In the midst of a chaotic summer, José De Bardi has been working around the clock to keep Fisker owners informed about their vehicles’ uncertain future. It all began when Fisker filed for bankruptcy protection on June 18, leaving 6,400 owners, including De Bardi, wondering what would happen to their cars.
Within days, De Bardi and a small group of other Fisker owners established the Fisker Owners Association, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring their vehicles continue to run smoothly. By the end of the month, over 1,200 owners had registered with the organization, representing nearly a fifth of total Fisker cars sold.
Fisker owners are primarily concerned about the practicalities of owning an electric vehicle. They have reported various issues with their vehicles, including build quality shortcomings, software glitches, and problems with brake holds and Bluetooth connectivity. Although software updates have addressed some of these issues, owners still face difficulties in getting their vehicles serviced or repaired due to the lack of certified Fisker repairers and technicians.
Fisker initially operated on a direct-to-consumer model, bypassing traditional dealerships, but it began signing dealerships in January due to ballooning costs. As the company’s assets are sold off, owners are left wondering what will happen to their vehicles in the long term.
The Fisker Owners Association is working to address these concerns. A small group of volunteers, including De Bardi, who is also the CTO of a telecommunications firm, have dedicated their free time to identifying potential issues, such as legal questions about vehicle financing, app functionality, and part availability.
Experts warn that Fisker owners are facing a daunting situation. Automotive companies have developed a playbook for handling bankruptcies, but Fisker’s situation looks more dire. Lawyers for the firm’s creditors argued in court that Fisker should have filed for bankruptcy last year, and the company plans to sell its remaining inventory of 4,000 vehicles to a firm that leases electric vehicles to Uber and Lyft drivers in New York City.
