Lordstown Motors to Start Building Beta Models Next Month

LORDSTOWN, Ohio — With its latest round commercial, operational and strategic development updates, Lordstown Motors Corp. announced Thursday that it’s on track to start production of the Endurance all-electric pickup truck in February.

“We are hard at work in the factory preparing to begin beta builds in the coming weeks,” said Steve Burns, Lordstown Motors CEO. “With this step on the horizon, we remain on track to meet our September start-of-production timeline while continuing to see indicators of strong demand for an all-wheel drive, full-size electric pickup truck with 250 miles of range from commercial, government and military fleets.”

Among the latest developments, Lordstown Motors has initiated the metal stamping and welding for the first 57 Endurance beta prototypes, with the first trucks expected to be completed in March. The beta prototypes will be used for crash, engineering and validation testing, according to a company release.

Some of the beta prototypes will be sent to some initial customers for their feedback. The Endurance has already achieved a five-star crash rating via software crash simulation, according to the company.

Lordstown Motors has also added to its long-term, high-quality battery cell supply chain with a multi-year supplier agreement with LG Energy Solution, the battery division of LG Chem.

In addition to the newly opened service center in Irvine, Calif., Lordstown Motors is continuing to review its plans to leverage Camping World’s extensive footprint and service expertise to provide nationwide service coverage for the Endurance and follow-on products, according to the release. The center in Irvine currently employs 23.

The automaker is also developing an electric van based on the Endurance platform. Plans for the van will be unveiled in June with production starting in the second half of 2022. An initial use case for the van will be as the world’s first production all-electric RV, produced in partnership with Camping World, and will utilize Lordstown Motor’s hub motors to achieve all-wheel drive and low ground clearance with class-leading range, the company announced.

The company has also been added to the United State General Services Administration listing, taking the first step toward being able to sell to government fleets. Lordstown Motors has started reaching out to state and local government entities, including the military.

Completion of the first stage of the company’s renovation of the 800,000-square-foot propulsion lines at its Lordstown plant is expected in time for the planned start of Endurance production this year, according to the release.

Currently, Lordstown Motors employs 343 full time, including 171 at its headquarters in Lordstown, 131 engineers at the satellite research and development center in Farmington Hills, Mich. and 18 remote workers. By the end of 2021, the company looks to increase employment to up to 1,000. Those interested in applying for jobs can click HERE.

The company looks to announce its full year 2020 financial results and hold its first earnings call in March.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.