Neta dismantles R&D as finances worsen, unpaid suppliers protest at HQ, 200 staff leaving – report

Neta dismantles R&D as finances worsen, unpaid suppliers protest at HQ, 200 staff leaving – report

More troubles for Neta – citing Chinese media outlet Leiphone, Car News China reports that the carmaker is purportedly dismantling its entire research and development (R&D) team as its finances worsen, and that some 200 of its circa-1,700 staff have already begun leaving.

Neta sold 98% fewer cars in January than it did in the same month last year, and in February, it didn’t even manage 400 units, CNC cites China EV DataTracker stats as saying.

Unpaid suppliers have reportedly been gathering at Neta’s Shanghai HQ, with some even sleeping on the floor, according to CNC. This comes despite RMB6 billion (RM3.7 billion) worth of investments reportedly secured by the EV maker, and remaining employees earning 75% less than they did before October 2023.

Neta dismantles R&D as finances worsen, unpaid suppliers protest at HQ, 200 staff leaving – report

Some leavers are getting only Shanghai’s minimum wage, while those who left in November 2023 have not yet been compensated, CNC reports further, adding that insiders partly attribute the crisis to the former CEO’s strategy of heavily favouring B2B channels.

According to CNC‘s sources, Neta’s debt could be as high as RMB10 billion (RM6 billion), casting doubts on the company’s recovery despite talks being ongoing with a foreign sovereign wealth fund.

Closer to home, it was reported last December that Neta was considering cutting 400 jobs in Thailand due to slowing sales. In Malaysia, Neta sells two models – the RM100k V and the RM120k-136k X. Nine Netas found Malaysian homes in January; seven in February.

Neta V in Malaysia

Neta X in Malaysia

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • AntiChinaEV on Mar 19, 2025 at 4:14 pm

    Junk China cars… pity those already bought. Who’s next to bite the dust ?
    They are just dumping their s&$t in MY, and many gullible jokers just buy them.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 5
  • taboogen on Mar 19, 2025 at 4:23 pm

    to those owner all the best to you all.. one day we can recylce the car to become powerbank during power outage

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Who purchased Neta so worry about after sales service or spare part supply ….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Dah Menang Semua on Mar 19, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    Risk of buying Chinese cars
    “Now U see, Now U don’t”
    Then the pricing, simply Discount
    Then the upgrade, fast Facelifting

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 5
    • Pro-Palestine on Mar 20, 2025 at 9:22 am

      Dah la Anneh, tak payah nak spread fake WION news la. Seluar dalam kam pun buat di China. Ramai dah pakai Chery, Zeekr dan BYD happy je. Baik you focus buatan India lagi elok dan lagi sihat untuk minda kamu.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 16
  • newme on Mar 19, 2025 at 5:15 pm

    A little dose of middle kingdom brand. Some of you may say Neta@Nezha is a small company but remember Evergrande and Country Garden?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
  • Celup King on Mar 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm

    When you run the risk of buying from obscure Chinese brands. You risk everything just bcoz it is cheap.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • Celup King on Mar 19, 2025 at 5:34 pm

    I pity the 16 fools who paid RM 100k for a car that will not be supported much longer. if they have not receive their cars, just cancel it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 3
  • Be careful potential buyers

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Ex Elon fanboi on Mar 19, 2025 at 6:49 pm

    Say good bye to your resale value, Neta owners

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
    • Hamchipeng on Mar 21, 2025 at 2:39 pm

      Same goes to all the EVs owners.. since when buyers of EV worry about resale value?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • fElon mUsk on Mar 19, 2025 at 7:26 pm

    tesla is next

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 8
    • Shiba on Mar 20, 2025 at 10:56 am

      Proton will bungkus first than Tesla la. Tesla are still the leader in profit margin for EV.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 6
    • Byd Ceo on Mar 20, 2025 at 11:59 am

      Byd first before tesla. Over expanding and hiding debt.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • If Tesla stops innovating, all China brands stop “innovating” too.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • That’s what happens if you make a car with 0 star rating at ASEAN NCAP.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • David on Mar 19, 2025 at 9:54 pm

    Junk

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • This 0 star NCAP carmaker have R&D department? Shocked.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • when2meets2boy on Mar 20, 2025 at 1:22 am

    What’s new, same story back in November 2023, laid off staff, suppliers, creditors. Neta has been in the doldrums since 2023, largely pinned on its model of selling EVs and really low price point and it’s reliance on investor funds, couple that the the hyper competition among the big five EVs in China, trade wars impacting Neta’s biggest market – Europe, if prospective buyers have done their homework, they would know the brand is on shaky ground since late 2023. Last time there was a last minute private investor funds infusion, will see what happens this time around. Meanwhile the other business models of the brands BYD is going from strength to strength, BYD overtaking Tesla, announcing their 5 minute full charge battery, and Geely commanding ev brand sales of all the brands it runs, including Proton, Zeekr, Volvo, Geely, Lotus, Polestar, Lynx and Co.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • lucky me on Mar 20, 2025 at 8:58 am

    fuh.. was fortunate not to be tricked during their promotion at the autoshow. discount so kaw kaw..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Sabri on Mar 20, 2025 at 10:04 am

    soon bmw and mercedes gulung tikar too ok?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
  • Reader on Mar 20, 2025 at 2:38 pm

    Those registered units must be test drive / management cars. Just wonder what will happen to their plant in N9?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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