In this case, according to anonymous sources divulging internal communications at Fisker Automotive, things came to a head between Henrik Fisker and CEO Tony Posawatz over whether federal funds should be relied upon.

Contrary to other speculation, the founder of his namesake company did not walk out because Chinese bidders – now since out of the picture – were looking to take a controlling stake.

Agreed upon by all is Fisker needs cash now.

The sources told Reuters that Posawatz sought a way to restore $336 million in lost U.S. Energy Department loans that were frozen in February 2012.

Henrik Fisker, sources say, opposed this and sought a smaller operating budget funded by what revenues the company could make and other funding sources than the federal government.

To date, Fisker Automotive has raised in excess of $1.2 billion in private funding. Its Energy Department loans had withdrawn about $193 million of the originally promised $529 million in taxpayer dollars.

Undoubtedly there is more to this story, but in short, it was said Posawatz wanted to turn back on the public funding to add to the amount Fisker could spend, as it seeks to finalize and launch its Atlantic and restore confidence in the company.

Their disagreement saw them separated in their perspective on what’s best for Fisker Automotive to the tune of “hundreds of millions” one source told Reuters.

Fisker Automotive has declined to comment on this story.

Last Friday, Henrik Fisker also gave a phone interview to the Detroit News, in which he kept it positive without divulging more than he had disagreements with current management.

The company has had a string of setbacks, and Henrik Fisker said he is proud of the company’s achievements, mentioning its Karma has been sold on four continents.

“It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve ever made, but you know it was a decision that was necessary as I had major disagreements with the current executive management,” he said, “It would be wrong to stay.”

After he turned in his company Karma last Wednesday, he went to a dealership in Santa Monica and paid full price for an approximately $102,000 blue Karma.

“I don’t get a free car because I walked away,” Fisker said. “I wanted to support my local dealer.”

Henrik Fisker also commented on the politicized cloud surrounding his former company, how it had been likened to failed solar panel maker, Solyndra LLC.

“What happened after Solyndra obviously has shifted unfortunately the discussions — rather than talking about … that everybody wants America to be the leader in new technology, it shifted to being more political focused,” Fisker said. “That’s a situation everyone’s going to have to deal with.”

Whether Henrik Fisker goes to work for another automaker, or what he will do next, he said it is still “too early” to say.

AutoNews, Detroit News

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According to Reuters, one of the Chinese firms is Wanxiang Group, the company that in December won an auction for bankrupt U.S. lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems, Fisker’s primary battery supplier.

Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher told Reuters only that the company is “in advanced talks with a number of potential strategic partners,” with possible developments announced in the next few months. Ormisher abstained from further comment on the matter.

Attempts to seek European funding late last year by Fisker CEO, Tony Posawatz, proved fruitless says Reuters, and so the next step was China. The Chinese government is setting about putting half a million electric vehicles in operation in the next few years, and Chinese automakers are aggressively seeking alternative fuel technologies in an effort to help meet this stated goal.

As for the build stoppage of the Karma, Ormisher told AutoblogGreen that this was the result of Fisker management wanting a new contract with workers at the Valmet plant in Finland – where the Karma is assembled – the timing of which coincided with the bankruptcy of A123 Systems.

“We took the prudent decision to conserve our battery stock, and we already have sufficient supply of Karmas through Q1 of this year,” Ormisher told AutoblogGreen. “By that time we hope to have renegotiated our battery supply with A123′s new owners Wanxiang.”

Reuters, AutoblogGreen

The post Fisker May Be Looking For Chinese Funding; Hasn’t Built A Car In 6 Months appeared first on HybridCars.com.