Despite his acclaim for designing luxurious automobiles, Danish designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker has faced challenges in the electric vehicle (EV) startup world. His first venture, with the Ocean SUV aiming to rival Tesla’s Model Y, ultimately fell short.
While Fisker cited economic hardship, a difficult funding environment, and sluggish EV adoption as reasons for the company’s struggles, the Ocean itself was plagued by quality issues, investigations, and recalls, leading to a significant drop in buyer confidence. In 2023, Fisker managed to sell only a fraction of the Oceans it produced.
Struggling with low sales and software problems, Fisker faced a cash crunch. Negotiations with a potential car manufacturer, likely Nissan, fell apart, leaving Fisker with dwindling options.
In March, the company brought on restructuring specialists and by June 17th, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Fisker is looking to sell its assets, valued between $500 million and $1 billion, to cover debts ranging from $100 million to $500 million. To fund operations during restructuring, Fisker is in talks for debtor-in-possession financing, a loan secured by the company’s assets.
While this financing helps maintain operations for a potential sale or relaunch, Fisker’s future remains uncertain. In a fire sale attempt to clear inventory, Fisker slashed Ocean SUV prices to $25,000, down from a staggering $63,000.
Even employees were offered a rock-bottom price of $20,000. Despite these drastic discounts, doubts linger about whether buyers will take the plunge considering the lack of customer service, spare parts, warranty coverage, and even roadside assistance, which has been canceled.
Existing Fisker owners also face significant challenges, highlighting the potential risks for those considering electric vehicles from fledgling startups.
