Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
A few hours after announcing to U.S. employees about a major workforce reduction on Thursday, the electric vehicle startup Fisker extended the downsizing to its Canadian operations leaving the company with a skeletal crew as it navigates through turbulent times.
Sources within the company revealed that only three technicians remain across Canada, with Wolfgang Hoffmann retaining his position as the sole Country Manager. This move follows a series of layoffs that have decimated departments including finance, sales, and training.
Hoffmann, who assumed the role of Country Manager for Canada in December, now stands as the primary figure overseeing Fisker‘s operations in the country.
Dealerships are reportedly resorting to clearing their inventory through Adesa dealer auctions, signaling a dwindling presence of Fisker in the Canadian market.
The remaining technicians, facing an uncertain future, anticipate being phased out by the end of next week due to constraints such as a lack of parts and travel capabilities. This shake-up has left existing Fisker owners in limbo concerning the availability of future support and service.
In a reflection on the layoffs, one affected employee expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Fisker’s journey. “It was a great pleasure to help launch the Fisker brand and meet some amazing people along the way,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, as of 6:00 PM today (Thursday), the majority of our Canadian team (including myself) have been laid off by Fisker.”
This latest restructuring comes amidst a series of challenges for the electric vehicle startup. Fisker has struggled to secure new investments, resulting in a production pause with its manufacturing partner Magna and multiple rounds of layoffs in recent months.
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On Wednesday, employees across various teams were caught off guard by the sudden termination of access to company email and communication platforms, indicating another round of layoffs. While the exact percentage of the workforce affected remains undisclosed, reports suggest that teams such as User Experience/User Interface, Technical Training, Human Resources, and Social Media have been impacted.
In a LinkedIn post, one affected employee lamented, “I just discovered I cannot access my company email, chats, etc. I made it through many rounds of layoffs but this is the end. I want to thank Fisker and everyone I had the pleasure and great fortune to work with.”
The latest developments underscore the challenges faced by Fisker as it strives to navigate a competitive market and secure its position in the electric vehicle industry. With uncertainties looming over its future, the company faces an uphill battle to regain stability and regain the trust of its stakeholders.
Henrik Fisker is set to participate in the Economic Times Auto Tech Summit on June 20-21. Over recent months, the chief executive has remained silent amid company’s critical financial situation as it seeks further investment to avoid bankruptcy.
Last Sunday, the company sent an email to its U.S. customers, informing them of the discontinuation of the roadside assistance service. This decision mirrors the earlier announcement to halt the service in Europe earlier this month.
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In West Covina, California, where Fisker has dealership partners, around 40 units of the fully electric SUV, available in both Extreme and Ultra variants and starting at $34,999, are currently on display.
This strategy, which significantly lowers operating expenses, requires customers to search for available inventory in states where Fisker has partnered with dealerships.
Last week, Fisker announced a new dealer partner in Denmark, expanding its sales network in Europe while in the U.S. the company added three new dealership locations reaching a total of 15 in the country.
Earlier this week, the city of Dallas has selected Ford’s commercial division in a 10-year agreement to help move the city’s climate goals forward, aiming to electrify the city’s vehicle fleet by 2040.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
