According to media reports, on January 17, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded its investigation into 6,971 Fisker Ocean electric SUVs. The agency had initiated the investigation due to concerns that the vehicles' emergency braking system might activate unintentionally.
NHTSA stated that it had received complaints claiming the automatic emergency braking system in the Fisker Ocean model could be triggered without obstacles in the vehicle's path. This issue caused the vehicle to decelerate or stop suddenly, posing a collision risk.
The agency further noted that during its last contact with Fisker employees, it learned that all employees of the startup had been laid off.
Since Fisker is now bankrupt, NHTSA cannot obtain further information from the company and has therefore decided to close the investigation.
NHTSA clarified, "The conclusion of this investigation does not mean that NHTSA has determined Fisker vehicles are free of safety-related defects." However, the agency is unable to gather new information to advance the investigation.
Previously, Fisker had recalled thousands of vehicles to address other issues but had not taken similar measures to resolve problems related to this investigation.
Facing intense competition in the electric vehicle market and operational challenges that hampered its ability to manage cash flow and secure additional funding, Fisker ultimately decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2024 after a thorough review of all operational options. The company also planned to sell its assets.
Fisker's operational unit, Fisker Group Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware, listing the company's assets and liabilities. According to court documents, the company's assets were estimated to be between $500 million and $1 billion, while liabilities ranged between $100 million and $500 million. Additionally, the company's number of creditors was estimated to be between 200 and 999.
Fisker stated, "Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, Fisker faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds, including but not limited to the slowdown in demand for new energy vehicles, a price war within the industry, and difficulties in securing financing. These factors negatively impacted the company's ability to operate efficiently."
