Leonardo DiCaprio, Fisker announce equity marriage for plug-in hybrid

Leonardo DiCaprio, the three-time Oscar nominated actor and celebrity environmentalist, has become an equity investor and brand ambassador for Fisker Automotive, the manufacturer of the Karma plug-in hybrid.

The timing of DiCaprio's involement is curious since the California-based carmaker recently expanded its recall of its $103,000 Karma because of the incorrectly positioned hose clamps.

The recall represents more than 25 percent of the estimated number of Karma's sold.

"DiCaprio will work closely with marketing and promotional initiatives to bring attention to sustainability and environmental issues around the world,” Fisker Automotive said in a press release. “In turn, Fisker will support the work of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.”

Fisker Automotive didn't specify how much DiCaprio invested in the company, nor how it will be involved with DiCaprio’s foundation. The actor, who created the foundation in 1998 to support wildlife protection and climate change issues, received delivery of the first Karma.

Fisker Automotive announced in May it had delivered 1,000 Karmas to customers globally since the plug-in hybrid went on sale. The company also said it had generated $100 million in revenue in the four months ending April 30 and raised $174 million in private equity funding during that same time period, bringing total funding to $1 billion since the company’s founding in 2007.

The independent carmaker has 80 retail locations in Canada, Europe and the United States, and has plant to soon start selling its cars in China and the Middle East.