Foxconn has completed the purchase of Lordstown’s plant in Ohio and will now turn the facility into an “important electric vehicle manufacturing hub in North America.” The deal was originally announced last year and its completion means that approximately four hundred Lordstown Motors employees will now be working for Foxconn. Furthermore, Foxconn and Lordstown announced the signing of new contract manufacturing and joint venture agreements for product development. Foxconn will be investing US$ 55 (£ 45 / € 53) million into the new joint venture and will hold a 55% majority stake.
Under the terms of the agreement, Foxconn
and Lordstown will use the “Mobility in Harmony (MIH) Open EV Platform to
co-design and develop vehicle programs for the global commercial vehicle
market.” The companies will also work together to bring the Endurance pickup to
market.
Since everyone loves a little three-way
action, Fisker announced the electric Pear will be built at Foxconn’s newly
acquired plant in Ohio. Production is slated to begin in 2024 and the companies
are expecting to build a minimum of 250,000 units annually after an initial
ramp up period. The Pear is slated to cost less than US$ 29,900 before incentives,
and the model has been designed and engineered for “rapid, simplified
manufacturing.” The vehicle will ride on a new architecture, which will also be
used to underpin two additional vehicles.
Little is known about the Pear at this
point, but Fisker used the announcement to release a new teaser image. As you
can see, it follows in the footsteps of the Ocean, but adopts a distinctive
“wraparound front windscreen inspired by a glider plane glass canopy.” We can
also see a curved A-pillar, pronounced wheel arches, and flush-mounted door
handles. They’re joined by pixilated lighting accents, an angular shoulder
line, and massive wheels.
