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Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
Nikola announced Monday that executive chairman Trevor Milton, who is also the company's founder, is out as the electric and fuel cell truck startup reportedly faces federal inquiries into a short-seller's allegations of inaccurate or misleading statements.
Why it matters: It's the latest move in a head-spinning series of events for Nikola.
The big picture: Nikola's value soared after going public in June, and GM took an 11% stake earlier this month and agreed to build its planned Badger pickup and supply tech for that vehicle and other planned semi-trucks.
- Just days later, Hindenburg Research, which is shorting Nikola, issued a scathing report calling it an "intricate fraud" based on "lies" by Milton. He has disputed the claims.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York are both reportedly looking into the claims.
Details: Milton, in a statement, said "the focus should be on the company and its world-changing mission, not me."
- Stephen Girsky, a former GM executive already on Nikola's board, is taking over as board chairman immediately.
- Nikola's stock was down roughly 24% in pre-market trading.