Fisker stops automobile production
- After accumulating increasing financial difficulties which culminated in its bankruptcy in June 2024, the Californian company Fisker announced the end of production of its battery electric Ocean model manufactured at Magna Steyr in Graz in Austria. This is the second time that Fisker has gone bankrupt, the first dating from 2013 and leading to the end of the battery electric Karma.
- The causes of Fisker's second bankruptcy are multiple, but as for the first bankruptcy, we can argue that sales of the Ocean model did not meet the objectives, especially since this model seemed more expensive than the competing models (Tesla, Volkswagen, Chinese brands), while the electric market itself is stagnating in Europe. Additionally, the Ocean's software suffered frequent crashes, which could render the car unusable.
- Despite this, Fisker sold a total of 8,805 Ocean models worldwide between 2022 and 2024 with production reaching 10,142 vehicles. Many orders have been canceled and the 1,337 unsold models will be sold off so that the company can repay part of its creditors. The price of a Fisker Ocean started last year at 43,000 euros, reaching 58,500 euros for the best-selling version and 71,000 euros for the most expensive version. Currently, Ocean models are offered at half price to help liquidate inventory and recover cash.
- Despite its current difficulties, it is not impossible to think that the Fisker brand could rise a third time from its ashes in the more or less near future, undoubtedly in a different form.