Fisker (FSR) Q1 2023 report: 55 Ocean SUVs built, two delivered, guidance drops, PEAR delayed
Fisker Inc. has released its Q1 financial report for 2023, and although there is some room for celebration as early deliveries of its flagship SUV (sort of) roll out, there is much work to be done on the production side to come close to previously announced output guidance. Today also brought a progress update of the Fisker PEAR, a new version of the Ocean, and plans for more EVs.
Fisker Inc. ($FSR) continues to stay in the news this month with its Q1 2023 financial report we’ve been anticipating for a few weeks now. After beginning production on schedule this past November, Fisker finally delivered its first Ocean SUV to a customer in Denmark last week.
Yesterday, the Fisker team was in Germany celebrating the opening of three new footprints around Munich – a large Fisker Lounge in the city’s center, as well as a new showroom in the same building as its new European headquarters, located in Munich’s Motorworld complex.
Additionally, registrations in Germany opened up as CEO Henrik Fisker received the second ever delivery of an Ocean EV. Bloomberg recently reported that the first delivery in Denmark was allegedly on its way back to Magna Steyr where it was built, citing software issues affecting its operability. However, a Fisker Spokesperson shared the following with Electrek :
We can confirm that the first delivered customer vehicle is still in Copenhagen – and the other customer car is still in Munich, Germany. No customer cars are on the way back to Magna/Graz, Austria. Regarding software, we categorically deny that the Fisker Ocean can be driven at only low speeds. We are launching with basic ADAS software, a decision we announced last year, and that software will be updated over-the-air during the year
These are the growing pains that come with not only producing a flagship model, but trying to scale simultaneously (and quickly). In admirable Fisker Inc. fashion, the second iteration of the EV automaker announced ambitious production guidance for this year. However, following a less productive Q1, Fisker has adjusted its output goals and shared how much funding it has to try and get there.
Fisker lags in Q1, has catching up to do in 2023
According to the Q1 2023 financial results released by Fisker Inc. this morning, the automaker (and contract manufacturer Magna) produced 55 OCean SUVs – a mix of engineering, marketing, and customer vehicles. That’s actually one less than it produced in Q4 of 2022, and well short of its previously announced target of 300 vehicles by the end of March.
Still, the automaker states production is expected to ramp up beginning next week and it expects to produce between 1,400-1,700 Oceans in Q2 before reach a running rate of 6,000 units monthly by the end of Q3 2023 – as long as “all its partners deliver.”
As a result of the slower start in Q1 2023, Fisker has adjusted its annual production guidance from (up to) 42,400 units to between 32,000-36,000. As of May 8, 2023, Fisker is still reporting 65,000 reservations for the Ocean SUV.
Financially, Fisker Inc. reported cash and cash equivalents of $652.5 million (excluding $22M in VAT receivables that continue to be delayed into 2023) as of March 31, 2023 (end of Q1). That’s about $80 million less than it had at the end of 2022.
Fisker also relayed it has about a $47 million cash balance raised from its its $350 at-the-market (ATM) program during Q1. Net cash used in operations totaled $83.7 million, while capital expenditures were $45.7 million.
Due to higher R&D expenses this past quarter, Fisker reported a $121.6 million loss from operations and a total net loss of $120.6 million ($0.38 loss per share). Looking at key non-GAAP operating expenses and capital expenditures for the rest of 2023, Fisker Inc. expects to stay within a range of $535-$610 million – the same annual estimate it relayed entering the year.
Other Q1 updates
During this morning’s call with investors, Henrik Fisker shared some additional updates regarding the automaker’s progress in additional EV models. For example, Fisker mentioned a new “hardcore off-road package” for the Ocean SUV called Force E (not to be confused with Nissan’s e-4ORCE technology).
The package (seen in the rendering above) can be implemented on any AWD version of the Ocean SUV after purchase and is expected to become available in Q4 of this year. Per Fisker:
The off-road category is currently dominated by internal combustion vehicles, but Fisker wants to change that. Force E will perform superbly off road, with substantial ground clearance and ramp angles, 33-inch all-terrain tires on 20-inch reinforced wheels, specialized dampers, plus an estimated 550 horsepower. A full-length titanium underbody plate protects the Fisker Ocean’s battery, and the vehicle has structurally mounted front and rear skid plates. The package can even be retrofitted on all-wheel-drive Fisker Ocean Extremes and Fisker Ocean Ultras, giving future customers the option of transforming their vehicles. The Ocean’s outstanding utility is further enhanced with an optional interior package of rubber floor coverings, additional grab handles, and tie-downs. The unique, lightweight roof basket is a further option.
Lastly, Fisker shared a couple quick updates regarding the PEAR – its second EV model. As of May 8, 2023 the automaker has over 6,000 PEAR reservations as development continues. By using a new process it calls “steel ++,” Fisker says it has been able to reduce the PEAR’s parts count by 25%, which should help the automaker to try and achieve its lofty goal of delivering the EV for under $30,000.
As Fisker Inc. looks to finalize its battery partners for the PEAR, it shared that is now pushing its 2024 start of production into 2025.
There was no mention of the Project Ronin GT – Fisker’s third EV model previously teased, but we may learn more this summer. The automaker said that it is planning an inaugural Investor Product Day, where it intends to “showcase several new models that will be part of Fisker’s goal to produce 1 million vehicles in 2027.”
Love it, but let’s get those Oceans out and running correctly first, folks… baby steps. You can check out the full Q1 2023 webcast from Fisker here. We’ll check back following Q2.
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Environment
Tesla’s Robyn Denholm made 5x more than next best-paid chair, a role Musk said was usefuless
Robyn Denholm, Tesla’s chairwoman, made five times more money than the next best-paid board chair, a role Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk said was useless.
In 2018, Musk settled with the SEC for falsely claiming he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 a share, he was forced to resign as chair of Tesla’s board.
Musk basically handpicked Robyn Denholm to become the new chair, which he then called a useless “honorific” titled:
“Chairman’ is an honorific, not executive role, which means it’s not needed to run Tesla. Will retire that title at Tesla in 3 years.”
Denholm made a lot of money in this useless honorific role.
She has made over $530 million, almost entirely through stock option compensation, since becoming Tesla’s chairperson.
Most of her stock sales happened over the last year:
The New York Times released a new report looking into Denholm’s compensation and found that she was paid about 5 times more than the next best-paid nonexecutive chair.
Tesla paid its chair about 5 times more than UnitedHealth’s:
The nonexecutive chair with the next-highest profit from selling shares in the company he oversees was Stephen Hemsley of UnitedHealth Group. Mr. Hemsley has earned more than $100 million from the sale of UnitedHealth shares since November 2018, though he received all of that stock while he was chief executive of the health care company.
To Musk’s point about the role being honorific, it’s not clear what Denholm accomplished during her time as chair.
She and the rest of Tesla’s board oversee Tesla’s executive management, led by Musk, but Musk has been allowed to do whatever he wants for years.
They have backed his every move, granted him a $55 billion CEO compensation package, and remained silent when he threatened Tesla shareholders that he would not develop AI products at Tesla unless given a larger, more controlling share of the company, or decided to fire Tesla’s entire charging team to make an example out of the head of the team.
Most recently, they have not addressed the protests at Tesla stores and product boycotts, which are attributed to Musk’s involvement in politics, angering a significant portion of the population and Tesla’s consumer base.
Only recently was there a report suggesting the board floated the idea of replacing Musk to gain leverage in forcing him to spend more time at Tesla. Even then, the board quickly denied the report, which only claimed that they were doing their jobs in planning the CEO succession.
Electrek’s Take
Based on Musk’s comment, Denholm was paid half a billion dollars to do nothing. That’s literally all that was required of her after replacing Musk as chair of the board: nothing.
Musk is in charge. She is just an “honorific” figurehead that is required to back his every move.
Just as Tesla’s then-third-largest individual shareholder, after Musk, Leo KoGuan, told Electrek last year, when he couldn’t get his concerns about Musk heard by the board, Tesla is “a family business masquerading as a public company.”
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Environment
UrbanLink nearly doubles order of REGENT electric seagliders to transport over 4M passengers a year
Less than a year after announcing an order for 27 electric seaglider planes from REGENT Craft, advanced air mobility (AAM) specialist UrbanLink has nearly doubled that order size to support plans for high-frequency commercial flights around the southeastern United States.
While advanced air mobility may be a nascent industry, companies around the globe are continuously gearing up to establish commercial networks that support air taxi travel and other sustainable commercial operations. In the US, particularly Southern Florida, UrbanLink has been making tons of moves to establish itself as a major player in that space when it happens.
UrbanLink has already been working for years to enable zero-emission, end-to-end travel within a 500-mile range by 2028 before expanding that range to 1,000 miles by 2030, beginning with its hub cities of Miami, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The company believes its actions have adequately positioned it to become the first airline in the US to integrate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into its fleet. Fellow eVTOL network Archer Aviation is also in the race, so it’s exciting times for commercial air taxi development.
UrbanLink has committed to purchasing from several eVTOL and electric plane developers, including Artemis Sea Crafts, Eviation Aircraft, and Lilium, as we reported back in June 2024. Last fall, the AAM operator announced it was adding more vessels to its growing fleet in South Florida, committing to purchase 27 electric seagliders from REGENT Craft.
