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Karma Automotive Reviews
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Full-timePart-timeApprove of CEO
Liang Zhou
7 Ratings
Pros
"Some really great people and a great opportunity to learn a lot very quickly" (in 7 reviews)
"Great work/life balance for a startup company" (in 4 reviews)
Cons
"Most upper management very arrogant" (in 14 reviews)
"Politics at the highest levels to the point of poor decision making to prove a personal point" (in 5 reviews)
Helpful (3)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Salaried Staff working Far TOO MUCH OVERTIME with NO COMPENSATION"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendPositive OutlookNo opinion of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
I love working @ KARMA - I personally have received a Promotion in 4 years. It's a daily challenge to build, but I love it.
Cons
The people in the weeds know what's what but Senior Leadership is killing motivation and life/work balance. A lot of GM Senior Staff that is so far removed from the day to day difficulties at the Plant continue to throw new processes & procedures at us as if we are a GM size.
Advice to Management
KARMA size everything. WE ARE NOT A BIG OEM - we are tiny - make our processes match our size. Releasing MANUAL processes in 2018 is a JOKE. We now have the technology to outsmart most of the Senior Staff - that is why they want to continually go backwards; they are scared of the TRUTH.
Karma Automotive 2018-10-17 17:40 PDTHelpful (3)
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"Poorly Managed Start Up"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookApproves of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Pay and benefits are good, even for California. If you are competent there are many opportunities to advance due to the high turnover in management. New CEO is a massive improvement of the old CEO.
Cons
New CEO has a huge mountain to climb due to all the bad decisions made by the previous management. The COOs management philosophy is basically the opposite of the Steve Job's quote on hiring, "...we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do."
Advice to Management
Empower the competent employees and conduct anonymous 360 reviews to help weed out the bad managers.
Karma Automotive 2018-10-11 23:09 PDTHelpful (2)
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"Poor Management, already a failed car company"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookDisapproves of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time
Pros
The old CEO is gone
Cons
Sales and Marketing is a joke, the people in charge of Sales & Marketing use the budget as a piggy bank to fund their vacations. The vehicle is not competitive with modern offerings.
Advice to Management
Fire sales and marketing and start from scratch. Bring in technology innovators who can drive the company to make something unique.
Karma Automotive 2018-11-04 05:20 PSTHelpful (1)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Toxic work environment instilled by brass from old bankrupt GM era."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Sharp car that gets attention everywhere.
Cons
As others have mentioned Upper Management is horrific and driving the company into the ground.
CTO is absolutely ruthless and down right a bully, he would be in trouble with HR for his belittling comments at an other company.
Nonstop finger pointing and no accountability between groups.
Employees are not empowered to perform their jobs, almost all decisions must go up to VPs or higher.
Strategy is constantly changing with knee jerk reactions.
HR made broken promises and false claims during the hiring process (for example you do not come in with 2 weeks of vacation, you must accrue it first).Advice to Management
Dr. Lance, purge the Upper Management with new "Leaders" and instill a “start-up” culture.
Karma Automotive 2018-10-29 09:47 PDTHelpful (7)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Poor company culture, declining morale and company with no strategy"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive full-time
Pros
Good salary, beautiful looking car, nice office. Previously there was the ability to do interesting things, but now it's all blocked by management.
Cons
-Formerly enthusiastic employees are losing morale, people are quitting, high turnover, and they aren't replacing them, which means more work for others.
-Toxic company culture, quickly going downhill.
-Product is an old car and behind other OEMS on innovation .
-Fighting among members of management, who hate each other and are bullies.
-Startup company that is supposed to be dynamic is run by old boys club of large auto companies.
-Management is completely ineffective and not collaborative.
-Amount of red tape, politics, levels of approvals, bureaucracy impedes productivity.
-Past due invoices are mounting.
-Constant change in direction and strategy.
-No strategic direction by management.
-People are objects with little concern for their happiness or wellbeing.
-No company culture. Lured people in years ago with the promises and plans for the company, that have amounted to nothing.
-Some employees are stretched too thin, working late and weekends while others work 9 - 4.
- High levels of stress and burnout while others do the bare minimum.
-You have to fight to be able to do anything because it will be blocked by senior management, who doesn’t trust their own employees’ expertise.Advice to Management
Establish a company culture that represents the company's core values and identity from the inside out. Create a happy and healthy workplace. That's what will make people want to stick around. Give your employees the resources and support to succeed. Learn how to collaborate with each other and streamline processes so people can do their jobs. Stop being concerned with the bottom line and cost cutting, focus on building the brand.
