GM Sells Lordstown Plant to EV Startup Lordstown Motors

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

General Motors' Lordstown Plant is a massive facility, sprawling roughly 905 acres and measuring in at 6.2 million square feet. Since 1966, the plant has acted as a vehicle assembly plant, a paint shop, a metal center facility, and a body shop for GM. More recently, it was the location for the production of the Chevrolet Cruze sedan. With the Cruze out of production, GM doesn't have any purpose for the Lordstown Plant and has officially sold it to electric-vehicle startup Lordstown Motors, reports The Detroit News.

Startup Lordstown Motors Takes Over
 
While details of the purchase have not been made public yet, Lordstown Motors recently took over the complex. As the outlet claims, the takeover of GM's old plant opens the door for the startup to start building vehicles. The first of which will reportedly be a commercial electric pickup truck that will be called the Endurance.
 
After 53 years of seeing Chevrolets roll out of the facility, locals will have to prepare themselves to start seeing different cars be produced in the factory. Apparently, the outlet states that locals are looking to get behind the new startup since it's a way to ensure the city remains a part of the automotive industry.
 
"Lordstown Motors, along with GM's planned battery factory in the area and other start-ups, are positioning Northeast Ohio as a hub for technology, which completely reshapes the future trajectory of the whole Mahoning Valley," said Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel in a statement. "Think of being in the epicenter of EV technology. We must take change of our future."
 
GM used the Lordstown Plant to build vehicles with internal combustion engines, more recently the Cruze and the Chevrolet Cobalt before that. Instead, Lordstown Motors will now be looking to make the plant "an electric epicenter of the Midwest," claims company CEO and founder Steve Burns. In addition, to making cars in the factory, he's hoping to see some electric-vehicle suppliers move into the plant, as well.

Commercials EVs Are Coming
 
For Lordstown Motors, commercial vehicles are its immediate concern. The EVs the startup makes will go to commercial customers, which include municipalities and utility companies, claims The Detroit News. A full-size pickup truck will be first, while a smaller midsize pickup will come after. Then, the plan is to introduce an industrial utility vehicle, whatever that may be. Production of the first pickup truck will begin toward the end of 2020.
 
Complicating the sale a bit is the fact that Workhorse, a Cincinnati-based electric-vehicle startup, owns 10 percent of Lordstown Motors. Workhorse, as the outlet states, will use electric-drive technology from Workhorse for its own electric vehicles. The two startups will even share workloads, as Workhorse is expected to transfer 6,000 pre-orders for its W-15 electric pickup to Lordstown Motors.
 
"We expect to do a lot with Workhorse just as sister companies," said Burns, who also formed Workhorse.
 
Seeing such a historic and massive facility get put to work such shortly after being shut down is a good sign for individuals and workers in the area. Also, Lordstown Motors is getting a large area that can be put to good use.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods