Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549 

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20212022

 

OR

 

 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ________ to__________

 

Commission file number: 001-40867

 

Volcon, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware 84-4882689

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2590 Oakmont Drive3121 Eagles Nest Street, Suite 520120, Round Rock, TX 78665
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(512) 400-4271

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each classTrading symbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common StockVLCNThe NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes    No 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes   No 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large Accelerated Filer Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer Smaller Reporting Company
 Emerging Growth Company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  

 

As of June 30, 2021, the last business dayMarch 3, 2023, there were 24,613,234 outstanding shares of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, there was no established public market for the registrant’sour common stock. The registrant’s common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market on October 8, 2021. The aggregate market value of the registrant’sshares of common stock held by non-affiliates as of the registrantJune 30, 2022 was $110,896,15031,722,297 based on the closing sale price on December 31, 2021 as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market.

As of March 21, 2022, there were 24,055,672 outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement related to its 20222023 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting to be filed subsequently are incorporated by reference into Part II of this Form 10-K. Except as expressly incorporated by reference, the registrant’s proxy statement shall not be deemed to be part of this report.

 

   

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
PART I 
Item 1.  Business1
Item 1A.Risk Factors68
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments22
Item 2.Properties17
Item 2.Properties1722
Item 3.Legal Proceedings1722
Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures1722
PART II  
Item 5Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities1823
Item 6.[Reserved]1923
Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations2023
Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk2530
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data2531
Item 9.Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure4758
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures4758
Item 9B.Other Information4758
Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections4758
PART III 
Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance4859
Item 11.Executive Compensation4859
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters4859
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence4860
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services4860
PART IV 
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules4961
Item 16.Form 10-K Summary4961
Index to Exhibits5062
Signatures5164

 

 

 i 

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-K, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by our company, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions.

 

In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.

 

While we believe we have identified material risks, these risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Form 10-K describe additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

 

Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10-K to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and we do not intend to do so.

 

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

·our ability to generate revenues from sales or obtain additional funding to produce, market and sell our vehicles and develop new products;
·our ability to successfully implement and effectively manage our outsourced manufacturing, design and development model and achieve any anticipated benefits;
·our ability to maintain compliance with the covenants in our debt obligations;
·the ability of third-party manufacturers to produce our vehicles in accordance with our design and quality specifications, with sufficient scale and quality to satisfy customers;customers and within a reasonable cost;
·whether we experience delays inanticipated timing for the manufacture, design, development, production, shipping and launch of our vehicles;
·the inability of our suppliers to deliver the necessary components to our third-party manufacturers for our vehicles at prices and volumes acceptable to us;our third-party manufacturers;
·our ability to establish a network of dealers and international distributors to sell and service our vehicles.vehicles;
·whether our vehicles failing towill perform as expected;
·our facing product warranty claims or product recalls;
·our facing adverse determinations in significant product liability claims;
·customers not adoptingcustomer adoption of electric vehicles;
·impact of negative consumer confidence due to inflation, increasing interest rates, and recession;
·the development of alternative technology that adversely affects our business;
·the impact of COVID-19 on our business;
·increased government regulation of our industry;
·tariffs and currency exchange rates; and
·the conflict with Russia and the Ukraine and the potential adverse affecteffect it may have on the availability of materials used in batteries for our vehicles.

 

 

 ii 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are an all-electric, off-road powersports vehicle company developing and building electric twomotorcycles and four-wheel motorcycles and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), also known as side-by-sides, along with a complete line of upgrades and accessories. In October 2020, we began building and testing prototypes for our future offerings with two off-road motorcycles – the Grunt and the Runt. Our motorcycles feature unique frame designs protected by design patents. Additional utility and design patents have been filed for other aspects of Volcon’s vehicles.

 

We initially began to sell and distribute the Grunt and related accessories in the U.S. on a direct-to-consumer sales platform. We terminated our direct-to-consumer sales platform in November 2021. Prior to the termination of our direct-to-consumer sales platform, U.S. customers made deposits for 360 Grunts (net of cancellations), and five Runts, plus accessories and a delivery fee representing total deposits of $2.2 million. These orders arewere cancelable by the customer until the vehicle iswas delivered and after a 14-day acceptance period, therefore the deposits have beenwere recorded as deferred revenue. Based onAs of June 30, 2022, we had completed shipping of all Grunts sold through our current production capacity, we believe we will deliver all the Grunts that have previously been ordered by customers during the early part of the second quarter of 2022.direct-to-consumer sales platform. Due to delays in developing the Runt, we refunded the deposits made for all Runts that were previously ordered by customers.

We are continuing to evaluate development on the Runt including the selection of a supplier, and whether we can produce the Runt at a cost that meets our profit targets. If we cannot produce the Runt at an acceptable profit margin, we will cease development efforts on this product. We expect to determine in the first half of 2022 whether we will finalize the development, production and sale of the Runt.

Also in 2022, we expect to expand our offerings with the introduction of the Volcon Stag UTV, which we anticipate will be available for delivery in the second half of 2023, followed by the introduction of a higher performance, longer range UTV (to be named) which we expect to begin delivering in 2024.Runts.

 

Beginning in November 2021, we began negotiating dealership agreements with powersports dealers to display and sell our vehicles and accessories. Customers can now, or will soon be able to, buy our vehicles and accessories directly from a local dealership. Some of these dealers will also provide warranty and repair services to customers. Through December 31, 2021,2022, we have entered into 33151 dealership agreements covering 13 states. Each dealer has agreed to initially order 2 Grunts. We expect that once we have increased manufacturing capacity that dealers will be able to order in higher quantities to support their customer demand.agreements. We also expect to be able to offer the dealers a financing option, or “floor plan” to make higherlarger purchases of our vehicles but we do not currently have this financing option available. We have an agreementagreements with a third-party financing companycompanies to provide financing to qualified customers of each dealer. There is no recourse to the Company or the dealer if the dealer’s customer defaults on the financing agreement with this third-party.

 

We anticipateAs of December 31 , 2022, we have signed agreements with five importers in Latin America and one importer for the Caribbean Region, collectively referred to herein as the LATAM importers to sell our vehicles and accessories in their assigned countries/markets. In June 2022 we signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Torrot Electric Europa S.A., referred to herein as Torrot, to distribute their electric motorcycles for youth riders in Latin America. We will use our LATAM importers to sell Torrot’s products in Latin America.

In October 2022, we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to also be the exclusive distributor of Torrot and Volcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in the United States as well as Latin America. This agreement supersedes the original Torrot agreement and once all Torrot branded inventory is sold, globallywe will no longer distribute Torrot branded motorcycles. Finally, in a three-phase rolloutDecember 2022 we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to be the exclusive distributor of export sales– Latin AmericaVolcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in Canada.

We expect to expand our global sales of our vehicles and accessories beyond our current LATAM importer base. We expect to sign more LATAM importers started in 2021,2023 and expect to begin selling in Canada, and Europe expected in 2022 and Australia expected in 2023. Certain countries will require that vehicles be homologated to meet their vehicle standards which may cause a delay in, or impact our ability, toWe expect export products in these expected timelines. Export sales are expected to be executed throughwith individual importers in each country that purchase vehicles from us by the container.buy a container of vehicles. Each importer is expected towill sell vehicles and accessories to local dealers or directly to customers. Local dealers are intended towill provide warranty and repair services for vehicles purchased withinin their markets.country.

