The Fisker Ocean electric SUV, whose manufacturer went bankrupt in 2024, was built with hardware for hands-free driving but never received the necessary software. Now, a third-party solution from Comma AI is being tested on the Ocean, potentially offering a feature that owners never received from the factory.
Background: Fisker Ocean’s Unfulfilled Promise
Every Fisker Ocean EV was equipped with hardware designed to support hands-free driving. However, Fisker never shipped the software required to enable this feature before the company went bankrupt in 2024. As a result, Ocean owners were left without the advanced driving assistance they were expecting.
Comma AI Steps In
Comma AI, an American company specializing in computer-assisted driving solutions, is now testing its system on the Fisker Ocean. The setup was demonstrated in a video by Majd Srour, a reverse engineering specialist known in the Fisker Ocean community, showing the vehicle steering itself on a city street.
Currently, the Comma AI system for the Ocean supports steering only. There is no automatic acceleration or braking, and the software enabling this is on a custom branch not yet available to the public.
How the Comma Four Device Works
Comma AI’s system does not use the Fisker Ocean’s built-in ADAS sensors. Instead, it relies on a custom-made camera and mini-computer enclosure, called the Comma Four device, which is mounted on the windshield.
The Comma Four device features a triple-camera setup, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 MAX chip, a 3D accelerometer, a 3D gyroscope, high-precision GPS, and a microphone. It connects to the car’s CAN network to control steering, acceleration, and brakes based on visual input from the cameras.
Comma AI claims its system can provide automated lane centering, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and driver monitoring to over 300 car models. The device retails for $999, while the software is free.
Fisker Ocean Production and Usage
Fisker built around 11,200 Ocean EVs at Magna’s facility in Austria before ceasing operations. Of these, approximately 3,200 were acquired by American Lease and are now being used as rideshare vehicles in New York.
Why this matters
The development of a third-party hands-free driving solution offers Fisker Ocean owners a potential way to access features that were never delivered by the manufacturer. For owners who have had to manage repairs and support on their own since Fisker’s bankruptcy, this could provide new value to their vehicles.
What this means for buyers
Fisker Ocean owners interested in hands-free driving may soon have an aftermarket option, though it currently requires additional hardware and is still in development. Prospective buyers should be aware that the Comma AI solution is not yet publicly available for the Ocean and only supports steering at this stage.
Key Specs
- Comma Four Device Price: $999 (~AUD 1,437)
- Fisker Ocean Units Built: 11,200
- Fisker Ocean Units Used by American Lease: 3,200
- Comma Four Device Features: Triple-camera, Snapdragon 845 MAX, 3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope, GPS, microphone
- Current Comma AI Support for Ocean: Steering only
Source
Images sourced from: insideevs.com, arenaev.com, topelectricsuv.com
