Regulatory case
In the Matter of Nikola Corporation
- Authority
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Case number
- Press release 2021-267
- Filed or opened
- 21 December 2021
- Organization
- Nikola Corporation
- Current stage
- Settled administrative order, without admitting or denying
- Outcome
- Settled. Payment terms later restructured in chapter 11S7
Decisions and steps
- Nikola agrees to pay US$125 million and to the orderS3
Claims this case bears on
- Partly supported73The Hindenburg report said Nikola's claims to design key components in house were false and that it bought inverters from a supplier called Cascadia.Short-seller report, 10 September 20202 records citedProduct claims
- Contradicted83Nikola said in September 2020 that the allegations in the Hindenburg report were false and misleading.Company statement, 14 September 20205 records citedFraud
- Outdated70The SEC announced in December 2021 that Nikola would pay US$125 million to resolve fraud charges.Regulator statement, 21 December 20212 records citedCorporate status
Sources
- S3Tier A Nikola Corporation to Pay $125 Million to Resolve Fraud ChargesU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulator press release. 21 December 2021.Supports the settled order and its findings on misleading claims. The settlement was without admitting or denying.
- S7Tier C Nikola agrees to $83M SEC settlementFreightWaves. Press report. 12 September 2025.Report by Caleb Revill on the SEC claim agreement within the liquidation plan. It does not state plan confirmation or prior payments.Link working, checked 25 October 2026