 

As of December 31, 2021, we have received orders from Latin America importers for 92 Grunts and we have shipped 24 of these units. Payment for these orders is due prior to shipment and are cancelable until shipped. Based on our current production capacity, we believe we will be able to fulfill all pending orders by the April 2022.

 

 

 1 

 

In July 2022, we expanded our offerings with the introduction of the first of our Volcon UTV models, the Stag, which we anticipate will be available for delivery to customers possibly in the first half of 2023, followed by additional models of the Stag expected in 2024 and 2025, and the introduction of a higher performance, longer range UTV (to be named) which timing for release is yet to be determined. The estimated fulfillment of all orders thatStag will be manufactured by a third-party and incorporate electrification units, which include batteries, drive units and control modules provided by General Motors. Beginning in June 2022 we have received as of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K assumes we are successfully able to increase our production capacity in the future, of which there is no assurance. We only recently commenced assembling the Grunt and we may encounter delays or setbacks as we increase production. In addition, we will need to obtain parts sufficient to build the quantity of Grunts needed to fulfilltaken non-binding pre-production orders some of which are manufactured in Asia, where manufacturing lead times and shipping delays have occurred and continuecancelable prior to occur. If we are unable to satisfy pending orders on a timely basis, customers may cancel their orders.

We are currently evaluating third-party vendors to identify second source suppliers to ensure supply chain continuity as well as to reduce the cost of parts, yet still retain the quality that is important to us and our customers. We currently estimate that we will be able to reduce parts cost and improve our assembly process where we will be able to sell the Grunt profitably by the second half of 2022.delivery.

 

We are assemblingThrough August 2022 we assembled the Grunt in a leased production facility in Round Rock, Texas. In August 2022, we announced that we will outsource the manufacturing of the Grunt to a third-party manufacturer, which we anticipate will reduce costs and improve profitability on the Grunt. We have entered into a lease for a built-to-suitbegan receiving Grunts from this manufacturer in January 2023. We also outsourced the manufacturing facility on 53 acres in Liberty Hill, Texas, 25 miles northwest of downtown Austin, from an entity controlled by our founders. We are currently evaluating a modificationthe 2023 Grunt EVO to the lease to expandsame third-party manufacturer. The 2023 Grunt EVO will replace the facilityGrunt and has a belt drive rather than a chain drive as well as an updated rear suspension and new, more ergonomic seat. We received prototypes of the available acreage. If we signGrunt EVO from the modification, wemanufacturer in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to begin production ofselling the Stag, and possibly other vehicles, at this facilityGrunt EVO in the second halfquarter of 2023.

In September 2022, we reduced our headcount in our product development and administration departments as we outsourced the design and development of certain components of our vehicle development. We are also evaluating other manufacturing optionshired our Chief Marketing Officer and expect to hire additional sales and marketing employees and increase marketing activities to further support our brand and products.

We began taking pre-orders for a Class 2 eBike, the Stag includingBrat, in September 2022 and shipments to customers began in the possibilityfourth quarter of outsourcing2022. In February 2023, we began selling the productionBrat directly to consumers through our website. The Brat is being manufactured by a third-party.

In November 2022, we finalized an agreement for a third-party manufacturer.to manufacture the Runt. We received prototypes of the Runt in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to begin sales in the second quarter of 2023.

 

The estimated fulfillment of all orders we have received to date assumes that our third-party manufacturers can successfully meet our order quantities and deadlines. If they are unable to satisfy orders on a timely basis, our customers may cancel their orders.

Our Industry

 

TheThe powersports industry is made up of on-road and off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)scooters, ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), UTVs, personal watercraft, snow machines,PWC (personal watercraft) and portable generators. We are focusing solely on off-road motorcycles and UTVs. snowmobiles. The ATV market, in which a single rider sits on top of a four-wheeled vehicle (as opposed to sitting inside a UTV), is not a market we currently intend to pursue but will continue to evaluate our lineup of vehicles in the future. We have also developed an electric bicycle, or eBike, the Brat, primarily designed for on-road use but can also be ridden off-road.

 

TheWhile we are focusing solely on off-road powersports industry has grown steadilyfor our motorcycles and UTVs, we are evaluating requirements in countries such as Canada, where our vehicles will need to be homologated for on-road and off-road use in order to sell them there. We are also considering homologation kits that customers could purchase to allow them to use our vehicles both on-road and off-road depending on an annual basis since the recession of 2008. Off-road new unit sales have grown 46.5% over 2019. We believe this growth has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as more consumers seek safe, outdoor recreation. federal, state and local government rules and regulations.

 

Outdoor recreation is a major driver of the American economy. In 2019,2021, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, (BEA)or the BEA, found that outdoor recreation drives $788$454 billion of economic activity in America.the current-dollar gross domestic product for the U.S. The bureauBEA noted that twomotorcycles and four-wheel powersportsATVs make up $39$8.1 billion of that total–the fourth largest total, of all outdoor recreation activities.which does not include UTVs.

 

Prior

2

According to Stratview Research – Powersports Market Research Report, the powersports industry grew by 10% in terms of units in 2020, its highest growth rate ever achieved. The long-term outlook for growth and demand for powersports, according to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand forreport, especially off-road vehicles, or ORVs, and power watercraft, or PWCs is positive. The Stratview Research report estimates the powersports grew steadily year-over-year. Whenmarket to grow at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 5.7% during 2022 to 2027 to reach a value of

$47.9 billion by 2027.

According to a report by Allied Market Research, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, that growth accelerated rapidly. Year-over-year growth forglobal ATV and UTV market was valued at $7.6 billion in 2017, and is projected to reach $11.95 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 6.7% from 2020 to 2027.

According to Market Reports World, global off-road motorcycling, despite a short contraction in March and Aprilmotorcycles market size is estimated to grow at CAGR of 2020, has risen 46.5%.almost 8% with new vehicle sales of 124,950 units during the forecast period 2022 to 2027.

According to the PowerSports Business 2022 Market Data Book:

·In the U.S., UTV sales were slightly less than 600,000 units in 2021, according to leading industry research firm Power Products Marketing. New motorcycle sales in 2021, meanwhile, were at 557,000 units, revealing that more new UTVs were sold at retail in 2021 than new motorcycles.
·Inventory turns remain strong at powersports dealerships. According to dealership feedback, turnover of new unit inventory in 2021 at dealerships was 7.5 turns on average. Similarly, new unit gross margin percentage at the dealership level was 17.4% on average during 2021.
·Accessory sales for UTVs continue to skyrocket, with consumers on average purchasing $918 worth of accessories at the time of the new UTV purchase in 2021, Lightspeed data shows.
·According to S&P Global Mobility, 2021 new and used UTV registrations reached 334,000, compared to 351,000 in 2020, showing continued post-pandemic strength in the segment.

