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MKBHD says the Fisker Ocean is the ‘worst car’ he’s ever reviewed

Credit: Auto Focus | YouTube

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Fisker has had a rocky launch for its electric Ocean SUV, with several issues getting the vehicles produced and into the hands of its customers. However, in one of his latest reviews, Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, says the Fisker Ocean is the “worst car he’s ever reviewed,” offering some pretty scathing criticism for the company’s first electric vehicle (EV).

In a review shared on his channel Auto Focus on Saturday, Brownlee describes the Fisker Ocean as a quirky car, saying that it’s not only the worst car he’s ever covered, but that it also might be the “single weirdest automotive reviewing experience” he has ever had. He points to a number of odd and annoying design decisions made with the Ocean, saying that he wouldn’t even want to drive it if somehow gifted him the car.

“I was really struggling on how to start this video just because this might be the single weirdest automotive reviewing experience I’ve ever had,” Brownlee said. “And I was trying to think if maybe there’s a superlative to explain like, ‘this is the weirdest car I’ve ever tried,’ or ‘this is the quirkiest car that I’ve used so far,’ but I think it’s just the worst car I’ve ever tested.”

Fisker has thousands of unsold vehicles from 2023 it plans to sell in Q1

But even before getting his hands on the car, Brownlee says his team was having issues.

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He explains that the team ultimately had to get the EV from a Mitsubishi dealership because Fisker couldn’t get it to them in time. Then, somehow Fisker found out about his crew getting one and didn’t want them to review it, saying that he should instead wait for an upcoming software update 2.0.

Despite the quirks, Brownlee also has a handful of good things to say about the vehicle, noting that he likes the exterior design overall, as well as the comfortability of the seats, some things about the driving experience, and a few other specific positives. Before long, however, he jumps into the flaws, noting that he thinks the software, among other things, is pretty incomplete still.

“I think the theme here is it’s just a young company that doesn’t really know exactly what they’re doing with a lot of these choices yet,” Brownlee says as a brief introduction to discussing the Fisker Ocean’s more “quirky” characteristics.

To start, Brownlee notes that there’s no way to see what the solar panel roof tiles are doing for the vehicle’s range throughout the user interface. He also opens the center console, revealing a fold-out tray for the driver that nearly takes up all the center console’s space when not in use, as well as the use of a similar pull-out tray instead of a traditional glove box.

You can watch MKBHD’s full review below, complete with a fairly long list of things he didn’t appreciate about his experience with the Fisker Ocean.

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What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us news tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla FSD approved for testing in Nacka, Sweden, though municipality note reveals aggravating detail

Nacka, Sweden, a municipality just a few miles from Stockholm, has given its approval for FSD tests.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla has secured approval for FSD testing in an urban environment in Sweden. As per recent reports from the Tesla community, Nacka, Sweden, a municipality just a few miles from Stockholm, has given its approval for FSD tests. 

A look at the municipality’s note regarding FSD’s approval, however, reveals something quite aggravating. 

FSD testing approval secured

As per Tesla watcher and longtime shareholder Alexander Kristensen, Nacka is governed by the Moderate Party. The shareholder also shared the municipality’s protocol notes regarding approval for FSD’s tests. 

“It is good that Nacka can be a place for test-driving self-driving cars. This is future technology that can both facilitate mobility and make transportation cheaper and more environmentally friendly,” the note read. 

The update was received positively by the Tesla community on social media, as it suggests that the electric vehicle maker is making some legitimate headway in releasing FSD into the region. Sweden has been particularly challenging as well, so securing approval in Nacka is a notable milestone for the company’s efforts. 

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Aggravating details

A look at the notes from Nacka shows that FSD’s proposed tests still met some opposition from some officials. But while some critics might typically point to safety issues as their reasons for rejecting FSD, those who opposed the system in Nacka openly cited Tesla’s conflict with trade union IF Metall in their arguments. Fortunately, Nacka officials ultimately decided in Tesla’s favor as the company’s issues with the country’s unions are a completely different matter.

“The left-wing opposition (S, Nackalistan, MP and V) voted no to this, referring to the fact that the applicant company Tesla is involved in a labor market conflict and does not want to sign a collective agreement. We believe that this is not an acceptable reason for the municipality to use its authority to interfere in a labor law conflict.

“Signing a collective agreement is not an obligation, and the company has not committed any crime. The municipality should contribute to technological development and progress, not work against the future,” the note read.

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Tesla Model 3 and Model Y named top car buys in Norway

Despite growing competition from European and Korean brands, both models stood out for their balance of price, performance, and everyday usability.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Norway’s annual roundup of the best car purchases featured Tesla’s two main sellers this year, with the Model 3 and Model Y securing top positions in their respective segments. 

Despite growing competition from European and Korean brands, both models stood out for their balance of price, performance, and everyday usability. The verdict comes as electric vehicle adoption remained above 95% of new vehicle sales in the country.

Tesla Model 3 strengthens its value position

Among compact EVs, the Tesla Model 3 maintained its position as the best overall buy thanks to its strong blend of performance, efficiency, and updated features. Reviewers noted that every trim offered compelling value, especially with the all-electric sedan’s improved cabin ergonomics and the return of the turn-signal stalk, which was one of the few previous complaints among drivers. 

The Model 3’s mix of long-range capability, low operating costs, and responsive handling has continued to set the benchmark for compact EVs in Norway. While competitors from Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Peugeot have narrowed the gap, Tesla’s price-to-capability ratio has remained difficult to beat in this segment, Motor.no reported.

“The Model 3 clearly offers the best value for money in the compact class, no matter which version you choose. Now it also gets the turn signal lever back. This eliminates one of the few flaws in a driving environment that many believe is the best on the market,” the publication wrote. 

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Tesla Model Y claims its crown

The Tesla Model Y emerged as Norway’s top family-car purchase this year. The latest refresh introduced improvements in ride quality, styling, and interior materials, allowing the Model Y to deliver a more premium driving experience without a substantial price increase. 

Reviewers praised its spacious cabin, strong safety profile, and practical range, all of which reinforced its appeal for families needing an all-purpose electric crossover. The Model Y remains especially notable given its continued popularity in Norway even as Tesla faces declining sales in other global markets.

“The Model Y is back as the winner in the family class. The upgrade in the new year was even more extensive than expected. It is a slightly more elegant and significantly more comfortable Model Y that solidifies its position as Norway’s best car purchase in the most important class,” the Norwegian motoring publication noted.

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Tesla Giga Berlin is still ramping production to meet Model Y demand: plant manager

Tesla Gigafactory Berlin has expanded to two full shifts, as per the facility’s plant manager, and a lot of it is due to Model Y demand.

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Credit: Tesla/X

Tesla Gigafactory Berlin has expanded to two full shifts, as per the facility’s plant manager, and a lot of it is due to Model Y demand. While registrations in some countries such as Sweden have fallen sharply this year, the company’s sales in other key territories have been rising. 

Giga Berlin shifts to two shifts

Giga Berlin factory manager André Thierig told the DPA that the facility has been running two shifts since September to manage a surge in global orders. And due to the tariff dispute with the United States, vehicles that are produced at Giga Berlin are now being exported to Canada. 

“We deliver to well over 30 markets and definitely see a positive trend there,” Thierig said.

Despite Giga Berlin now having two shifts, the facility’s production still needs to ramp up more. This is partly due to the addition of the Tesla Model Y Performance and Standard, which are also being produced in the Grunheide-based factory. Interestingly enough, Giga Berlin still only produces the Model Y, unlike other factories like Gigafactory Texas, the Fremont Factory, and Gigafactory Shanghai, which produce more than one type of vehicle. 

Norway’s momentum

Norway, facing an imminent tax increase on cars, has seen a historic spike in Tesla purchases as buyers rush to secure deliveries before the change takes effect, as noted in a CarUp report. As per recent reports, Tesla has broken Norway’s all-time annual sales record this month, beating Volkswagen’s record that has stood since 2016.

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What is rather remarkable is the fact that Tesla was able to achieve so much in Norway with one hand practically tied behind its back. This is because the company’s biggest sales draw, FSD, remains unavailable in the country. Fortunately, Tesla is currently hard at work attempting to get FSD approved for Europe, a notable milestone that should spur even more vehicle sales in the region.

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