Fisker Automotive, the builder of luxury plug-in hybrids, has picked a large distributor to sell its vehicles in Europe.

Speaking to Reuters, chief executive Henrik Fisker said the automaker plans to announce the name of the retail group, which has more than 100 dealerships in Europe, at the Zurich auto show.

"We are going to announce one of the largest European retailers with over 100 dealerships," Fisker said, adding that Europe is a huge market for Fisker.

California-based Fisker said the company plans to export half of the 15,000 cars it will initially produce when production starts in June 2010 of its first vehicle, a four-door luxury saloon called the Karma, priced from $87,900.

The vehicle will be built in Finland by Valmet Automotive.

The Karma will have a 50-mile range on its battery and a total range of 300 miles when its petrol engine kicks in, for an average fuel economy of 100 miles per gallon for those who commute less than 50 miles a day, according to Fisker's website.

Fisker said he expects electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles eventually to comprise about half of all vehicles sold globally.

Fisker also plans to develop a lower-cost plug-in hybrid, project Nina, for launch in 2012.