AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT NIKOLA CORPORATION (02/20/25)

FEBRUARY 20, 2025 — BOOM! NIKOLA GOES BUST

Nikola has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reflecting the company's current financial challenges. The company will continue limited operations while it pursues a sale of its assets under Court direction.

According to CEO Steve Girsky, "Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic factors that have impacted our ability to operate. Unfortunately, our very best efforts have not been enough to overcome these significant challenges.

“Nikola, together with its financial and legal advisors, engaged in an extensive analysis of all available and credible alternatives to identify a solution that would allow the business to sustain operations. Following months of actively pursuing these alternatives, the Company determined that a structured sale process represents the best possible solution to maximize the value of its assets. Nikola intends to market and sell all, substantially all, or a portion of its assets and effectuate an orderly wind down of its businesses.”

OCTOBER 14, 2024 — 135 EMPLOYEES GONE

The financially challenged company has laid off 135 employees, approximately 15% of its workforce, as it struggles to preserve cash and raise additional funding.

CEO Steve Girsky noted, “Nikola is a pioneer in the zero-emissions trucking and hydrogen infrastructure solution arenas, and to ensure long-term viability and maintain our first-mover advantage, we must scale our business appropriately for the future. To extend our runway, we are adjusting and rescaling our staffing needs. This is a difficult but necessary decision, and we thank those team members who helped build Nikola and wish them the best moving forward.

JUNE 29, 2023 — Original post…

Phoenix, Arizona-based Nikola Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, and energy solutions, has announced a cost-cutting initiative featuring a 23% workforce reduction and further restricting its electric truck efforts to North America.

The reduction in force will impact 270 employees, including 150 employees supporting the company’s European programs and 120 employees located in Arizona and California plants.

CEO Michael Lohscheller noted, “We are proactively managing costs and reducing expenses. We are streamlining operations, including our organizational structure, to efficiently execute our objectives.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SHILOH INDUSTRIES

Valley City, Ohio-based Shiloh Industries, a manufacturer of automotive components, has announced its intentions to close its tool and die shop in Warren, Michigan by early 2024.

The closure will impact 107 employees.

The company apparently lost a significant amount of money following its bankruptcy.

Plant Manager Lucas Huff noted, "We are respectfully declining your request to discuss the Warren closure. No further comments from Shiloh will be provided."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT VROOM (01/22/24)

JANUARY 22, 2024 — 800 EMPLOYEES GONE WITH BUSINESS MODEL CHANGES

The company has announced that it would wind down its used-vehicle e-commerce business, stop transactions on its website for buying and selling used cars, sell its current inventory, and cut most of the associated staff.

Approximately 800 employees are impacted.

The company said it would cut about 800 employees.

The decision was driven by the company’s inability to raise capital to fund its commerce operations and problems with its credit lines.

MAY 12, 2023 — Original post…

Houston, Texas-based Vroom, a used car retailer and e-commerce platform that lets consumers buy, sell, and finance cars online, has announced an organizational restructuring with an 11% reduction in force.

The restructuring will impact 120 employees.

According to an SEC 8-K filing, "As part of Vroom, Inc.’s ongoing reexamination of all facets of our business, we have implemented an organizational restructuring that includes a reduction in force across the Vroom organization as of April 26, 2023. We reduced Vroom’s headcount by approximately 120 employees, or approximately 11% of Vroom employees, excluding United Auto Credit Corporation or approximately 7% measured across the combined Company.”

A company spokesperson noted, "The decision to reduce staff this week, while difficult, is consistent with our commitment to our long-term roadmap and objectives for the year to prioritize unit economics and growth, improve our customer experience, reduce cost per unit and maximize liquidity."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?