- Fisker homeowners frightened about how they’d repair their Ocean SUVs sooner or later now have entry to many extra service places, in response to the Fisker Homeowners Affiliation.
- The group says it labored with Fisker to facilitate entry to the automaker’s proprietary diagnostic instrument, which is essential for making repairs.
- Extra hurdles stay for homeowners of the bankrupt startup’s electrical automobiles.
There’s some uncommon excellent news for homeowners of the problematic Fisker Ocean, the electrical automobile briefly bought by the now-bankrupt Fisker Inc. After months of uncertainty round how they’d preserve their automobiles operating with out long-term assist from the sinking mothership, Fisker homeowners now have extra service facilities to select from than ever.
The Fisker Homeowners Affiliation (FOA), a nonprofit group that shaped to assist Ocean prospects shortly after the EV startup filed for chapter, mentioned on Tuesday that it has helped cobble collectively a community of 21 service facilities within the U.S. and three in Canada. On its web site, the group says this “represents a primary wave” and that it’s “working to deliver extra service factors on-line.”
“There are individuals who have had their automobiles sitting of their driveway for six months, unable to maneuver,” mentioned Clint Bagley, an early Fisker purchaser and communications marketing consultant who volunteers because the FOA’s spokesman. “So it’s a very good factor to have this entry.”
The checklist of service suppliers contains unbiased EV and auto restore retailers, together with current Fisker dealerships. (Fisker introduced a pivot from a Tesla-like direct-sales enterprise to a extra typical dealership mannequin earlier this yr, and signed on a handful of shops across the nation.) Fisker additionally up to date its official web site to replicate the brand new places, which embrace retailers like Pat’s Storage in San Francisco and EVolution Autosports in Pennsylvania.
The automaker didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the information.
The large improvement right here facilities round entry to the Fisker Aftersales Service Instrument, or FAST. The proprietary pc program permits technicians to diagnose what’s mistaken with an Ocean and set up fixes, however no person actually knew what its destiny can be post-bankruptcy. If it vanished utterly, there would’ve been little hope for retaining Oceans chugging alongside. That is a part of what makes a contemporary, software-heavy automobile totally different from different orphaned automobiles like a DeLorean or Bricklin.
The FOA now says it was capable of negotiate with Fisker to facilitate FAST entry for restore retailers. And which will change the sport for annoyed homeowners.
Kristina Fisk, the service supervisor at Fisker Jacksonville, advised InsideEVs on Tuesday that the dealership’s FAST entry went darkish across the time of Fisker’s chapter. Final week, it was capable of regain entry and begin servicing Oceans once more, thanks partly to efforts by the FOA.
“It has been an enormous, big assist,” she mentioned. Since saying that it had reopened for service visits, the dealership has gotten calls from not less than 70 Ocean homeowners attempting to get in line for software program updates or repairs, Fisk mentioned.
“Our FAST instrument has lastly arrived!!,” reads a banner on the high of the web site for Platinum Precision, one other new service location listed on each the FOA and Fisker websites. Furthermore, Fisker lately up to date an FAQ web page about its 5 excellent remembers to say that it’ll (emphasis ours) “present the mandatory components and diagnostic instruments for free of charge to you.” The bit about FAST is new. (Nonetheless, Fisker says homeowners might want to pay for the required labor.)
This all ought to be welcome information for Fisker homeowners who had no thought the place they may deliver their automobiles in for service over the long run—or if service capability would exist in any respect after the corporate shuts down for good. Ocean homeowners have confronted a variety of points because the automobile went on sale in the summertime of 2023, from pesky software program glitches to extra severe points, InsideEVs and others have reported. Many have struggled to get their automobiles mounted since Fisker filed for Chapter 11 safety in June and laid off most of its employees, together with service technicians.
There are nonetheless many extra hurdles to clear and kinks to easy out, nonetheless. Fisker is on a path to liquidation, so typical producer assist will finish sometime quickly.
The Ocean’s software program by no means appeared totally baked and will keep that manner. Homeowners nonetheless have to get a number of remembers addressed. Fisk mentioned her retailer is not scheduling recall-related appointments but as a result of it is ready on the mandatory components. Availability of alternative components extra broadly, together with windshields, bumpers, door handles and extra, has been one of the persistent and troubling points for homeowners. Bagley, of the FOA, mentioned to anticipate information on the components entrance quickly.
“That could be a work in progress, however we’re making unbelievable progress,” he mentioned.
Are you a Fisker proprietor or worker with a narrative to share? Contact this reporter from a non-work gadget at [email protected], or on Sign at Tim_Levin.62
