Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
InsideEVs
InsideEVs
Business

Bankrupt Lordstown Preps For Legal Battle Against Karma Auto

Ohio-based automaker Lordstown Motors Corp. never maintained a solid footing in the electric pickup truck market. While other automakers like Rivian and Ford were able to produce and sell comparably substantial volumes of electric trucks, Lordstown sold three electric trucks in 2022 alone. To say the least, Lordstown was in a perpetual state of "production hell."

The pickup truck manufacturer succumbed to these struggles by filing for bankruptcy in June of this year. Soon after, Lordstown asked a United States bankruptcy judge to expedite its bidding procedures, giving the automaker a chance to offload its property as soon as this September. 

However, the judge denied the request as California's court is considering proceeding with a lawsuit from another EV startup. Irvine-based luxury EV manufacturer Karma Automotive sued LMC in 2020. In the complaint, the plaintiff (Karma Automotive) wrote that Lordstown "stole its ideas and employees in order to save money."

Delaware's Mary Walrath, the bankruptcy judge involved, questioned the true ownership of the IP and assets Lordstown would be selling. "The critical issue, in this case, is whether the debtors own the property that they want to sell," Walrath said, as reported by Reuters

While Lordstown is officially bankrupt, its Endurance truck wasn't all too bad on paper. It offered 550 horsepower, delivered through four in-wheel motors. The Endurance could accelerate to sixty in 6.3 seconds and tow 8,000 pounds. However, its Achilles heel was an uncompetitive price tag of $65,060 and a limited EPA range of 174 miles. Seeing an Endurance on the road in the future will likely be a rare sight.

Gallery: 2023 Lordstown Endurance

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.