Fisker to ramp up Ocean production in Q4, can it hit its already revised annual guidance?
Fisker Inc. has shared intentions to increase US deliveries of its flagship Ocean SUV while simultaneously ramping up overseas production to 300 units per day. While the scaling is encouraging news, can the American automaker still hit its 2023 production guidance after lowering its target once already?
Fisker Inc. is a mere two months away from the first anniversary of commencing production of its Ocean EV in Austria with contract manufacturer Magna Steyr. Since then, production has slowly but surely ramped up but is still nowhere near the pace the American automaker had originally hoped.
When Fisker shared its production guidance in Q3 of 2022, we said it was ambitious, but having a manufacturing juggernaut like Magna in its corner left more room for optimism than usual. The original guidance was to produce 42,400 units by the end of 2023 at the following pace:
- Q1 2023: 300+ units
- Q2: 8,000+ units
- Q3: 15,000+ units
- Q4: Remainder to reach 42,400 unit goal
By the end of Q1 2023, Fisker had only produced 55 Ocean EVs, delivering merely two of them. As a result, Fisker lowered its Q2 target from 8,000 units to between 1,400 and 1,700 and lowered its annual guidance to the ballpark of 32,000 to 36,000 EVs built. By Q2, Fisker’s numbers had jumped significantly (1,022 units produced), but still well short of the 1,400 target and not even in the same area code as the original mark.
Following its Q2 report, reality started to set in as Fisker once again lowered its annual production guidance to 20,000 to 23,000 Ocean SUVs. Today, Fisker says it will further ramp production in Austria but will really need to get cooking to hit its once- twice-revised annual target.
Fisker looks to enter production sprint in Q4
According to Fisker Inc., it is aiming to increase its production output with Magna Steyr from 180 units per day to approximately 300 in Q4. As of September 4, Fisker had built 3,123 Ocean EVs for customers – that’s progress, by contrast to the start of the year, but a huge miss compared to its original output goals laid out last year.
Fisker says over 450 Ocean EVs have been or are on their way to be delivered to US customers, and another 1,500 vehicles are anticipated to arrive by ship to the States this weekend. Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker spoke:
Rest assured what we are pushing out logistic providers and teams to get Fisker vehicles in the hands of our exceptional customers. Our early customers have been with us as pioneers, giving us valuable feedback to make our car even better. I will never forget the commitment that these customers have shown. The result for their feedback is now showing up in our vehicles!
Generally speaking, amendments to vehicles based on driver feedback usually take place before customer deliveries begin, but this is a young company trying to move quickly – and the growing pains are discernible. Luckily, EVs are more easily fixed via OTA updates.
Looking ahead, Fisker anticipates receiving all 5,000 of the planned Ocean One launch editions from Magna by the end of the month, with customer deliveries stretching into September. If Fisker and Magna are indeed able to ramp up production to 300 units per day, it could potentially build 21,000 Ocean EVs with weekends off – and much more than that if Magna’s crews are assembling seven days a week.
That would get Fisker through its eraser-marked production guidance for the fiscal year. All eyes will be on the company’s Q3 report before we enter the home stretch here in 2023.
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We’ve got good news – EV lease prices look much better than expected, despite the end of the federal tax credit and 25% import tariff being in place. Prices have crept up compared to last month, but several automakers have stepped in to fill the gap by covering the $7,500 credit themselves or adding extra incentives – and the price of one EV even dropped. Here are October’s top EV lease deals, spotted by our friends at CarsDirect.
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 lease from $189/month
The updated 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range remains one of the standout EV lease deals this month, holding steady even after the end of the federal EV tax credit and new import tariffs. Through November 3, you can lease one for $189 a month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year) with $3,999 due at signing. That works out to an effective monthly cost of about $300 – just $40 more than September.
The price bump is far smaller than many expected, especially with Hyundai’s $17,000 in lease cash factored in. And if you’re tempted by an upgrade, the SEL RWD trim is just $50 more per month under the same terms. You’ll get a model that’s roughly $7,000 more in value and $18,750 in savings.
The IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range offers an EPA-estimated 245 miles of range, and this particular offer is available in the Los Angeles and greater California metro areas.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in stock. –trusted affiliate link
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 lease from $189/month
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 SE RWD Standard Range is tied with its sibling for the most affordable EV lease deal this month, offering standout value even after the federal EV tax credit ended. In the California metro area, you can lease it for $189 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year) with $3,999 due at signing, and Hyundai is sweetening the deal with $13,250 in lease cash.
That brings the effective monthly cost to around $300, which is only $20 more than last month when the tax credit was still active. With an EPA-estimated 240 miles of range, 149 horsepower, fast-charging capabilities, and a sleek, distinctive design, the IONIQ 6 remains a fan favorite. This offer is valid through November 3.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Hyundai IONIQ 6 in stock. –trusted affiliate link
2025 Kia Niro lease from $209/month
The 2025 Kia Niro Wind EV returns to our top 5 this month with an impressive regional lease deal. You can lease the Niro Wind EV for $209 per month for 24 months (10,000 miles per year) with $3,999 due at signing. The offer includes $11,800 in lease cash and $14,940 in total savings, bringing the effective monthly cost to about $376. That’s about $80 more per month than September’s tax credit-incentivized deal at $129, but it’s still a solid offer given the policy changes.
This deal is available to California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington residents through November 3.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Kia Niro in stock. –trusted affiliate link
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E from $219/month
The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select RWD with Package 100A is offering bigger savings this month, making it an even stronger pick for EV shoppers. Known for its premium design and an EPA-estimated 300 miles of range, the Mach-E remains a favorite among drivers who want style and substance.