 

While the post-COVID pandemic our industrygrowth rates may not experience such steady growth,be this steep, and inflationary pressures and any possible recession may impact demand, we believe the new culture of escape and outdoor activities will continue to drive off-road powersports recreation. While aWe believe there are very few all-electric off-road powersports companies, and traditional powersports companies makehave only recently started making electric products, we believe there are currently no all-electric off-road powersports companies. As such,so significant data on off-road electric vehicle market data is limited.vehicles does not exist yet.

 

Our Products

 

We will feature motorcycle and UTV products that are all-electric and primarily designed for off-road use only.use. The off-road market is growing faster than on-road and on-road products require costly levels of certification, homologation and compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other government regulators. As such,For our motorcycles and UTVs, we are solely focusing on developing them for the off-road market. Due to these regulations, our vehiclesmotorcycles and UTVs are not legal for on-road use.use without homologation by customers who may be able to purchase parts or kits from other third-parties. All vehicles other than the Brat will come with a warning label stating “This vehicle is designed and manufactured for off roadoff-road use only. It does not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standards and operation on public streets, roads, or highways is illegal”, and therefore our vehicles cannot be legally registered for on-road use in any state in the U.S and in many countries.countries without the customer homologating the vehicle. In addition to powersports vehicles, we will source, market and sell a complete line ofaccessories and upgrades and continue to source new accessories and upgrades. These do or will feature parts designed to increase performance or appearance, in addition to practical add-ons to equip Volcon vehicles for hunters, anglers, ranchers and farmers.

 

The Brat eBike is a Class 2 eBike designed for on-road and light off-road use.

 

 23 

 

The Grunt

 

Our first product to market, the Grunt, began shipping to customers in the third quarter of 2021. The Grunt is an electric off-road motorcycle with unique design features and capabilities.

  

The Grunt’s distinctiveframe, low seat height and oversize tires are designed to make it look like the fat tire bikes of the 1970s and ‘80s. These unique elements of the Grunt are not just for styling, but we believe they help make it easier to ride as compared to other off-road motorcycles on the market. The low seat height and large tires are designed to make the Grunt stable at all speeds on all surfaces in the off-road environment. The electric drivetrain has no clutch and no gears, making it easy for almost any customer to operate.

 

Although the Grunt and Runt can be used as delivered, we have developed an app, which can be downloaded at no additional cost, that we believe will enhance the riding experience. The Grunt has a small, optional, dash with limited data; however, the rider can use their smart phonessmartphones and the app (subject to the rider’s cellular connectivity) as a dashboard by mounting it on the handlebars. The app makes it easier for users to set ride modes, check battery status, and update the bike’s firmware.  In the future we plan to add a trip navigation feature to the app.

 

The Grunt is designed for family off-road adventures, work on the farm or fun transport around private land. Its range can be up to 35 miles (with an optional second battery that provides an additional 35 miles) in its “explore” mode setting and it can be completely charged in less than three hours from a standard wall outlet.

 

We are designing an upgraded Grunt, the 2023 Grunt EVO thatto replace the Grunt. The Grunt EVO will have a belt drive rather than a chain drive, an upgraded rear shock and rear suspension, and a new seat design and will be available in additionalthree different colors and have aftermarket accessory upgrades such as handlebars, grips, foot pegs and seats. The pricing for the 2023 Grunt EVO and accessories has not yet been determined.accessories. We expect the Grunt EVO to be available beginning in the fourth quarterfirst half of 2022.

We are also designing, and expect to introduce, the 2023 Grunt LE in the first quarter of 2023 which, like the Grunt EVO, will have a belt drive, but will also have a larger, integrated battery, black frame and additional color schemes along with other aftermarket upgrades. Pricing for the Grunt LE and related accessories have not yet determined. In addition, we are evaluating an additional model, 2023 Grunt XL (Hunt/Fish edition), and the features and release of this model has not been determined but would be focused on features attractive to hunters and anglers.2023.

 

The Runt

 

We are continuing to evaluate development onIn the Runt including the selectionsecond quarter of a supplier, and whether we can produce the Runt at a cost that meets our profit targets. If we cannot produce the Runt at an acceptable profit margin, we will cease development of this product. We expect to determine in the first half of 2022 whether we will finalize the development, production and sale of the Runt. If we conclude that we will complete the development and production of the Runt, we anticipate that2023, the 2023 Volcon Runt willLT is also expected to be available to the market. The Runt LT, which is a smaller version of the groundbreaking Grunt, is better suited for salesmall statured riders, more compact properties and trails, or as a pit bike at race events, while still delivering robust off-road capabilities. Unlike the Grunt, the Runt LT will only have a display to show the rider certain aspects of the vehicle such as speed, battery charge and mode. The app will not be available in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The current designinitial version of the Runt likeLT, but could be developed for future models.

Like the Grunt, includesthe Runt LT’s large tires and low-slung chassis will make it easier to ride than traditional off-road motorcycles. Due to its smaller size, theThe Runt is intended for drivers from seven to 14-year-olds. The app developed for the Grunt is designed to be used with the Runt and allows the rider to monitor speed, battery charge and ride mode. We expect to develop additional features to the app thatLT will permit the parents of the minor Runt operator to login on their own phones to control the maximum acceleration and speed of the Runt and provide notifications of the minor Runt operator exceeding a certain speed or tipping over the bike can also be sent to the parents via text. The final features of the app could change as we continue our development of the Runt and features of the app. Based on the current design, the Runt is expected to have a range of up to 35 miles in its “explore” mode setting and charges in less than three hours from a standard wall outlet.

   

The Brat

 

InWe began taking pre-orders for the 2023 Volcon Brat eBike in September 2022 and shipments began in the fourth quarter of 2022, we expect to begin selling the 2023 Volcon Brat E-Bike.2022. Similar to the lineup of Volcon motorcycles, the Brat will havehas a low seat height, large tires, hydraulic front and rear disc brakes and will bebrakes. The Brat is a Class 2 E-BikeeBike capable of achieving 20 mph maximum speed from throttle assistance. Pricing forThe Volcon app will also work with the Brat provided the rider has not yet been determineddownloaded the app to their smartphone and this will be manufactured by a third-party.has cellular connectivity.

 

Volcon Kids

In October 2022, we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to sell Volcon and Torrot co-branded youth electric motorcycles in the United States as well as Latin America and in December 2022 we signed an agreement to also include Canada. The initial line up of these motorcycles are designed for youth riders from ages 4 to 11. The Kids One is designed for youth riders from ages 4 to 6 and the Kids Two is designed for riders ages 7 to 11. We began selling these motorcycles in January 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, we expect to launch a model designed for youth riders from ages 12 to 14.

 34 

 

Future ProductsThe Stag

 

In December 2021July 2022, we received the first prototype of the Volcon Stag, and we expect to publicly introduceintroduced a prototype of the StagStag. We began taking pre-production orders from dealers in June 2022 and consumers in July 2022. The consumer pre-production orders will be transferred to dealers located near the consumer, with delivery to customers expected in the secondfirst half of 2022, with delivery2023. Pre-orders of the first Stag modelare non-binding and cancelable prior to customers beginning in the second half of 2023.delivery. The Stag will be Volcon’s first utility/sport UTV with a 64” width to ensure it is able to operate in states with 65”-maximum-width trails.

The 2023 Stag is our first UTV model launched and will seat up to four people, with folding rear seats, a four point harness system, high performance shocks and tires, on demand all-wheel drive, variable power steering, and a full line of accessories.

We expect to introduce a lower performance version of the Stag with smaller tires and shocks but will still include features like on demand all-wheel drive, folding rear seats, a 3 point harness system and a full line of accessories. It will feature hauling and towing abilities for work on a farm or job site, but also fold-up seating for four so it can be used for weekend family adventures.

 

The 2023 Stag Trail LE, will be one of two Stag models initially launched in the second half of 2023, and will seat up to four people, with folding rear seats, a four point harness system, high performance shocks and tires, on demand all-wheel drive, variable power steering, a quick attach cargo system and a full line of accessories. The 2023 Stag Trail Base will be lower performance version of the Stag Trail LE with smaller tires and shocks but still include features like on demand all-wheel drive, a quick attach cargo system, folding rear seats, a 3 point harness system and a full line of accessories. The 2023 Stag Trail Base is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2023.

In the first quarter of 2024 weWe expect to launch the 2024 Stag Armageddon, a high performance model of the Stag designed for off roadoff-road racing. This model will include a larger motor and battery system, higher motor output, high performance shocks and tires, full time all-wheel drive, locking front and rear differentials, variable power steering and a full line of accessories.

 

We also expect to release the 2024 Stag Hunt in the first quarter of 2024. The Stag Hunt is beingother models such as one focused on features for hunters. This version would be designed for mountain terrain, forest roads and back acreage. Like the Stag Trail Base,lower performance version of the Stag, Huntwe believe this version will have smaller tires and shocks but will have higher payload and towing capacity than the Stag Trail LE or Stag Armageddon. Finally, in the fourth quarter of 2024 weStag. We also expect to launch the 2024 Stag Ranch, a utility version of the Stag that will have a configurable tilt flatbed system that will be designed for work on the ranch or jobsite.

The timing of the release of other models of the Stag noted above has not yet been determined.

 

We also expect to introduce a larger, longer range UTV (to be named) in late 2023,2025, which will be our flagshipthe largest, most powerful model in the Volcon line, with delivery to customers anticipated in the second half of 2024.line. We are designing this vehicle to have superior range and speed, but still be able to haul and tow far more than a traditional UTV.

 

Our ability to release new future products is dependent on the success of our current models and our ability to receive future financing of which there is no assurance.

 

Assembly and Manufacturing

We source

As of December 31, 2022, we have outsourced the parts formanufacturing of all of our vehicles from component manufacturers worldwide primarilyto third-parties. The Brat is manufactured by a supplier in China and the Grunt, Runt and Stag are or will be manufactured by a supplier in Mexico with some assembly completed in the United States, China and Southeast Asia. We do not have long-term supply agreements with our component suppliers. Although we currently rely onU.S. The Grunt EVO will be manufactured by a single-source for certain of our components, we believe theresupplier in the US. The Volcon Youth motorcycles are multiple sources for each of our critical components. We assemble the Gruntmanufactured by Torrot in a leased facility in Round Rock, Texas. We produced over 100 Grunts during 2021. We believe we can increase production to approximately 375 units per month by June 2022 and could produce up to 750 units per month when at full production capacity.Spain.

 

We provide a one-year warranty on the Grunt, Volcon Youth motorcycles and the Brat, and a two-year warranty on the battery pack and wesubject to a specified number of charging cycles. We expect the warranty for our other vehiclesmotorcycles will be consistent with the warranty on the Grunt.Grunt and Brat. We are currently developing the warranty for the Stag but expect that it will be consistent with the warranty of competitors’ UTVs currently in the market.

We accrue warranty reserves at the time a vehicle is delivered to the customer. Warranty reserves include our best estimate of the projected cost to repair or to replace any items under warranty, based on actual warranty experience as it becomes available and other known factors that may impact our evaluation of historical data. We review our reserves quarterly to ensure that our accruals are adequate in meeting expected future warranty obligations, and we will adjust our estimates as needed. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of revenues in the statement of operations. The portion of the warranty provision whichobligation is expected to be incurred within 12 months from the balance sheet date will be classified as a current while the remaining amount will be classified as long-term liabilities.liability on our balance sheet.  

 

We are currently evaluating suppliers to manufacture the Runt and the level of assembly that will be completed by the supplier and whether we will need to perform any assembly once it is shipped to us, should we determine that we will sell this product.

We have selected a supplier for the Brat and expect to receive protypes in the second quarter of 2022. The supplier will complete the assembly such that the Brat will be packaged and shipped where it can be delivered to dealers or Latin America distributors without any additional assembly required by us and minimal assembly required by the dealer or end customer.

 

 

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If we agree to the amendment of the lease for a facility and land in Liberty Hill, Texas, this facility will be used to assemble the Stag, and possibly other vehicles, beginning in the second quarter of 2023. We are also evaluating other options for facilities to manufacture the Stag including the possibility of outsourcing the manufacturing altogether to a third-party.

Sales and Marketing

 

Beginning in November 2021, we began negotiating dealership agreements with powersports dealers to display and sell our vehicles and accessories. Customers can now, or will soon be able to, buy our vehicles and accessories directly from a local dealership. Through December 31, 2021,2022, we have entered into 33151 dealership agreements covering 1334 states. We are currently negotiating additional dealership agreements with retail partners to display and sell our vehicles and accessories. Some of these dealers will also provide warranty and repair services to our customers.

 

We anticipate our vehicles and accessories will be sold globally in a three-phase rollout of export sales– Latin American importers started in 2021, Canada and Europe expected in 2022, and AustraliaCanada expected in 2023, subject to meeting each countries homologation requirements, if any. Export sales are expected to be executed through individual importers in each country that purchase vehicles from us by the container. Each importer is expected to sell vehicles to local dealers or directly to customers. Local dealers are intended to provide warranty and repair services for vehicles purchased within their markets.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Our success depends, at least in part, on our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property. To accomplish this, we currently rely on a combination of trade secrets, including know-how, employee and third-party nondisclosurenon-disclosure agreements, and other contractual rights to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our technology.

 

Our industrial designs are protected by design patents. In addition, we intend to file for additional utility patents. There is no assurance that we will be granted any such patents. We do not know whether any patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or whether the examination process will require us to narrow our claims. Even if granted, there can be no assurance that our issued patents or new patent applications will provide us with protection.

 

The names “Grunt” and “Runt”We have been granteda registration for the trademark rightsGRUNT in the United States. We have also applied for trademark rights for the “Volcon” brand nameto register additional marks – including VOLCON, VOLCON BRAT, VOLCON STAG, GRUNT EVO, EMPOWERING ADVENTURE, RUNT, and our logoSTAG - in the United States, Canada, and certain additional countries in Latin America. We haveAmerica, and many of these marks are now allowed or registered in some of these countries. While we previously received notice from two entities who have indicated they will protest the issuance of a trademarkopposed our applications for the Volcon nameVOLCON mark in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere due to the alleged similarity of Volconthe mark VOLCON to their trademarks, even though our productswe have resisted these efforts because we believe that the marks are different.not similar and there is no potential for confusion. We are working within the process of resolving these entities to obtain anmatters. We have obtained a coexistence agreement providing that our VolconVOLCON trademark can co-existcoexist with their trademarks.one party’s trademark. The other party’s opposition was unsuccessful. Our efforts to secure trademark registrations for VOLCON and other trademarks referenced above are ongoing and we may encounter resistance from other companies, though we have received no such notice from any other companies at this time. If we receive objections from other entities and are unsuccessful in obtaining agreementagreements or otherwise resolving the matters with these entities, we will need to consider the use of a different trademarktrademarks for our Company and our products.

 

Competition

 

There are dozens of manufacturers that sell off-road motorcycles, UTVs and UTVseBikes in the United States and even more globally. The markets for powersport vehicles and eBikes are highly competitive based on a number of factors, including innovation, performance, price, technology, product features, styling, fit and finish, brand recognition, quality and distribution. We believe our ability to compete successfully in these markets depends on our ability to capitalize on our competitive strengths and build brand recognition.

 

Many companies, which have greater financial and marketing resources than Volcon, make electric street motorcycles, including Zero Motorcycles. Some companies make electric UTVs as part of their product line. For example, Polaris has recently announced a joint venture with Zero Motorcycles to help them design dedicated electric UTVs, the first product of which was released in December 2021.2021; however, at the time of this filing, remains to be delivered to market. Many companies, like Super 73, make and sell eBikes and have a stronger established brand name and product line.

6

 

Government regulations

 

We have focused on the off-road-only portion of the market because it is free of many of the homologation issues and highway certifications required to produce and sell an on-road vehicle. In some states, off-road vehicles do have legislative restrictions, but they are related to noise and exhaust emissions, two things our vehicles do not produce. 

  

5

Federal, state, and local governments have promulgated and/or are considering promulgating laws and regulations relating to the safety of our products. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has federal oversight over product safety issues related to off-road vehicles.vehicles and eBikes. We believe that our products comply with all applicable CPSC safety standards as well as all other applicable safety standards in the United States.

 

The assembly, use, storage, transport and disposal of battery packs is subject to extensive regulation. Complying with these requirements involves substantial costs, and any failure to do so may result in heavy fines or other restrictions on our operations. Additionally, we may be responsible for the recycling and proper disposal of expended batteries from our vehicles. We may enter into agreements with third-parties to manage such recycling and disposal; however, we may be found liable for any failures in compliance by these third partiesthird-parties and subject to fines or remediation liabilities, which costs may be substantial.

 

We intend to sell and distribute our vehicles internationally through international distributors. As such, we will be subject to the local laws of each jurisdiction in which we sell our vehicles. These regulations may result in increased costs and expenses, which may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. 

 

Human Capital

 

Volcon Mission

People are at the core of our DNA. This is the driving principle that brings purpose and dedication to our most valuable asset, our employees. Our vision is to amplify the powersports experience for all. Our mission is to build industry-leadingindustry leading products that connect people to outdoor experiences through the intentional blending of leading technology and design. Our vision is to amplify the powersports experience for all. Our values are building the future of powersports, together. Everyonepowersports. Our employees recognized that everyone is someone’s customer, which is why our goal is for each employee at Volcon is to live by the Golden Rule.treat others as you would want to be treated.

 

Professional Employer Organization

We use aSince inception through December 31, 2022, we used professional employer organizationorganizations ("PEO"PEOs") to outsource our employee base, including processing of payroll and administration of benefits. Beginning January 1, 2023, we have discontinued the use of a PEO and have hired a third-party payroll processing service provider and a third-party administrator of benefits. As of March 15,December 31, 2022, in the U.S we have 7552 full-time employees under ourand one part-time employee and one full-time individual in Canada on a PEO arrangement, all of whom are located in the continental United States.arrangement. Currently, our employees have not chosen representation by a labor union. We also use an ongoing rotationoccasionally engage the services of approximately 15 contract workers to supplement our assembly operations and other positions within our organization, as needed. We also retain consultantsindependent contractors for certain positions.special projects.

 

Our employees and contractors focus on customer care, developing and manufacturing our products, and building our salesmarketing channels. Through our PEO, weWe believe we offer competitive benefits and training programs to develop employees’ expertise, performance, and engagement, while implementing corporate policies to provide a safe, harassment-free work environment. This work environment is guided by principles of fair and equal treatment and prioritizes effective communication and employee engagement.

 


Employee Engagement and Diversity

As a developing organization, we are committed to building a strong culture with high levels of employee engagement. We distribute a survey quarterly to all employeeshave completed surveys to evaluate employee satisfaction. This assessment provides employees with the ability to grade commitment to our mission and values. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset and are striving to consistently evaluate our progress in developing and maintaining engagement. Our first survey was conducted in the first quarter of 2022, and our survey results showed high levels of engagement with the overall score in the top quartile, which we believe is indicative of a positive engagement trajectory.

 

Volcon experiences a low employee turnover rate, less than 25% of our employee headcount as of December 31, 2021. A guiding value that influences hiring practices for Volcon is inclusivity. We believe our diverse human capital base is a testimony to the ongoing efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion within the hiring practices and demographics of Volcon employees.

 

 

 

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ITEM 1A

Risk FactorsRISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider each of the following risks, together with all other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and the related notes, in evaluating an investment in our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

 

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Operations, and Industry

 

Our losses from operations could continue to raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern requires that we obtain sufficient funding to finance our operations.

 

BasedTo date we have funded operations through equity and debt offerings. As of December 31, 2022, we have an accumulated deficit of $75.7 million.

In August 2022, we ceased manufacturing the Grunt motorcycle in Round Rock, Texas and have outsourced the manufacturing of the Grunt to a third-party in Mexico. Further, we have, or plan to, outsource the manufacturing of all our future vehicles to third-parties for the foreseeable future. We have also outsourced certain design and prototype services of its vehicles to third-parties. In September 2022, management reduced headcount and employee related costs in its product development and administrative departments to reduce operating costs.

Also in August 2022, we received net proceeds of approximately $22.3 million for the issuance of convertible notes due February 2024 and warrants (“Convertible Notes and Warrants”). The Convertible Notes require us to have unrestricted and unencumbered cash on deposit of $10,000,000 if the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Convertible Notes is $15,000,000 or greater as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The cash on deposit requirement is reduced dollar for dollar to the extent the outstanding principal of the Convertible Notes is less than $15,000,000 on each of these dates.

Management anticipates that our current operating plan, we docash on hand as of December 31, 2022 plus the cash expected to be generated from operations will not havebe sufficient existing cash and cash equivalents to fund ourplanned operations and maintain required cash balances for the twelve months followingConvertible Notes beyond one year from the filingdate of the December 31, 2021, financial statements. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph in its report on ourissuance of the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, stating2022. There can be no assurance that our recurring losses from operations since inception and requiredwe will not require additional funding to financesupport our operationsoperations. There can be no assurance that such additional funding, if needed, would be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. These factors raise substantial doubt aboutregarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Based on our current operating plan, we believe we will have sufficient funds for operations until September 2022. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funding, we could be forced to delay the rollout of our vehicles, and our financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected, and we may be unable to continue as a going concern. If we seek additional financing to fund our business activities in the future and there remains substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Additionally, any equity issuance to raise additional proceeds during the 12 months following our February 2022 public offering would require the consent of our underwriter from our February 2022 offering.
 

Our independent auditor registered public accounting firm has identifiedThe material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.reporting identified in our 2020 audit have not been remediated. If we are unable to remediate these material weaknesses or we or our auditor identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect our business and stock price.

 

In connection with the preparation and audit ofThe material weaknesses identified by our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, we identified material weaknessesindependent registered public accounting firm in our internal control over financial reporting.reporting in our 2020 audit have not been remediated as of December 31, 2022. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. These material weaknesses are as follows:

 

 ·Inadequate segregation of duties within account processes due to limited personnel
 ·Insufficient formal written policies and procedures for accounting, IT, financial reporting and record keeping

 

These material weaknesses were also identified

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In addition to hiring more finance and accounting personnel in connection with the preparation and audit2021 to improve our segregation of our consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2020. In 2021,duties, through 2022, we began efforts to remediatehave made further progress towards remediating these material weaknesses including hiring a chief financial officer, a controllerweaknesses. We have hired more experienced accounting and accounting staff andfinance personnel. We have begun developingprepared some formal written policies and procedures. procedures for accounting, IT, and financial reporting and record keeping. We have also started the process of documenting our internal controls. However, we have not fully completed documentation or testing of these policies, procedures, and internal controls.

While we believe these efforts have improved the internal control over financial reporting during 2021,2022, they did not fully remediate the material weaknesses. weaknesses as we have not fully documented all of our policies or procedures and we have not performed any testing of our internal controls.

We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date and may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the control deficiencies that led to our material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting or that they will prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the possibility of human error and the risk of fraud. If we are unable to remediate the material weakness, our ability to record, process and report financial information accurately, and to prepare financial statements within the time periods required of public companies could be adversely affected which, in turn, may adversely affect our reputation and business and the market price of our common stock. In addition, any such failures could result in litigation or regulatory actions by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, loss of investor confidence, delisting of our securities and harm our reputation and financial condition, or diversion of financial and management resources from the operation of our business.

  

Our transition to an outsourced manufacturing, design and development business model may not be successful, which could harm our ability to deliver products and recognize revenue.

In March 2022, we signed an agreement with a manufacturer in China to develop and manufacture the Brat, our first eBike. We provided this vendor with our specifications and design drawings, and they developed prototypes and the manufacturing process to build the Brat at a cost that was acceptable to us.

In June 2022, we signed a distribution agreement with Torrot Electric Europa, S.A. (“Torrot”) to distribute their youth motorcycles through our LATAM distributors. In October 2022, we signed an exclusive distribution and co-branding agreement with Torrot, which replaces the original distribution agreement and allows Volcon to co-brand Torrot’s youth motorcycles using the Volcon name and branding in the United States and Latin America. This was expanded to Canada through a separate agreement signed in December 2022. These products are manufactured by Torrot in Spain.

On August 25, 2022, we announced a comprehensive program and manufacturing transition aimed to improve profitability and increase cash flow (the “Program”), pursuant to which we closed our manufacturing operations in Round Rock, Texas, and initiated efforts to merge our logistics and storage operations into a single location and enter into a manufacturing agreements with GLV Ventures (“GLV”) to produce the Grunt, as well as the Stag and the Runt. In connection with the implementation of the Program, we have transitioned from a manufacturing model in which we manufactured and assembled the Grunt at our manufacturing facility located in Round Rock, Texas, to one where we rely on our third-party manufacturer in Mexico. In September 2022, we also reduced headcount in our product development and administrative departments, as we have outsourced the design, development and manufacturing of our vehicles to reduce costs. We believe the use of third-party manufacturers will have benefits, but in the near term, while we are beginning manufacturing with GLV, and commencing design and development with third-parties, we may lose revenue, incur increased costs and potentially harm our customer relationships.

We rely on third-party manufacturers, designers and developers, which subjects us to risk of product delivery delays, reduced control over product costs and quality control.

Effective as of August 2022, we have outsourced the manufacturing of all of our vehicles to third-party manufacturers. In September 2022, we reduced headcount in our product development and administrative departments, as we have outsourced the design, development and manufacturing of our vehicles to reduce costs. Our business success will depend in large part on our third-party vendors’ ability to economically produce our vehicles and our ability to market and sell our vehicles at sufficient capacity to meet the demands of our customers.

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Our reliance on third-parties for the manufacture, design and development of our vehicles exposes us to a number of risks which are outside our control, including:

·unexpected increases in manufacturing costs;
·interruptions in vehicle deliveries if a third-party vendor is unable to complete production or design in a timely manner;
·shipping delays due to availability of ships, trains, trucks or containers to ship products or delays at ports to ship to the U.S or delays at U.S. ports; and
·inability to control quality of finished products.

Our reliance on third-parties reduces our control over the manufacturing, design and development processes, including reduced control over quality, product costs and product supply and timing. We may experience delays in shipments or issues concerning product quality from our third-party vendors, and such supply chain disruptions and delays have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. If any of our third-party vendors suffer interruptions, delays or disruptions in manufacturing, designing or developing our products, including by reason of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, work stoppages or capacity constraints, our ability to ship products to dealers and Latin America and Caribbean distributors would be delayed. Additionally, if any of our third-party vendors experience quality control problems in their operations, we could be required to cover the repair or replacement of any defective products. These delays or product quality issues could have an immediate and material adverse effect on our ability to fulfill orders and could have a negative impact on our operating results. In addition, such delays or issues with product quality could harm our reputation and our relationship with our dealers, distributors and customers.

 

Our third-party manufacturers may be unable to meet our growing sales and delivery plans, which could harm our business and prospects.

Our sales growth and delivery plan contemplate achieving and sustaining significant increases in vehicle deliveries. Our ability to achieve this plan depends upon several factors, including our ability to identify third-party manufacturers who can meet our forecasted demand while maintaining our desired quality levels and optimize design and product changes. Although we believe that the third-party manufacturers we have contracted with have the ability to meet our forecasted demand, there is no assurance that they will be successful in these efforts. In addition, as we do not have a long-term history of sales, our forecasted demand may be materially incorrect, which could cause us to fail to meet unforeseen demand. If we are unable to realize our sales and delivery plan, our brand, business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results could be materially damaged.

We are dependent on our third-party manufacturers, who are dependent on their suppliers, some of which could be single-source suppliers. The inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components for our vehicles according to our schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, or our inability to efficiently manage these third-party manufacturers and their suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Our vehicles contain numerous purchased parts that our third-party manufacturers either (a) source globally from direct suppliers, some of whom could be single-source suppliers, or (b) manufacture themselves from components or materials. Any significant unanticipated demand would require our third-party manufacturers to procure or manufacture additional components in a short amount of time. While we believe our third-party manufacturers would be able to secure additional or alternate sources of supply for most of our components and raw materials in a relatively short time frame, there is no assurance that they will be able to do so or develop their own replacements for certain highly customized components of our products.

If our third-party manufacturers encounter unexpected difficulties with key suppliers, and if they are unable to fill these needs from other suppliers, we could experience production delays and potential loss of access to important technology and parts for producing, servicing and supporting our vehicles. This limited, and in many cases single-source, supply chain exposes our third-party manufacturers and us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for the production of our vehicles. The loss of any single or limited source supplier or the disruption in the supply of components from these suppliers could lead to design changes and delays in product deliveries to our customers, which could hurt our relationships with our customers and result in negative publicity, damage to our brand and reputation, and a material and adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

10

Our third-party manufacturers operate outside of the United States, subjecting us to risks of international operations.

Our third-party manufacturers operate outside of the United States, as a result we are increasingly exposed to the challenges and risks of doing business outside the United States, which could reduce our revenues or profits, increase our costs, result in significant liabilities or sanctions, or otherwise disrupt our business. These challenges include: (1) compliance with complex and changing laws, regulations and policies of governments that may impact our operations, such as foreign ownership restrictions, import and export controls, tariffs, and trade restrictions; (2) compliance with U.S. and foreign laws that affect the activities of companies abroad, such as anti-corruption laws, competition laws, currency regulations, and laws affecting dealings with certain nations; (3) the difficulties involved in managing an organization doing business in many different countries; (4) uncertainties as to the enforceability of contract and intellectual property rights under local laws; and (5) rapid changes in government policy, political or civil unrest, acts of terrorism, or the threat of international boycotts or U.S. anti-boycott legislation.

Products that we have manufactured for us in Mexico, Spain, and China may also be subject to any uncertainty of trade relations between such countries and the United States, which could cause the cost of our products manufactured there to rise, or result in our inability to continue to use third-party manufacturers in such country, resulting in a need to find alternative sources of manufacture, which could result in the delay of manufacture and supply of our products, increase our cost of manufacture, and cause a delay in our shipments to customers and a delay or cancellation of orders. Our future operating results and financial condition could be materially affected to the extent any of these actions occur.

In addition, the prosecution of intellectual property infringement and trade secret theft outside of the United States may be more difficult than in the United States. Although we take precautions to protect our intellectual property, using our third-party manufacturers in Mexico and China could subject us to an increased risk that unauthorized parties will be able to copy or otherwise obtain or use our intellectual property, and we may be unsuccessful in monitoring and enforcing our intellectual property rights against them, which could harm our business. We may also have limited legal recourse in the event we encounter patent or trademark infringers, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. While we take measures to protect our trade secrets, the use of third-party manufacturers may also risk disclosure of our innovative and proprietary manufacturing methodologies, which could adversely affect our business.

We are utilizing a small number of vendors to assist us with the manufacturing, development and design of our vehicles, including the chassis, electrical systems, safety requirements, body components and accessories, and the inability of these vendors to complete our respective design requirements may delay our ability to release these vehicles for production, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

We have entered into manufacturing, design and development agreements with vendors with experience in the manufacturing, design and development of two wheel and four-wheel off-road vehicles to assist us with the development of certain aspects of and manufacturing of our vehicles. Although these vendors have successfully assisted other companies with manufacture, design and development of vehicles, they may not be able to successfully design, develop and manufacture our vehicles. These vendors may experience delays in fulfilling their obligations under these contracts due to the inability to source parts from other vendors, lack of employees available to work on our projects due to labor shortages or other competing projects from other customers or COVID-19-related issues impacting employees. Failure of these vendors to complete the contracted design, development and manufacture projects for our vehicles will result in delays in obtaining regulatory approvals and delay production and release of the vehicles for sale, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations or financial condition.

Increases in costs, disruption of supply, or shortage of materials could harm our business.

Our third-party manufacturers may experience increases in the cost or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of materials. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. The prices for these materials fluctuate, and their available supply may be unstable, depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials, including as a result of increased production of electric vehicle (EV) products by our competitors, and could adversely affect our business and operating results. For instance, we are exposed to multiple risks relating to battery packs.

These risks include:

·an increase in the cost, or decrease in the available supply, of materials used in the battery packs;
·disruption in the supply of battery packs due to quality issues or recalls by battery cell manufacturers;
·sanctions imposed by the U.S. on countries in which our products are manufactured or where parts are manufactured for our third-party manufacturers; and
·tariffs on the products we source in China.

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Our business is dependent on the continued supply of battery cells for the battery packs used in our vehicles. Any disruption in the supply of battery cells, including those caused by the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia noted above, could disrupt production of our vehicles. Substantial increases in the prices charged to us, such as those charged by battery cell suppliers, would increase our operating costs, and could reduce our margins if we cannot recoup the increased costs through increased selling prices of our vehicles. Any attempts to increase prices in response to increased material costs could result in the cancellation of vehicle orders and therefore materially and adversely affect our brand, image, business, prospects and operating results.

We have experienced delays and other complications in the design, manufacture, launch and production ramp of our vehicles and our future planned vehicles, which could harm our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We have encountered unanticipated challenges, such as supply chain constraints, that led to initial delays in producing our vehicles. We have experienced longer lead times with certain suppliers to obtain parts, especially those imported where shipping delays from outbound and inbound ports have caused delays or required us to use air freight and incur higher shipping costs. As of August 2022, we have outsourced the manufacturing of all of our vehicles and plan to outsource all manufacturing of our vehicles for the foreseeable future. In September 2022, we also reduced headcount in our product development and administrative departments, as we have outsourced the design and development of our vehicles. Any significant delay or other complications in the production of our vehicles or the development, manufacture, and production ramp of our future vehicles, including complications associated with our third-party manufacturers’ supply chains or obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, and/or coronavirus impacts, could materially damage our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We are an early-stage company and although orders of our initial vehicles have commenced, we have delivered a limited number of vehicles to customers.

 

We formed our corporation in February 2020. Since formation, we have focused on designing our initial vehicles, the Grunt and the Runt (Runt reservations were subsequently refunded due to design and production delays), the Brat and the Stag, and commencing the marketing of such vehicles by accepting reservations on our website. We also began taking orders for the Grunt in Latin America as well asand started signing dealer agreements to sell our vehicles in the U.S. As of December 31, 2021, we have delivered 66 Grunts to customers.United States. We may never achieve commercial success. We have no meaningful historical financial data upon which we may base our projected revenue and operating expenses. Our limited operating history makes it difficult for potential investors to evaluate our products or prospective operations and business prospects. We are subject to all the risks inherent in business development, financing, unexpected expenditures, and complications and delays that often occur in a new business. Investors should evaluate an investment in us in light of the uncertainties encountered by developing companies in a competitive environment. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will ultimately be able to attain profitability.

As we have increased our production, we have experienced delays or other complications in the design, manufacture, launch and production ramp of our vehicles and our future planned vehicles which could harm our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We may encounter unanticipated challenges, such as supply chain constraints, that lead to initial delays in producing our vehicles. We have experienced longer lead times with certain suppliers to obtain parts, especially those imported where shipping delays from out bound and inbound ports have caused delays or required us to use air freight and incur higher shipping costs. These challenges may be more significant for our four-wheel vehicles as we have not finalized the designs for these vehicles or begun to establish the assembly lines for these prospective vehicles. Any significant delay or other complication in the production of our vehicles or the development, manufacture, and production ramp of our future four wheel vehicles, including complications associated with expanding our production capacity and supply chain or obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, and/or coronavirus impacts, could materially damage our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to meet our growing production plans and delivery plans, any of which could harm our business and prospects.

