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Karma Automotive Reviews
102 reviews
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Full-timePart-timeApprove of CEO
Liang Zhou
4 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 13 reviews)
"Politics at the highest levels to the point of poor decision making to prove a personal point" (in 5 reviews)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Amazing company"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Relaxed work environment
Good pay
Knowledgeable people
Good managementCons
There is no cons in my opinion
Karma Automotive 2018-07-03 20:41 PDTHelpful (1)
![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]()
"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 PDTHelpful (6)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Terrible leadership"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Nice loooking car. Lots of great people work here and share the vision of being successful. New CEO who is new and optimistic.
Cons
CTO, CRO , marketing are driving the company into the ground. Awful marketing strategy. Unqualified people in high positions. Complete disarray. No oversight from owners Wanxiang group. People leveraging company assets for personal gain.
Advice to Management
Wanxiang please clean house! The people in control here have no idea how to run the place and will run us into the ground. We need young talented people with the desire to push the envelope of technology and performance. Not old tarnished Detroit brass waiting to sink the ship and retire.
Karma Automotive 2018-07-27 21:54 PDTHelpful (5)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Design Release"
StarStarStarStarStarI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time
Pros
Exciting world of electric automobiles
Cons
Ineffective and completly resistent to change management.
Advice to Management
Let our young generation speak, take your retirement package and travel the world.
Karma Automotive 2018-05-09 14:48 PDTHelpful (4)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"software design engineer"
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
Pros
Owner/investor seems to have a lot of money to spend
Cons
1. Company does not seem to have a clear roadmap or direction.
2. Good people who can do real work keep leaving and management does not seem to care.
3. Company focused too much on old and obsolete technologies.
4. No incentive programs for employees. Everyone gets the same pay adjustment though.
5. Very un-organized, no clear definition of roles and responsibilities, many VPs, some with one or two reports.Advice to Management
Get your acts together, do your job.
Karma Automotive 2018-05-04 02:05 PDTHelpful (1)
![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"Big Risk for Big Reward"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time
Pros
It’s a new company with ground floor opportunities. If you are talented then you will be compensated for your efforts.
Cons
A lot of unknowns. If you are not comfortable taking a risk with a new company then you probably should not work here.
Advice to Management
Do not reinvent the wheel, just because you can figure something out on your own doesn’t mean you should waste your time. Look to people with experience, implement current best practices and move on.
Karma Automotive 2018-04-16 21:26 PDT![Karma Automotive Logo]()
"I love my job!"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Karma Automotive full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
I work at the Plant now. I used to work at headquarters, but I prefer it here at the Plant.
Cons
We are a small company so still processes to improve
Advice to Management
Remain transparent, honest & keep up the KARMARIFFIC spirit!
Karma Automotive 2018-04-16 14:20 PDT
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Karma Automotive Response
Jul 16, 2018 – Talent Acquisition Manager
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback