I know it's petty but literally the fact that it was named Nikola was reason enough for anyone to think they're shady or uninspired or a straight up scam. I would be equally skeptical about wannabe Apple competitors named Banana or Dragonfruit, or a Microsoft competitor named Megahard, or a Burger King competitor named Hamburger Aristocrat. If the best someone can come up with for their own name is a joke pointed at their primary competitor, it does not inspire confidence.