Safety regulators in the U.S. have opened an investigation into Fisker’s Ocean electric vehicle (EV), following fresh complaints of a braking issue that has caused some vehicles to brake unexpectedly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation into the braking issue last week, marking the Ocean’s second braking issue this year. In the report, dated May 8, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received eight complaints alleging inadvertent deployment of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system on model year 2023 Fisker Ocean vehicles, causing sudden deceleration and increasing the risk of a crash.
Three of the complaints claimed that the issue resulted in an injury, with the severity of braking issues varying widely across them, according to the regulator’s investigation report.
“The braking applications range from momentary, partial application resulting in rapid loss of speed to full application, which brings the vehicle to a complete stop in the travel lane,” writes the ODI in the report.
The investigation will look into approximately 6,813 Fisker Ocean units, and You can view the full ODI investigation report below.
Following a preliminary investigation, the NHTSA will decide whether or not to escalate the case to recall status.
The preliminary probe follows a separate investigation into the Fisker Ocean opened by the NHTSA in January, alleging a partial loss of braking power over low-traction surfaces. In February, the NHTSA also opened a probe into the Ocean over complaints of unintended vehicle movement, along with an inability to shift into park or other gears.
The struggling EV company has also been facing non-compliance with the New York Stock Exchange, after its shares dropped below $1 on average for 30 days. Similarly, it has filed for reorganization in Austria. A few weeks ago, the company also said it would need to file for bankruptcy with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if it didn’t receive additional funding within a month.
“If the Company does not receive adequate relief from its debt holders and additional sufficient liquidity from potential liquidity providers to meet its current obligations, it expects to seek protection under applicable bankruptcy laws in multiple jurisdictions within 30 days from the issuance of these financial statements,” wrote Fisker in the late 10-K filing.
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Elon Musk sets expectations for Tesla’s AI6 deal with Samsung
It is no secret that Musk’s leadership style is not for everyone.
Elon Musk recently clarified a key detail about Tesla’s AI6 chip production deal with South Korean tech giant Samsung. As per Musk, Samsung’s leadership is aware that he would be personally involved in its upcoming factory’s operations.
Such a system, Musk noted, would allow Tesla and Samsung to achieve a real partnership.
Samsung’s AI6 production deal
When Elon Musk confirmed Tesla’s AI6 chip production deal with Samsung, there was one detail that stood out to longtime followers of the electric vehicle maker. As per the CEO, he would personally walk the lines of Samsung’s upcoming facility to ensure that the production of AI6 chips goes according to Tesla’s requirements.
“I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress. And the fab is conveniently located not far from my house,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Musk’s comments caught a lot of attention, with some X users joking that Samsung has no idea what it signed up for. Musk, after all, is known to have extremely high demands for his employees during production ramps. He is also a leader who is extremely hands-on, as evidenced by his work during the Model 3’s production hell in the Fremont Factory.
Musk issues an assurance
Musk’s leadership style is intense, but it is also known to produce admirable results. That being said, it is also no secret that Musk’s leadership style is not for everyone. Fortunately for Samsung, the Tesla CEO noted that he has set expectations with the South Korean tech giant’s leadership, so they know what to expect when the ramp-up of the AI6 chip’s production actually happens.
“They do. I had a video call with the chairman and senior leadership of Samsung to go over what a real partnership would be like. Use the strengths of both companies to achieve a great outcome,” Musk wrote in a post.
While Tesla is already very experienced with mass manufacturing, producing chips at scale is still a new venture for the company. It is a venture that will likely provide benefits for Tesla, however, with noted Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo stating that that partnership could shake up the chip industry’s power balance.
Tesla is expanding its Semi charging infrastructure once again, this time to a facility owned by PepsiCo, near Denver, Colorado.
The Tesla Semi is the company’s all-electric Class 8 truck, and it’s been used by PepsiCo. and its subsidiary Frito-Lay, for a few years now, as part of a pilot program. They are two of several companies that have had exclusive access to the Semi for regional deliveries since 2022.
These regional deliveries performed by PepsiCo. and others are taking the Tesla Semi from California to Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado. The need for a solid, reliable charging infrastructure is becoming more evident, especially as Tesla is planning to start mass production of the Semi in the coming months.
It will build these units near its Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, at a plant that it has been building since 2024.
That infrastructure is growing, as Tesla has submitted permitting to build a new six-stall Semi charging facility in Denver:
PepsiCo is building a new Semi Charging station at one of their facilities in Denver, Colorado!!
Permits were submitted earlier this month for the addition of 6 Semichargers at the company’s Pecos St distribution center.
H/T: @AlejandroEV66 pic.twitter.com/1tCTDigRo9
— MarcoRP (@MarcoRPi1) July 27, 2025
This is the location of a PepsiCo. distribution center near Denver. The Semi is evidently ready to start delivering to this location, but more charging is needed at the site to ensure the proper infrastructure is available.
PepsiCo. is putting forth a solid effort to increase its sustainability as a company. It has utilized the Tesla Semi for several years.
It has been a reliable partner for Tesla in the early testing of the vehicle, providing valuable data for the company, as it has handpicked the entities that have had access to the truck.
Tesla Semi dominates in real-world tests during Run on Less event
The expansion comes just after PepsiCo. filed to build 18 Tesla Semi chargers at another facility near Charlotte, North Carolina.
News
Tesla sends cryptic message that Robotaxi expansion is imminent
Tesla looks to be imminently launching Robotaxi rides in California.
Tesla has sent a cryptic message that the expansion of its Robotaxi platform is imminent in an area that the company indicated is a target of the ride-hailing service.
Tesla Robotaxi is currently available in Austin, Texas, but the company has stated for some time that its intention is to expand to California, among other states.
Now, it seems that Tesla is closer than ever to launching Robotaxi in California, based on a new message it sent to users of its Robotaxi app.
We received the message over the weekend, and it required us to accept and agree to new terms. Here’s what it said:
“If your ride is taking place outside of California, it is being conducted autonomously…If your ride is taking place in California, it is being conducted with a safety driver using FSD (Supervised) pursuant to authority from the California Public Utilities Commission.”
🚨 Tesla Robotaxi is close to offering rides in California based on this new message we got in our app.
There is no geofence currently set up in the Bay Area, but we’ll monitor it moving forward. pic.twitter.com/ZrKAqDqQs9
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 26, 2025
The message basically states that Tesla’s Robotaxi rides in Austin will differ from the ones that take place in California in a big way.
In Texas, there is nobody in the driver’s seat. There is a Safety Monitor in the passenger’s seat who simply ensures that everything goes smoothly:
Watch the first true Tesla Robotaxi intervention by safety monitor
In California, there will be a monitor in the driver’s seat, so it will essentially be the same as taking a ride in a vehicle with Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
This will, without a doubt, be a vocal point of the skeptics of the Robotaxi program, but for now, it is proof of Tesla’s “paranoid” focus on safety.
There has not been any established geofence in California within the Robotaxi app, so the program is not yet active in the state. However, it seems the release of the Robotaxi platform in the Golden State is imminent.
Elon Musk sets expectations for Tesla’s AI6 deal with Samsung
Tesla is expanding Semi charging infrastructure once again
Tesla sends cryptic message that Robotaxi expansion is imminent
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