Un intento desesperado por sobrevivir

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Fisker Inc. is closing its Manhattan Beach headquarters and relocating employees to La Palma, Orange County, as part of an effort to stave off bankruptcy. This move is coupled with a $3.5 million short-term loan to keep the company afloat while it seeks potential acquisition or strategic alternatives, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Las consecuencias financieras

Fisker’s financial troubles began in March when a proposed alliance with a major automaker fell through, costing the company $150 million in potential financing. This collapse led to a sharp decline in Fisker’s share value, resulting in delisting from the New York Stock Exchange and breaching another debt agreement.

Deslocalización y reducción de plantilla

A mediados de abril, Fisker empleaba a unas 1.135 personas, tras una reducción de plantilla de 15%. El cierre de la oficina de Manhattan Beach, de 72.000 pies cuadrados, consolidará las operaciones en La Palma, donde Fisker tiene una instalación de ingeniería y distribución. El objetivo es reducir costes y racionalizar las operaciones.

Un salvavidas en medio de la lucha

A pesar de sus problemas financieros, Fisker ha conseguido un préstamo de $3,5 millones, que podría aumentar hasta $7,5 millones. Esta financiación a corto plazo es crucial para que la empresa siga vendiendo su SUV Ocean de tamaño medio. El Ocean, aunque alabado por su diseño y sus características ecológicas, ha sido criticado por problemas de software.

The Ocean’s Challenges

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched four investigations into the Ocean SUV. Issues include the automatic emergency braking system activating unexpectedly, a door that won’t open, and loss of braking performance. Fisker is cooperating with regulators to resolve these problems.

Esfuerzos de expansión y recortes de precios

To bolster its sales network, Fisker has added three new dealerships in California and New Jersey. This expansion comes after a failed attempt to sell directly to consumers, a model successfully employed by Tesla. In a bid to attract more customers, Fisker slashed prices on its 2023 Ocean models by over 30%.

Pausas en la producción y dificultades en el mercado

Fisker paused production at its Austrian manufacturing plant, which produced around 10,200 Oceans last year. The company is not alone in facing industry challenges; Rivian Automotive, another EV startup, announced layoffs and significant value loss due to a slow domestic market and rising interest rates.

Una visión inspirada en California

Fundada en 2016 por el célebre diseñador de automóviles Henrik Fisker, la empresa se propuso revolucionar el mercado de los vehículos eléctricos con el SUV Ocean. Inspirado en California, el Ocean cuenta con un techo solar, un interior de plástico reciclado y una ventana trasera diseñada para tablas de surf.

EVXL’s Take

Fisker’s journey reflects the broader challenges faced by EV startups in a competitive and volatile market. The push for innovation, such as Fisker’s eco-friendly designs, must be matched with robust financial and operational strategies. The EV industry’s potential remains vast, but companies must navigate financial turbulence to achieve lasting success. Fisker’s struggle underscores the need for sustainable business models in the green technology sector.