The Fisker Ocean is being repurposed as a ride-sharing vehicle in New York City. Discover the workshop that manages the biggest collection of these vehicles around.

These are among the most sophisticated vehicles on the roads today, yet they originate from an unassuming old brick structure located on a quiet side street in the Bronx.
Fisker Oceans
proceed with getting serviced to become part of New York City’s for-hire vehicle fleet.

In 2024, when the electric car company Fisker faced bankruptcy,
an aircraft leasing company named American Lease
noticed a chance to cater to the ridesharing industry as it swiftly transitions towards electric vehicles. The firm acquired the leftover fleet of its cars, approximately 3,000 Ocean SUVs.

American Lease invested approximately $42.5 million to acquire vehicles at a fair market price of about $13,000 per unit, based on bankruptcy filings. The company subsequently leases these cars out to Uber and Lyft drivers starting at just $399 monthly. At this very moment, those leased vehicles could be seen ferrying passengers across New York City.

However, the existence of a taxi in New York City comes with challenges, as potholes, harsh road conditions, and careless drivers pose potential hazards at each intersection. When these Fiskers require maintenance, where do they end up? They cannot return to Fisker; Fisker is history. Alternatively, assistance for them can be found just a short distance away at the BHP Service Center near American Lease’s Hunts Point warehouse.

In 2023, the city established targets similar to those of Uber and Lyft, mandating that all rides must either be electric vehicles (EVs) or accessible to wheelchairs by 2030. This transition has already started, resulting in a significant increase in the number of such ride-sharing options available.
Toyota bZ4Xs
, such as Tesla Model 3s and others. BHP is staying current with this trend by managing these Fisker vehicles.

“I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with American Lease,” says shop owner Ronen, known as Roni to everyone. With 25 years of experience in the field, he has witnessed significant changes in New York City’s taxi fleet. Hearing “Nissan NV200 ‘Taxi of Tomorrow'” mentioned makes him wince; instead, he nostalgically recalls the Ford Crown Victoria, which ceased production back in 2012 and was banned from legal taxi operations seven years thereafter. Although the Fisker vehicles leased by American Lease to BHP are currently brand-new, they’re gradually becoming commonplace.

Currently, just a handful of racks at BHP contain parts for Fiskers. Most are designated for Highlanders, Priuses, and various other Toyota models. Return after a year, Roni informs me, and this location will exclusively stock Fiskers. Roni mentions that he has begun hiring experts to manage the higher volume of electric vehicles expected soon.

He has begun preparing for their expected problems and minor collisions. In June 2024, American Lease declared they would be purchasing Fisker’s stock, yet the distribution of these vehicles into New York City is still underway. This initiative is at an initial stage, which makes me astonished to find damaged and crumpled Oceans lined up along the side area beside BHP’s main entrance.

There’s no reason for concern, according to Roni. The Oceans were not damaged by Uber drivers; he purchased them in that condition specifically to use as donor vehicles. These cars are designated for scrapping, with their panels and components removed so that American Lease’s fleet of other Oceans can continue operating without issues.

BHP has also acquired spare parts directly from Fisker and has started producing components independently. This involves fabricating molds for body panels and parts such as bumpers, despite Ronen retaining newly produced spares both at his facility and in an additional storage location. Currently, he possesses inventory, yet he is prepared for the moment when American Lease’s vehicle fleet begins encountering routine problems and minor collisions.

There haven’t been any incidents so far,” states Roni, who owns BHP Service Center, located in an industrial section of the Bronx. “Praise be to God.

Despite this, certain components remain a challenge when handling these abandoned cars. He feels compelled to guarantee zero downtime for American Lease’s vehicle fleet and aims to maintain sufficient inventory levels as more of their Oceans start circulating on the roads. “Individual car owners have approached me requesting spare parts, but I’ve had to refuse them,” Roni states. Prioritizing American Lease is essential.

It’s wonderful to observe how ordinary these Fisker vehicles appear as they come and go from BHP’s brick structure. This scene seems quite distant from the shiny Los Angeles convention center stage where the Ocean was first unveiled back in 2021.

However, if this scenario depicted an inspiring glimpse into the world of electric vehicles as our next big thing, then let us look at their current state. The reality unfolds in a modest garage in the Bronx, where they service some of the most sophisticated electric cars globally, providing these machines with a renewed purpose far beyond anyone’s imagination.

Raphael Orlove is a freelance writer and editor, whose writing has likely crossed your path before.

Defector, Road & Track

, and

Jalopnik

He vividly recalls visiting the California Fuel Cell Partnership during his middle school days, and he even took the opportunity to lecture a Tesla engineer about the appropriate size for the Model S at a gathering.

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