Nikola HFCEV semi appears belly-up as manufacturing halt rumors swirl

Money-strapped hydrogen truck maker Nikola is going through powerful occasions — and its most up-to-date spherical of layoffs has halted manufacturing of its controversial hydrogen gas cell semi vans as the corporate faces down chapter (once more).

Final week, we obtained a tip from somebody claiming to be a Nikola insider saying that the corporate was planning to halt manufacturing of its hydrogen gas cell-powered semi vans. That tip was adopted rapidly by information that Nikola’s inventory had sunk to a 52-week low, and a proper NHTSA grievance claiming the gas cell shuts down unpredictably.

A TSB was issued by the truck maker that appeared to handle the problems outlined, and the belief was that the unconfirmed tip was associated to the TSB.

For the uninitiated, a TSB is a technical service bulletin. Not fairly a recall, a TSB is often issued for what the producer considers non-safety-related issues, and serves as a diagnostic device for mechanics within the area when confronted with recognized points and customary complaints.

Nikola’s TSB is included, beneath:

Now, nevertheless, it appears that evidently the manufacturing shutdown at Nikola could be one thing extra everlasting.

A salesman at a Nikola seller who requested not be named instructed me he was instructed to not settle for buy orders on the hydrogen gas cell vans for the foreseeable future. Moreover, we reached out to Nikola final week with three comparatively easy questions. These being:

1. We obtained a tip from somebody claiming to be a Nikola worker saying that Nikola was going to halt manufacturing of the hydrogen vans. Is that true? Whether it is, is {that a} everlasting cease or a brief problem to handle the NHTSA grievance/show recall?
2. Is the TSB talked about right here https://electrek.co/2024/12/06/hydrogen-early-adopter-faces-big-problems-amid-nikola-challenges/ associated to the breakdowns/are you assured that may enhance the scenario?
3. Not less than one early Nikola buyer instructed us that they had to purchase all new chargers as a result of their unique charging answer wouldn’t “wake” the vans. Is that resolved/what chargers work finest with Nikola vans?
4. I even have a salesman at a Nikola seller saying he’s been instructed to not take POs on the hydrogen vans till additional discover. Curious if in case you have a touch upon that, additionally?

After a number of days of ready and asking for updates, we obtained the next non-response from Nikola’s comms group: Presently, we’re unable to remark. I’ll let you already know if that modifications.

It doesn’t take days to say “no”

“Yeah, this takes a minute to confirm,” stated Fred Lambert, Electrek editor-in-chief, after we talked about this story. “In the event that they’re not responding, they received’t, or they’re making an attempt to therapeutic massage the reality.”

I whole-heartedly agree with Fred. It will take a handful of seconds to say, “We’re nonetheless constructing vans, let me get again to you on the remaining,” however the refusal to remark, the delay, coupled with the corporate’s newest SEC submitting that included the miserable language (beneath), doesn’t do a lot to instill confidence in Nikola’s future prospects.

Additional, the doubt relating to our skill to proceed as a going concern has and continues to adversely have an effect on our skill to acquire new financing on cheap phrases or in any respect. If we can not increase extra capital after we want it, we might need to considerably scale back our spending, delay, cut back or cancel some or all of our deliberate enterprise actions or operations, promote belongings, or considerably change our company construction, and we might not have ample assets to conduct our enterprise as deliberate or in any respect. For instance, in October and December 2024, we lowered our workforce with the intention to higher align our staffing with our present wants. Nonetheless, these reductions in drive might lead to unintended penalties and prices, similar to lack of institutional information, decreased morale, an adversarial impression on our popularity and challenges in attracting new expertise in addition to retaining skilled workers sooner or later. If we can not increase ample capital when wanted, we could also be pressured to additional curtail or to discontinue our operations, which might materially and adversely have an effect on our monetary situation, outcomes of operations, enterprise, and prospects, and will lead to a lack of your funding.

NIKOLA SEC FILINGS

What’s extra, Reddit consumer Patron_1969 (a profile that hyperlinks again to a Nikola employee) additionally appears to verify that the manufacturing shutdown is actual, purchase says that it’s because of the firm’s newest spherical of layoffs and makes an attempt at cost-savings, slightly than the unpredictable failures of the hydrogen drivetrain featured within the NHTSA grievance.

With rumors swirling, official communications on lockdowns, and tipsters talking up on e mail and social media retailers, it’s powerful to do something however assume the worst for Nikola.

It seems to be the top of a 4-year-long dying spiral for Nikola:

It’s honest to notice that Nikola’s issues should not essentially indicative of the broader BEV and FCEV truck market.

The corporate’s issues went past the difficulties of delivering a brand new expertise to a longtime trucking trade.