Photo: Fisker / x2OhSeven on Reddit / Edited
Fisker just told Ocean owners in North America that they would immediately lose access to 24/7 Roadside Assistance. The perk was an integral part of the warranty. Still, the company has a couple of recommendations for its supporters.
Fisker didn't want to wait until Monday to break the news. It sent Ocean owners from the US, including Puerto Rico, an email to inform them that Roadside Assistance is effectively gone.
Those who kept up with the company's story anticipated that this could happen to American customers, too. About a month ago, this perk was taken away from European customers.
Fisker said that it tried hard to figure out a solution, but, in the end, couldn't keep this option available as explained in the policy that joined the warranty.
Roadside Assistance was available 24/7 for issues such as mechanical disablement, flat tire(s), loss of power, vehicle accessibility, and winching. Fisker offered it to Ocean owners for a period of six years or until their EVs displayed 60,000 miles on the odometer.
The brand apologized and recommended that buyers look for alternatives. It said that adequate insurance coverage or an auto club membership could replace the company's roadside assistance policy.
The reborn startup promised to continue to "actively" seek alternatives. However, it's unlikely that this benefit will return.
To its credit, the marque informed buyers that Roadside Assistance benefits could be revised or discontinued at any time, even without notice. So, this email is Fisker showing courtesy.
Now, customers are worried that Fisker might want to put Premium Connectivity, which includes the 4G internet connection, behind a paywall, too. It already told buyers of Ultra and Sport trims that they would lose a bunch of features at the end of 2024.
However, since the company is trying to bring in more cash in every way possible, it could ask owners to start paying for as many features as possible before they were supposed to. They might want to do that if they want Fisker to survive.
Some would argue that you should never bet on a dead horse or a company that a designer and their spouse run. To them, you can say that life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Everyone's an expert in retrospect. But what would life be without a small gamble every once in a while, right?
It's not the end of the road for Fisker, but it certainly feels like someone is forcing the leadership to take all the unpopular measures with the hope that something might be worked out at some point. It remains to be seen if an automotive designer's dream can survive in this cutthroat industry that is the car world.
Those who kept up with the company's story anticipated that this could happen to American customers, too. About a month ago, this perk was taken away from European customers.
Fisker said that it tried hard to figure out a solution, but, in the end, couldn't keep this option available as explained in the policy that joined the warranty.
Roadside Assistance was available 24/7 for issues such as mechanical disablement, flat tire(s), loss of power, vehicle accessibility, and winching. Fisker offered it to Ocean owners for a period of six years or until their EVs displayed 60,000 miles on the odometer.
The brand apologized and recommended that buyers look for alternatives. It said that adequate insurance coverage or an auto club membership could replace the company's roadside assistance policy.
The reborn startup promised to continue to "actively" seek alternatives. However, it's unlikely that this benefit will return.
To its credit, the marque informed buyers that Roadside Assistance benefits could be revised or discontinued at any time, even without notice. So, this email is Fisker showing courtesy.
Now, customers are worried that Fisker might want to put Premium Connectivity, which includes the 4G internet connection, behind a paywall, too. It already told buyers of Ultra and Sport trims that they would lose a bunch of features at the end of 2024.
However, since the company is trying to bring in more cash in every way possible, it could ask owners to start paying for as many features as possible before they were supposed to. They might want to do that if they want Fisker to survive.
Some would argue that you should never bet on a dead horse or a company that a designer and their spouse run. To them, you can say that life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. Everyone's an expert in retrospect. But what would life be without a small gamble every once in a while, right?
It's not the end of the road for Fisker, but it certainly feels like someone is forcing the leadership to take all the unpopular measures with the hope that something might be worked out at some point. It remains to be seen if an automotive designer's dream can survive in this cutthroat industry that is the car world.
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