Steve Burns | Dec 19, 2019
Welcome to the first post of the Lordstown Motors CEO blog. I thought this might be a great way to keep you up to date on our firm, our mission, and our vehicle(s). We are very excited about the work we are doing and appreciate your interest and your support. Time permitting, I’d like to update this blog every couple of weeks.
Our Company:
We are a new private company that has been formed by seasoned automotive executives for the purpose of designing and manufacturing 100 percent electric trucks for commercial use. Our management team halls from the likes of Tesla, Workhorse, Karma, GM, Toyota, VW, and Formula 1 Racing.
In addition to the intense engineering effort required to bring the world’s first electric full-size pickup truck to market, we have also purchased the former Lordstown, Ohio Manufacturing Complex from GM. We know that when GM closed the plant, it was extremely difficult on the workers and the region. However, I want to make sure that I say GM went above and beyond to sell the plant to a firm that would keep automotive manufacturing in the region and also to keep the plant equipment intact so that we could get our vehicle to market as soon as possible. Our goal is to be in production at the end of 2020.
We are a new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). As a result, we have to crawl, then walk, before we’re running. But, I want to say to all of the workers in the entire Lordstown region—we want you and we need you. Our long-term goal is to produce 500,000 vehicles per year running three shifts per day. Lordstown is not just a plant for us: it is our headquarters. As a result, decisions about the plant will not be made in a distant office building: For the first time in Lordstown history, those decisions will be made in Lordstown.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge all of the help and encouragement we have received from regional and state leaders. Quite remarkable. Also, President Jim Tressel and YSU have been instrumental in getting us to this point and will be a great engineering resource for us for years to come.
Our mission:
Build the most cost-effective, safest, zero emission work trucks ever made.
Our Vehicle:
Our first vehicle is the Endurance™ Electric Pickup Truck.
I ride with Lordstown,
Steve Burns