You can now lease it for $219 per month for 24 months (10,500 miles per year) with $4,499 due at signing. That’s $20 less per month than September’s advertised deal, though the term is shorter. With an effective monthly cost of about $406, it’s only $45 more than last month, a smaller jump than many expected.
The offer includes $6,750 in lease cash for qualified lessees, plus a free Ford Charging Station Pro with complimentary home installation – a rare perk. If you already have a home charger, you can choose an extra $2,000 in bonus cash instead.
This deal is currently available in California through January 5, 2026. Ford found a clever workaround to extend the tax credit for leases through Ford Credit until December 31, 2025. GM also has a similar program.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Ford Mustang Mach-E in stock. –trusted affiliate link
2025 Chevrolet Equinox from $269/month
Through November 3, you can lease the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT for $269 per month for 24 months (10,000 miles per year) with just $679 due at signing – one of the lowest upfront costs we’ve seen lately. That works out to an effective monthly cost of around $297. It’s got a quirk, though – this deal excludes Black Cloth Seats.
This is one of the rare EVs to see a price drop in the post-tax-credit era. Compared to September’s offer of $309 a month with $2,609 due at signing, this Chevy Equinox lease is $121 cheaper in effective monthly cost.
The deal is available nationwide for current Chevrolet lessees or those switching from another brand, and it includes a $2,250 loyalty or conquest bonus on top of $1,750 in lease cash. Want to drive away with the newest model? You can upgrade for just $30 more per month.
With an EPA-estimated 319 miles of range, the 2025 Equinox EV 2LT offers solid value for drivers looking to get into Chevy’s newest electric SUV.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Chevrolet Equinox in stock. –trusted affiliate link
Read more: From $0 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in September
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Nissan is tossing around the idea of a new Nissan LEAF NISMO again, but this time it will be based the newly upgraded version.
Is Nissan launching a new LEAF NISMO EV?
I know, we’ve all heard this one before. Nissan has been talking about launching a LEAF NISMO for years now. And it has released limited edition versions for select markets, but there’s still no production LEAF NISMO available.
According to Christian Spencer, Nissan’s senior marketing manager, there’s a reason for that. Spencer told Carscoops that “The NISMO brand has a lot of variation across the globe.”
He pointed out that in Japan, “NISMO has a lot deeper roots in some of the electric vehicles,”like the Ariya SUV, which is already on sale in Nissan’s home market.
In the US, the brand tries to “focus a little bit more just because the driving enviroment is different.” While Japan gets the NISMO models, Nissan’s performance cars in the US are mostly Z or GT-R versions.
The streets in Japan are smaller and steeper, “so the meaning for NISMO varies a little bit,” Spencer explained. But, he hinted NISMO could make a comeback in the US, starting with the newly upgrade LEAF.
Spencer said that “If we see that demand from the customer base, we’re going to follow it.” Again, this isn’t the first (or likely last) we’ve heard Nissan is planning to launch a LEAF Nismo, but it is for the newly upgraded model introduced this year.
Nissan said the new 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US” starting at just $29,990.
That’s even cheaper than the OG LEAF, launched in 2011 for $32,780 despite the upgrades. The new LEAF now has a new crossover SUV-like design, over 300 miles driving range, and an NACS port to recharge at Tesla Superchargers.
Will it be next in line for the NISMO treatment? It could make for an affordable performance EV to rival the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N or Tesla Model Y. The question is… will it sell?
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Love it or hate it, the Kia Soul always stood out with its funky, box-like design. Kia is dropping the infamous box car from its lineup at the end of 2025, but promises more exciting vehicles will replace it.
Kia is retiring the Soul box car after the 2025 model year
Who could forget the dancing hamster commercials Kia put out over a decade ago? The Soul was the star in some of Kia’s best marketing ads, but it won’t be offered as a 2026 model year.
Kia is retiring the Soul at the end of the year as it prepares for a new generation of electric and hybrid vehicles., Although Kia’s lineup will be Soul-less next year, the company is promising to replace it with even more exciting cars.
The funky box car was “a cornerstone in Kia gaining a foothold in the United States,” according to Eric Watson, Kia America’s VP of sales.
Kia is on track for its third consecutive sales record in the US and its highest market share ever. Watson said the Soul helped the brand achieve its early success, but is “equally excited for the future of Kia’s expansive and award-winning utility vehicle lineup.”
The Soul was Kia’s most affordable vehicle in the US for the 2025 model year, starting at just $21,935. Next year, the K4 sedan will take its place, starting at a slightly higher price of $23,165.
Kia is also launching the electric version, the EV4, in early 2026. Although prices have yet to be confirmed, the electric sedan is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
The EV4 will join the updated EV6 and EV9 in Kia’s expanding lineup. Both the EV6 and EV9 are assembled at Kia’s plant in Georgia.
The EV3, Kia’s compact electric SUV, is also expected to launch in the US sometime in 2026. Prices and an official launch date have yet to be confirmed, but the smaller electric SUV will likely start at around $30,000 to $35,000.
Kia’s EV3 is already among the top-selling electric vehicles in the UK, Europe, and other overseas markets. The company also offers some of the top-selling hybrids in the US, including the Niro, Sportage, and Sorento, which will help fill the gap left by the Soul.
Kia plans to end Soul production in October with just a few thousand models remaining at dealers. These will be the last few sold in the US as Kia prepares to revamp its lineup in 2026.
What do you think of the move? Are you sad to see the Soul go? Let us know in the comments.
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