Flo announces layoffs and factory closing in North America
Flo was founded in 2009 in Quebec City and then expanded to a second plant in Shawinigan in 2021 and launched construction of a factory in the USA in 2022, buoyed by subsidies in Canada and the USA. With the new US government, this financial support has dried up, leaving a difficult situation for the company.
Notably, the company raised $136 million in funding last year, but with the lack of political support and flagging sales, Flo has opted for a more conservative course, citing “trade tensions, political instability and shifting government policies around electrification as major hurdles to long-term planning,” as Electric Autonomy writes.
“This decision reflects several challenging realities. Trade tensions, shifting political dynamics — particularly in the U.S. — and inconsistent policy signals around electric vehicles have made long-term planning extremely complex,” said company CEO Louis Tremblay.
The CEO added some words of sympathy for his soon-to-be former employees: “This is an incredibly hard moment for our company, and my thoughts are first and foremost with our colleagues who are affected by this decision. Their dedication, hard work, and contributions to FLO have shaped who we are, and we are deeply grateful.”
For the time being, Flo plans to continue manufacturing charging equipment at its facilities in Quebec City and Michigan, meaning that the Shawninigan facility will be closed. The date for the closing has been set for the end of August. The CEO specified that the restructuring is a stepping stone on the path to becoming a profitable and sustainable charging network operator. “We deeply believe in the future of electric mobility, and we are taking these challenging steps today to ensure FLO can continue to lead in this critical space for years to come,” he said.
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