Today, UrbanLink and REGENT announced an expansion of their existing partnership in which the former has upped its purchase order to 47 electric seagliders.
UrbanLink ups seaglider order to support FL, Puerto Rico
REGENT Craft and UrbanLink shared details of the expanded partnership this morning, in hopes of establishing Florida as the bona fide leader in sustainable coastal aerial mobility.
Per the company, the nearly doubling of the existing order for REGENT’s Viceroy electric seagliders will support a more rapid rollout of UrbanLink’s aerial operations between the southern Florida and Puerto Rico regions. REGENT co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer spoke about the expanded seaglider order:
UrbanLink’s expanded order is a clear vote of confidence in REGENT’s seaglider technology and is testament to our continued timely execution certification and product development milestones. Together, we’re building a more convenient and connected future for coastal communities.
As the map above shows, electric sea glider travel can cut the travel time from Miami to West Palm Beach by nearly 75%. This single route represents a growing demand for convenient and more sustainable alternatives for short-haul travel in the US, and UrbanLink hopes to provide that to Florida visitors and beyond.
For example, the company shared that it anticipates that its seaglider operations in Miami alone could provide more sustainable travel options to up to 4.3 million passengers per year when commercial operations begin. UrbanLink founder and chairman Ed Wegel also spoke:
We’re proud to expand our partnership with REGENT and bring this revolutionary technology to more passengers traveling high-demand routes across Florida and Puerto Rico. This partnership propels Florida to the forefront of global innovation in advanced, all-electric mobility.
REGENT’s full-scale Viceroy electric seaglider prototype is currently in the process of successful sea trials en route to certification from the US Coast Guard. These 12-passenger vessels can reach up to 180 mph and travel up to 180 miles on a single charge.
First deliveries of the Viceroy seagliders to UrbanLink are expected to begin sometime in 2027.
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It’s official. Toyota is finally launching a new EV in the US. The C-HR will return in what’s expected to be an affordable electric SUV. Here’s our first look at the 2026 Toyota C-HR, a surprisingly stylish EV with nearly 300 miles of range.
Meet the 2026 Toyota C-HR electric SUV for the US
Who could forget the original Toyota C-HR? The funky-looking compact SUV was priced under $25,000 but was discontinued in 2022 to make way for the more efficient Corolla Cross hybrid.
The C-HR will make a comeback in the US as a fully electric SUV with nearly 300 miles of range. After revealing the electric SUV in Europe earlier this year, Toyota confirmed on Wednesday that the C-HR will, in fact, arrive in the US.
Outside of a “+” added at the end of the name (C-HR+), the US and European versions look nearly identical. The electric version is a drastic upgrade over the retired gas-powered model.
Toyota gave it a stylish new look with an updated design closer to its new Corolla and Crown. The smaller SUV features Toyota’s “hammerhead front end” with slim LED headlights and distinct character lines.
The C-HR EV is 177.9″ long, 73.6″ wide, and 63.8″ tall, or about the size of the Kia Niro EV (174″ long, 72″ wide, and 62″ tall). It’s also a bit smaller than the bZ4X SUV, Toyota’s first EV, at 185″ long, 73″ wide, and 65″ tall.
Powered by a 74.7 kWh battery, Toyota expects the 2026 C-HR will get up to 290 miles of driving range. It will also be equipped with an NACS port to access Tesla’s Supercharger network. Using DC fast charging, the electric SUV can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
The 2026 C-HR will come with standard AWD with up to 338 hp. Toyota said the added power is good for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in around 5 seconds.
Stylish new design inside and out
Toyota’s new EV will be available in SE and XSE trim with “great interior features.” These include a 14″ touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota Audio Multimedia system (with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support), a digital driver display, wireless phone chargers, and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system.
Other standard features include a power liftgate, low-profile roof rails, and rain-sensing wipers. You can also choose from 18″ or 20″ wheels and several different paint colors.
The XSE model gains 20″ gun metal finished wheels, SofTex and synthetic suede-trimmed seats, a Digital Rearview Mirror with HomeLink, a Panoramic view Monitor, and more.
Toyota will offer the 2026 C-HR in fully electric (EV), Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Fuel Cell powertrain options. The new electric SUV is expected to arrive at dealerships across the US in 2026.
The new C-HR debut comes just a day after Toyota revealed its new bZ electric SUV for the US. Toyota is dropping the “bZ4X” name and giving it some significant upgrades, including more range (now up to 314 miles), a built-in NACS port, and more.
Although Toyota has yet to reveal prices, since the C-HR is smaller than the bZ4X, it’s expected to start at around $35,000.
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