Lordstown Motors Corp., the Ohio-based EV startup, has said it will delay the release of its upcoming – and first – vehicle, the Endurance pickup, until the third quarter of next year.
Originally, the Endurance was set to debut next summer, but the company has cited issues such as materials and part shortages and problems with supply chains as the reason for the decision. The Endurance was originally set for production more than a year ago, but has suffered through various delays. The company said it has started assembling pre-production models for testing and evaluation purposes.
Lordstown Endurance
“This is a modest delay from earlier expectations as component and material shortages, along with other supply chain challenges, remain an issue for Lordstown Motors just as they are for the industry at large,” Lordstown CEO Dan Ninivaggi said in the company’s third-quarter financial results release.
In September, the company sold its factory to Foxconn, which makes iPhones, for US$230 million; it’s part of a larger deal where Foxconn will build the EV pickups. Lordstown also announced a memorandum of understanding with Cox Automotive, where that company will provide fleet customer service and support for Lordstown’s EVs.
Lordstown is no stranger to controversy and money issues; it is currently under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission due to irregularities around plans to take the company public earlier this year, and its founder and former CEO Steve Burns subsequently resigned.
