Uma tentativa desesperada de sobreviver

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.

As consequências financeiras

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.

Realocação e redução da força de trabalho

Em meados de abril, a Fisker empregava cerca de 1.135 pessoas, após uma redução de 15% na força de trabalho. O fechamento do escritório de Manhattan Beach, com 72.000 pés quadrados, consolidará as operações em La Palma, onde a Fisker tem uma instalação de engenharia e distribuição. O objetivo é cortar custos e simplificar as operações.

Uma linha de vida em meio à luta

Apesar de seus problemas financeiros, a Fisker conseguiu um empréstimo de $3,5 milhões, que pode ser aumentado para $7,5 milhões. Esse financiamento de curto prazo é crucial para que a empresa continue a vender seu SUV Ocean de médio porte. O Ocean, embora elogiado por seu design e recursos ecológicos, foi 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.

Esforços de expansão e cortes de preços

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 na produção e dificuldades no 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.

Uma visão inspirada na Califórnia

Fundada em 2016 pelo renomado designer de automóveis Henrik Fisker, a empresa teve como objetivo revolucionar o mercado de veículos elétricos com o SUV Ocean. Inspirado na Califórnia, o Ocean apresenta um teto solar, interior de plástico reciclado e uma janela traseira projetada para pranchas de surfe.

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.