare. It had also gained publicity from other high-profile owners and supporters of lower-emission vehicles.
Fisker Karma Battery and Powertrain Technology
The 2012 Karma used a lithium-ion battery together with two rear electric motors. Contemporary specifications list total system output at approximately 403 horsepower.
According to EPA-related figures published by Edmunds, the Karma offered about 33 miles of electric-only driving before its gasoline-assisted range-extending system became necessary. A 240V charge took roughly six hours.
How the range extender worked
The gasoline engine did not operate like a normal engine mechanically connected to the wheels. Instead:
- The battery supplied electricity to the drive motors.
- The electric motors propelled the rear wheels.
- When battery charge became low, the gasoline engine powered a generator.
- The generator supplied additional electricity.
This allowed drivers to complete short trips largely on battery power while still having gasoline available for longer journeys.
Advantages
- Electric propulsion
- Gasoline backup for longer distances
- Strong acceleration for its era
- Distinctive luxury design
Disadvantages
- Very heavy, at roughly 5,600 pounds
- Limited electric range by modern standards
- Complex dual-energy powertrain
- High original price
Why Bieber’s Chrome Fisker Became Famous
The car did not remain in its original dark exterior finish. Bieber later had the Karma transformed with a highly reflective chrome wrap, making it far more noticeable.
The modified vehicle became widely photographed in Los Angeles. In July 2012, Reuters reported that Bieber was driving the chrome-bodied Fisker Karma when California Highway Patrol officers stopped him for speeding while he said paparazzi were pursuing him.
The chrome treatment was purely cosmetic. It did not change the Karma’s battery, electric motors or range-extender technology.
This distinction matters because photographs of Bieber’s modified vehicle sometimes make it appear like a one-off Fisker model. It was essentially a customized version of the production Karma.
Fisker Karma vs Modern Electric Cars
The Karma was technologically ambitious in 2012, but EV technology has advanced considerably since then.
| Feature | 2012 Fisker Karma | Modern premium EV |
| Power source | Battery + gasoline generator | Usually battery only |
| Electric range | About 33 miles | Often 250–350+ miles |
| Charging | Relatively slow AC charging | AC plus rapid DC charging |
| Vehicle weight | Around 5,600 lb | Varies widely |
| Software updates | Limited | Often over-the-air |
| Connected features | Basic by modern standards | Apps, cloud services, OTA updates |
The Karma’s main strength was that drivers did not need to depend entirely on charging infrastructure. That idea remains relevant today as manufacturers continue developing extended-range electric vehicles.
A practical comparison is the current Karma Revero. Karma Automotive says its newer Revero still uses an extended-range system but combines it with a much larger 28 kWh battery, up to 80 miles of electric range and modern connected-car technology.
What Happened to Fisker Automotive?
The company that built Bieber’s Karma was Fisker Automotive, not the later Fisker Inc. that produced the Ocean electric SUV.
Fisker Automotive experienced serious financial and manufacturing difficulties after launching the Karma. Henrik Fisker left the company in March 2013, and the original company later entered bankruptcy proceedings. Reuters documented the financial problems, production stoppages and company restructuring during this period.
Its assets were later acquired and eventually became part of what is now Karma Automotive. The modern Karma company still builds extended-range luxury vehicles and has continued developing the basic concept that made the original Karma unusual.
This should not be confused with Fisker Inc., Henrik Fisker’s separate later company, which filed for bankruptcy in June 2024 after problems with its Ocean EV business.
FAQs
1. What Fisker car did Justin Bieber own?
Justin Bieber received a 2012 Fisker Karma for his 18th birthday in March 2012.
2. Who gave Justin Bieber the Fisker Karma?
His manager Scooter Braun presented the vehicle on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with Usher also associated with the birthday gift.
3. Was Justin Bieber’s Fisker fully electric?
No. The Fisker Karma was a plug-in hybrid or extended-range electric vehicle with electric propulsion plus a gasoline-powered generator.
4. Why was Justin Bieber’s Fisker silver?
Bieber’s car became famous after receiving a reflective chrome exterior treatment. The original vehicle was not sold by Fisker in that mirror-like appearance.
5. How much did Justin Bieber’s Fisker Karma cost?
Reports at the time placed the value at approximately $100,000, while original Karma prices varied by trim.
Conclusion
The Fisker car Justin Bieber story began on March 1, 2012, when the singer received a Fisker Karma for his 18th birthday. Its later chrome makeover helped turn an already unusual plug-in luxury sedan into one of the most recognizable celebrity cars of that period.
Readers can review the original birthday report from CBS News, compare the vehicle’s specifications through Edmunds, and see how the extended-range concept evolved through Karma Automotive.
For anyone researching Fisker car Justin Bieber, the key point is that it was a 2012 Fisker Karma—an early luxury electrified vehicle whose celebrity connection brought considerable attention to plug-in car technology.
Read more:
