Nikola Corp.’s plan to sell its business in bankruptcy is complicated by the federal government’s expected retreat from policies and incentives that were meant to boost electric-vehicle sales.

Nikola said Wednesday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and would pursue a sale of all or most of its assets, after grappling with rapid cash burn and struggling to raise funds in the past few quarters.

Nikola, an EV startup once valued higher than Ford, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the wake of a high-profile scandal and a recall that rocked the company to its core, Nikola says it only has about $47 million in cash on hand.