Lordstown Motors preps Ohio factory to build Betas

Lordstown Motors Corp., Lordstown, Ohio, a producer of electric light-duty trucks for commercial fleets, has taken several actions to prepare for production of the Endurance all-electric full-size pickup truck.

“We are hard at work in the factory preparing to begin Beta builds in the coming weeks,” remarked Steve Burns, CEO. “With this step on the horizon, we remain on track to meet our September start-of-production timeline….”

The automaker has initiated metal stamping and welding for the first 57 prototypes and expects to complete the first Beta vehicles on schedule in March. The Beta series prototypes will be used for crash, engineering, and validation testing.

In addition, Lordstown Motors has signed a multiyear supplier agreement with LG Energy Solution, a provider of battery cell technology, to broaden its battery cell supply chain.

The automaker also has been added to the U.S. General Services Administration listing, the first step toward being able to sell to government fleets. And construction continues on an 800,000-sq.-ft. propulsion renovation at the company’s Ohio headquarters.