Photo: Lordstown Motors
Electric startup Lordstown Motors bought the Lordstown assembly plant near Youngstown, Ohio from General Motors last year, and CEO Steve Burns is looking forward to getting to work on it as soon as possible.
Though it currently employs about 70 people (and the majority of them engineers), Lordstown Motors has big plans. They include hiring another 600 people in a first move and ultimately delivering the first-ever electric pickup truck – and a serious rival to gas-powered counterparts. Meet the Endurance.
Announced a while back, it’s yet to be revealed in the flesh. This should have happened at the now-canceled Detroit Auto Show, with Burns saying it will happen online in late June.
Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, Burns says that Lordstown will produce about 20,000 Endurance pickups in 2021, with the first 30 pre-production examples completed by the end of this year. The plant has a capacity of about 600,000 vehicles a year, and this is the company’s ultimate goal, which they will achieve by introducing a midsize pickup and an SUV after the Endurance.
There is increased demand for an electric pickup truck, Burns explains in the interview. Even though they’re yet to reveal the Endurance, they’ve already gotten about 1,000 pre-orders for it. Once it is revealed to the public, Burns believes that figure will rise to 20,000, which happens to be the number of units that will be produced. Lordstown will “dominate the all-electric pickup market segment” in the following years, Burns says.
With prices starting at $52,500, Endurance will have 600 HP and all-wheel drive, with a towing capacity 6,000 lbs (2,721 kg) and an estimated range of about 250 miles (402 km). It will be able to go 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 5.5 seconds, and will be overall more powerful, faster and more reliable than an ICE truck.
“We’re not coming out with a 10% better pickup truck, we’re coming out with a 500% better pickup truck and it’s safer, it’s quieter and it’s fun to drive and it costs less to own,” Burns says. “We expect it to be extremely rough and rugged, but it’s silent and fast. It’s strong enough to tow, but if you’re not towing it’s very fast.”
Within a year of deliveries for Endurance, Lordstown will start production on an SUV, followed by a midsize pickup.
Announced a while back, it’s yet to be revealed in the flesh. This should have happened at the now-canceled Detroit Auto Show, with Burns saying it will happen online in late June.
Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, Burns says that Lordstown will produce about 20,000 Endurance pickups in 2021, with the first 30 pre-production examples completed by the end of this year. The plant has a capacity of about 600,000 vehicles a year, and this is the company’s ultimate goal, which they will achieve by introducing a midsize pickup and an SUV after the Endurance.
There is increased demand for an electric pickup truck, Burns explains in the interview. Even though they’re yet to reveal the Endurance, they’ve already gotten about 1,000 pre-orders for it. Once it is revealed to the public, Burns believes that figure will rise to 20,000, which happens to be the number of units that will be produced. Lordstown will “dominate the all-electric pickup market segment” in the following years, Burns says.
With prices starting at $52,500, Endurance will have 600 HP and all-wheel drive, with a towing capacity 6,000 lbs (2,721 kg) and an estimated range of about 250 miles (402 km). It will be able to go 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 5.5 seconds, and will be overall more powerful, faster and more reliable than an ICE truck.
“We’re not coming out with a 10% better pickup truck, we’re coming out with a 500% better pickup truck and it’s safer, it’s quieter and it’s fun to drive and it costs less to own,” Burns says. “We expect it to be extremely rough and rugged, but it’s silent and fast. It’s strong enough to tow, but if you’re not towing it’s very fast.”
Within a year of deliveries for Endurance, Lordstown will start production on an SUV, followed by a midsize pickup.
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