This most recent layoff comes after Carvana’s stock plummeted yet again, bringing its overall total down 97% this year alone. Though sales were robust during the pandemic, interest rates have risen, and with fears of an economic shutdown, consumers aren’t as focused on buying vehicles at present.
The layoffs came via an internal email message from Carvana’s CEO Ernie Garcia which was titled “Today is a hard day.” He cited higher finance rates and delayed car purchases as part of the reason for the layoffs and added that the company had “failed to accurately predict how this would all play out and the impact it would have on our business.” Also, in the email, Garcia talked about how the world had continued to get tougher, and that painful choices had to be made to adapt.
The company’s problems have escalated since its rapid growth last year, and now, with $6.3 billion in debt and its stock price dropping like hail, it’s uncertain as to whether Carvana can recover from this freefall. It’s something to take note of if you’re in the market for a car as fewer people on the job can affect everything from customer service to financing.