Skip to main content

Is Faraday Future the next Tesla, or will it follow Fisker and fizzle out?

Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder
California-based, Chinese-backed startup Faraday Future is counting down the days until it introduces its first production car at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that’s taking place next month. The brand appears on track for success, but a damning new report finds that all is not well under the surface.

A supplier named Futuris that manufactures and tests seats is taking Faraday Future to court over $10 million in unpaid bills. A separate lawsuit filed by Beim Maple Properties accuses the company of not paying rent on a warehouse to the tune of $104,950.50. And that may be just the tip of the iceberg; employees who wished to remain anonymous told Buzzfeed News that the company’s debt amounts to over $300 million.

The unstable financial situation has allegedly sent shockwaves through the young company. Some suppliers decided to cut ties with Faraday Future, and a few employees have resigned this year. One of them pointed out that getting work done was a real challenge because suppliers routinely put orders on hold due to missed payments. Another noted that his team’s size was slashed in half without warning.

“Month to month, the money was never there. Funds were lower than what Faraday needed to cover operational costs and commitments to suppliers,” summed up a former employee in an interview with Buzzfeed News.

Faraday Future’s financial troubles have also impacted construction work on the $1.3 billion factory it’s building in Nevada. The project was put on hold in November because AECOM, the firm in charge of the project, is waiting for $58 million in late payments. While AECOM is confident construction will resume in a timely manner, Nevada officials are much more cautious. They gave Faraday $219.5 million in tax incentives, but they have a plan to protect the state’s interests in case the company’s dream to beat Tesla at its own game fizzles out.

Faraday Future couldn’t be reached for comment. CES is two weeks away, so we won’t have to wait long to find out whether it can deliver a production car as promised, and what the future has in store for the company.

Editors' Recommendations

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more