Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fisker Files for Bankruptcy Protection, the Second Electric Vehicle Maker to Do So in the Past Year
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 months ago on
June 18, 2024

Electric vehicle maker Fisker faces financial challenges amidst market and macroeconomic headwinds. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Electric vehicle maker Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the second electric startup to do so in the last year as even industry leaders struggle to lure more buyers beyond the early adapters of the technology.

Fisker Group Inc. said in a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware that its estimated assets are between $500 million and $1 billion. It estimated liabilities are between $100 million and $500 million, with between 200 and 999 creditors.

Challenges in the Electric Vehicle Industry

“Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted our ability to operate efficiently,” the company said in a prepared statement late Monday. “After evaluating all options for our business, we determined that proceeding with a sale of our assets under Chapter 11 is the most viable path forward for the company.”

The 7-year-old electric car company was founded by designer Henrik Fisker, who has been its chairman and CEO. He designed the company’s 2022 Ocean all electric SUV as well as the luxury plug-in hybrid Karma that was launched in 2011. Fisker is also known for leading the development of the BMW Z8 sports car.

Second Failure for Henrik Fisker

It is the second automotive venture led by Henrik Fisker to fail.

Fisker, based in Manhattan Beach, California, and other startups like Lordstown Motors Corp., sought to take on industry leaders like Tesla, and big automakers in Detroit, which have entered the market aggressively.

However, EV sales have slowed as manufacturers have attempted to push electric vehicles into the mainstream. Those sales have been curbed both by a lack of infrastructure, as well as rising inflation that have made taking on car loans more expensive.

Slow Growth in Electric Vehicle Sales

Electric vehicles grew only 3.3% to nearly 270,000 during the first three months of this year, far below the 47% growth that fueled record sales and a 7.6% market share last year, according to J.D. Power. The slowdown, led by Tesla, confirms automakers’ fears that they moved too quickly to pursue EV buyers. The EV share of total U.S. sales fell to 7.15% in the first quarter.

That has led to huge price cuts and job cuts at leading companies like Tesla.

Another electric startup, Rivian, said this year that it was pausing construction of its $5 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia to speed production and save money.

Lordstown sought bankruptcy protection last summer, as it dealt with funding difficulties.

Henrik Fisker’s first attempt to start an electric car company came to an end in 2013 in bankruptcy. That collapse culminated a long downward spiral that began after Fisker received a $529 million loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy.

it was later learned that the U.S. Energy Department did not realize for four months that the flailing company, called Fisker Automotive Inc., had missed a crucial production target that was required as part of a half-billion dollar government loan. The mistake allowed Fisker to obtain an additional $32 million in government funding before the loan was suspended in June 2011.

Early this year Fisker Inc., the second attempt at an EV startup by Henrik Fisker, received a warning from the New York Stock Exchange after its stock dipped below $1. The company’s shares were not immediately delisted and Fisker said at the time that it planned to remain listed on the NYSE and was looking at all available options to regain compliance with NYSE’s continued listing standards.

Fisker Inc. and other U.S. subsidiaries, along with subsidiaries outside the U.S., are not currently included in the bankruptcy filing. Fisker says that it’s in advanced talks with financial stakeholders about debtor-in-possession financing and selling its assets.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Hajj-Malik Williams Guides Unbeaten UNLV to 59-14 Romp Over Fresno State

DON'T MISS

California Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Speeding Alerts in New Cars

DON'T MISS

At Least 52 Dead and Millions Without Power After Helene’s Deadly March Across the Southeast

DON'T MISS

SpaceX Launches Rescue Mission for 2 NASA Astronauts Who Are Stuck in Space Until Next Year

DON'T MISS

Hezbollah Confirms Its Leader Hassan Nasrallah Was Killed in an Israeli Airstrike

DON'T MISS

The Best Way to Keep Congress From Getting Things Done

DON'T MISS

Eddie’s Journey: Senior Poodle Seeks a Loving Forever Home

DON'T MISS

No Drug Screen and Treatment – No Money. Should Valley’s Poorest Be Tested to Receive Public Aid?

DON'T MISS

‘Tap’ Into Craft Brews, Wine, and Entertainment Options at This NE Fresno Bar

DON'T MISS

Parking Wars, Fresno Edition. Heavyweights Head to Court.

UP NEXT

California Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Speeding Alerts in New Cars

UP NEXT

SpaceX Launches Rescue Mission for 2 NASA Astronauts Who Are Stuck in Space Until Next Year

UP NEXT

Hezbollah Confirms Its Leader Hassan Nasrallah Was Killed in an Israeli Airstrike

UP NEXT

The Best Way to Keep Congress From Getting Things Done

UP NEXT

Eddie’s Journey: Senior Poodle Seeks a Loving Forever Home

UP NEXT

No Drug Screen and Treatment – No Money. Should Valley’s Poorest Be Tested to Receive Public Aid?

UP NEXT

‘Tap’ Into Craft Brews, Wine, and Entertainment Options at This NE Fresno Bar

UP NEXT

Parking Wars, Fresno Edition. Heavyweights Head to Court.

UP NEXT

ClovisFest Soars to New Heights with Hot Air Balloons and Cultural Delights

UP NEXT

Fresno County Traffic Bust Yields $1.6M in Cocaine From Canadian Suspect

SpaceX Launches Rescue Mission for 2 NASA Astronauts Who Are Stuck in Space Until Next Year

4 hours ago

Hezbollah Confirms Its Leader Hassan Nasrallah Was Killed in an Israeli Airstrike

5 hours ago

The Best Way to Keep Congress From Getting Things Done

10 hours ago

Eddie’s Journey: Senior Poodle Seeks a Loving Forever Home

10 hours ago

No Drug Screen and Treatment – No Money. Should Valley’s Poorest Be Tested to Receive Public Aid?

11 hours ago

‘Tap’ Into Craft Brews, Wine, and Entertainment Options at This NE Fresno Bar

1 day ago

Parking Wars, Fresno Edition. Heavyweights Head to Court.

1 day ago

ClovisFest Soars to New Heights with Hot Air Balloons and Cultural Delights

1 day ago

Fresno County Traffic Bust Yields $1.6M in Cocaine From Canadian Suspect

1 day ago

Stock Market Today: Dow Sets a Record as Wall Street Drifts to the Finish of Another Winning Week

1 day ago

Hajj-Malik Williams Guides Unbeaten UNLV to 59-14 Romp Over Fresno State

LAS VEGAS — Hajj-Malik Williams threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, Ricky White III returned a blocked punt for a score and ca...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Hajj-Malik Williams Guides Unbeaten UNLV to 59-14 Romp Over Fresno State

4 hours ago

California Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Speeding Alerts in New Cars

4 hours ago

At Least 52 Dead and Millions Without Power After Helene’s Deadly March Across the Southeast

4 hours ago

SpaceX Launches Rescue Mission for 2 NASA Astronauts Who Are Stuck in Space Until Next Year

5 hours ago

Hezbollah Confirms Its Leader Hassan Nasrallah Was Killed in an Israeli Airstrike

10 hours ago

The Best Way to Keep Congress From Getting Things Done

10 hours ago

Eddie’s Journey: Senior Poodle Seeks a Loving Forever Home

11 hours ago

No Drug Screen and Treatment – No Money. Should Valley’s Poorest Be Tested to Receive Public Aid?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend