José De Bardi's lack of sleep was initiated by the announcement of Fisker's bankruptcy protection on June 18. As a Fisker vehicle owner, he was concerned about the future of his car and decided to establish a nonprofit organization called the Fisker Owners Association to represent owners' interests.
Fisker vehicles, particularly the Ocean SUV, have experienced various ongoing problems such as window cracks, dysfunctional key fobs, sudden connectivity blackouts, software issues, and build quality shortcomings. These issues necessitate servicing and spare parts to keep the vehicles running, raising concerns about the future support for Fisker owners following the company's bankruptcy filing.
Fisker began signing dealerships in January to address the challenges and ballooning costs associated with its direct-to-consumer model. The company aimed to improve customer service and repair accessibility by partnering with dealerships, which would also help maintain pricing without local competition concerns.