Get rid of executives who aren't effective and successful. Bring in some fresh new younger talent.
If you are going to be a startup act like one and be "cool" to work at.Karma Automotive 2018-10-14 20:05 PDTHelpful (3)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Great people If they are not in management"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive (More than 3 years)
Pros
Highly talented co-workers with huge levels of experience
Cons
Negative management environment, too many "big OEM" at the top who treat this specialist manufacturer as just another GM plant.
Advice to Management
Get senior management who know about this sector.
Karma Automotive 2018-09-18 09:47 PDTHelpful (4)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Senior Leadership needs a refresh by new CEO. Lack of diversity where women and minorities are missing."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookApproves of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Starting 2018 none whatsoever. Hiding behind the excuse of an aged 10 year old
product, which has several limitations, provides cover for lack of individual performance.Cons
Severe cash crunch where past invoices are mounting and vendors not getting paid is the norm. Constant change in direction and strategy where spending money on making a world class product is no longer the priority. Infighting among management and senior executives is an ongoing soap opera. How long will the Wanxiang ownership bear loss of revenue, to support individual leadership egos, will be interesting to see.
Advice to Management
Most of the senior management has worked 35 to 40 years or more in the industry. They have had their chance and time to move on and make way for the next generation. At a minimum all senior leadership should lease or buy a Karma Revero to support the lackluster sales. Driving as a company car privilege does not help move the excess inventory.
Karma Automotive 2018-10-02 03:47 PDTHelpful (6)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Engineer"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookNo opinion of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time
Pros
Despite what others may say, this is one of the most stable California EV startups. Backed by China's largest automotive components company, Karma does not have cash influx problems. Wanxiang is not afraid to invest.
There is literally a car in production, the Revero. Yes, it has it's flaws and yes it based on older technology, but cars are being produced every day. This is a huge advantage over the other startups.
There are many opportunities for individual contributors to have a major impact on the company. Some may say management doesn't listen enough, and there's some truth to that statement. I'm telling you if you're passionate enough about something, they will listen.
The Headquarters in Irvine are beautiful. Millions of dollars more being invested in Engineering capability at the facility.Cons
People complaining about turnover are right on the money. However, I contend the folks who run around the SoCal EV circuit by jumping to/from company to company are not the ones who are going to make the company succeed. It's funny, as they tend to leave as soon as the going gets tough. Guess what? This work is challenging. Go for it, the grass is always greener. While I can sympathize with them, they are not the ones who are going to make any of these companies (Karma or their future employers) succeed. They'll be working for the next new shiny startup in a year or so.
With a few exceptions, HR and the Recruiting team are always complicated to deal with.
Engineering and Manufacturing needs to be more diligent with processes and process control. Engineers need to do a better job defining how we do our jobs!Advice to Management
Need to painstakingly ensure the lessons learned from current Revero development and production are applied to future vehicles. Absolutely critical - this is Karma's advantage over the other startups.
Listen to your employees. The design studio, in their ivory tower, should not have the power they do. The aesthetics can only take you so far. Sacrificing some design elements in the name of performance would be a game-changer. Still likely would be a beautiful vehicle!
Need to be more willing to dump inefficient and/or under-performing management. From executives down the line. I've seen some improvement on that recently and it's a good thing.
Team building activities need to be expanded.Karma Automotive 2018-07-14 12:31 PDTHelpful (4)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Not there yet, risky, anxious environment."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
Beautiful new corporate office. Generally nice and knowledgeable staff. Good opportunity to learn. Nice 401k if you can stick around long enough. Closes at the end of the year for one week. A lot of money invested in the company, hopefully will turn for the better in 3 to 4 years. New CEO.
Cons
Company is still in flux. Employee turnover seems high, and I would expect more at least this year. Employees are nervous about their job security at the moment. Not many vehicles sold, price seems to high for a vehicle that is basically the same as it was in 2012. The better the employee, the more they are overworked and tend to leave. Do not rock the boat, keep your head down.
Advice to Management
Standard advice, if you have high employee turnover but the management remains the same..........
Karma Automotive 2018-08-22 08:41 PDTHelpful (6)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Road to Nowhere"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Decent compensation/benefits and location. Good co-workers. Some nice opportunities to learn typical OEM processes (and what not to do).
Cons
Leadership and new product is a slow moving train wreck. This company is repeating the same mistakes over and over (except for the styling which is now arguably worse).
Advice to Management
Get out of this business or hand it over to someone that knows how to run an automaker of this nature.
Karma Automotive 2018-08-19 11:26 PDT
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