The issues going through embattled EV startup Fisker have solely mounted because the yr has gone on, with the automaker seeing an indefinite finish to manufacturing of its Ocean crossover, the closure of its California headquarters and a number of rounds of layoffs. Extra job cuts occurred in the present day as effectively, in response to a number of social media postings and former workers.
Fisker In Bother
The EV startup, helmed by designer Henrik Fisker, aimed to outsource automotive manufacturing to exterior companions whereas specializing in software program, design, customer support and extra. However the firm has struggled with delivering automobiles, high-profile restore and high quality points, its gross sales mannequin and money circulate. Fisker has not too long ago warned it faces the potential for chapter.
An undetermined variety of Fisker workers reported shedding their jobs in the present day on LinkedIn, Reddit and different platforms. These now-former workers labored in a number of departments, together with design, social media, content material, software program, digital merchandise and repair. Many say they had been notified through e-mail this morning. Three former Fisker workers who’ve spoken to InsideEVs previously confirmed that they heard of in the present day’s cuts from their outdated co-workers.
A Fisker spokesperson declined to verify or deny the experiences, saying the corporate “[does not] touch upon inner worker issues.”
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Fisker has instituted a number of rounds of job cuts this yr as its future appears to be like more and more doubtful. Final week, Enterprise Insider reported that the corporate was eliminating positions with the objective of taking place to solely a “mission vital” workers; it’s unclear whether or not in the present day’s reported layoffs had been a part of the identical spherical as these, or are a part of some completely different course of.
Whereas the EV startup world is immensely difficult, Fisker has confronted explicit headwinds since final yr.
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The corporate’s Ocean crossover—styled by namesake CEO and co-founder Henrik Fisker, who additionally penned the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage—initially debuted to promising evaluations. In-built Austria by contract auto manufacturing unit Magna Steyr, the Ocean was meant to be the primary of a number of electrical Fisker fashions produced by outdoors companions, ostensibly liberating the corporate as much as deal with software program, design and the general buyer expertise.Â
However Fisker bumped into a number of challenges in 2023 alone, together with struggles to get automobiles delivered to prospects, high quality points, accounting issues, complaints about customer support, money burn and extra. In late April, the corporate introduced it might search chapter safety inside the subsequent month, however that consequence hasn’t but come to move.
In the meantime, Magna Steyr has halted manufacturing of the Ocean, and house owners who purchased a once-$70,000 EV have been left with numerous questions on their resale values and long-term assist.
It is a breaking information story and could also be up to date with extra data later.
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