Our growth and production plans contemplate achieving and sustaining significant increases in vehicles production and deliveries. Our ability to achieve these plans depends upon a number of factors, including our ability to utilize our current manufacturing capacity, achieve the planned production yield and further increase capacity as planned while maintaining our desired quality levels and optimize design and production changes, and our suppliers’ ability to support our needs. We have experienced delays in increasing production volume due to lower production yields resulting in delayed customer shipments. We are currently developing improved production processes to increase efficiencies and production yields, although there is no assurance we will be successful in these efforts. If we are unable to realize our plans, our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially damaged.

We are dependent on our suppliers, the majority of which are single-source suppliers, and the inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components of our products according to our schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, or our inability to efficiently manage these components, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Our vehicles contain numerous purchased parts which we source globally from direct suppliers, the majority of whom are currently single-source suppliers. Any significant unanticipated demand would require us to procure additional components in a short amount of time. While we believe that we will be able to secure additional or alternate sources of supply for most of our components in a relatively short time frame, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so or develop our own replacements for certain highly customized components of our products.

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If we encounter unexpected difficulties with key suppliers such as our battery and chassis suppliers, and if we are unable to fill these needs from other suppliers, we could experience production delays and potential loss of access to important technology and parts for producing, servicing and supporting our vehicles. This limited, and in many cases single source, supply chain exposes us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for the production of our vehicles. The loss of any single or limited source supplier or the disruption in the supply of components from these suppliers could lead to design changes and delays in product deliveries to our customers, which could hurt our relationships with our customers and result in negative publicity, damage to our brand and a material and adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Changes in our supply chain may result in increased cost. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to control and reduce supplier costs, our operating results will suffer.

Many of our suppliers were involved in the initial design and prototype development of parts that are currently purchased for production of the Grunt. The overall cost of our parts used for the Grunt currently exceeds the selling price of the Grunt less the costs to manufacture and sell the Grunt (net realizable value). We have initiated a quoting process to existing and new vendors to obtain better pricing and quality and expect to reduce the overall part cost to the Grunt beginning in the second quarter of 2022. In the fourth quarter of 2021, we recorded a non-cash charge of $5,450,007 to write down our inventory and inventory deposits that reduces the inventory value to its net realizable value.

Although we believe that we will be able to meet our cost, quality and volume at times needed through our existing and new suppliers, there is no assurance that we will be successful. Furthermore, as the scale of our production increases, we will need to accurately forecast, purchase, warehouse and transport to our manufacturing facilities components at much higher volumes than we have experience with. If we are unable to accurately match the timing and quantities of component purchases to our actual needs, or successfully implement automation, inventory management and other systems to accommodate the increased complexity in our supply chain, we may incur unexpected production disruption, storage, transportation and write-off costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

The duration and scope of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are uncertain and has adversely effected our supply chain and may in affect our operations, distribution, and demand for our products.

If we were to encounter a significant disruption due to COVID-19 at one or more of our suppliers, we may not be able to satisfy customer demand for a period of time. We have recently experienced delays and extended delivery dates with respect to the computer chips we utilize for our vehicles. Although we believe these delays will not affect our ability to deliver our initial vehicles, they may restrict our ability to deliver vehicles in the future. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, demand for our products and impacts to our operations, including the measures taken by governmental authorities to address it, may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and/or uncertainties, including specifically many of the risk factors set forth herein, which may have a significant impact on our operating results and financial condition, although we are unable to predict the extent or nature of these impacts at this time.

The conflict with Russia and the Ukraine could have an impact on the availability of components used in the manufacturing of lithium ion batteries that we use to power our vehiclesvehicles.

 

The recent conflict between Russia and the Ukraine could impact the availability of nickel, an element used in the production of lithium ion cells used in batteries that power our vehicles. According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia produces 5%-6% of the world’s nickel supply and 17% of the high purity nickel production. The shortage of these cells could have an impact on our ability to produce vehicles to meet our customers’ demands. In addition, sanctions against Russia could impact the price of elements, including nickel, that are used in the production of batteries which would result in higher costs to produce our vehicles. These sanctions have also impacted the USU.S. and global economy and could result in an economic recession which could cause a broader disruption to the Company’s supply chain and distribution network and customer demand for our products. These factors would have a negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows.

  

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We are currently taking orders for the Grunt, Brat, Volcon Kids and Stag, and if this vehicle failsthese vehicles fail to perform as expected, our reputation could be harmed and our ability to develop, market and sell our vehicles could be harmed.

 

If our vehicles were to contain defects in design and manufacture that cause them not to perform as expected or that require repair or take longer than expected to deliver, our ability to develop, market and sell our vehicles could be harmed. While we intend to perform internal testing on the vehicles, we assemble, as a start-up company our frame of reference by which to evaluate detailed long-term quality, reliability, durability and performance characteristics of our vehicles is based on industry metrics rather than historical data. Although we have procedures to test all of our vehicles for defects, there can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix all defects in our products prior to their sale to consumers. Any product defects, delays, or other failure of our products to perform as expected could harm our reputation and result in delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

 

Our success will depend on our ability to economically produce our vehicles at scale, and our ability to produce vehicles of sufficient quality and appeal to customers on schedule and at scale is unproven.

 

Our business success will depend in large part on our ability to economically produce, market and sell our vehicles at sufficient capacity to meet the demands of our customers. We will need to scale our production capacity in order to successfully implement our business strategy. We have built out our Grunt production facility in Round Rock, Texas, and continue to improve our production processes to reduce production times and increase output.

We have no experience in large-scale production of our vehicles, and we do not know whether we will be able to develop efficient, automated, low-cost production capabilities and processes, such that we will be able to meet the quality, price, and production standards, as well as the production volumes, required to successfully market our vehicles and meet our business objectives and customer needs. Any failure to develop and scale our production capability and processes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

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We may not succeed in establishing, maintaining and strengthening our brand, which could materially and adversely affect customer acceptance of our products, which could in turn materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

Our business and prospects heavily depend on our ability to develop, maintain and strengthen the Volcon brand. If we are unable to establish, maintain and strengthen our brand, we may lose the opportunity to build and maintain a critical mass of customers. Our ability to develop, maintain and strengthen our brand will depend heavily on the success of our marketing efforts. Failure to develop and maintain a strong brand would materially and adversely affect customer acceptance of our vehicles, could result in suppliers and other third partiesthird-parties being less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with us, and could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

If we are unable to achieve our targeted manufacturing costs for our vehicles, our financial condition and operating results will suffer.

As a start-up company, we have no historical data that allows us to ensure our targeted manufacturing costs will be achievable. While we expect in the future to better understand our manufacturing costs, there is no guarantee we will be able to achieve sufficient cost savings to reach our gross margin and profitability goals. We may also incur substantial costs or cost overruns in utilizing and increasing the production capability of our vehicle assembly facilities.

If we are unable to achieve production cost targets on our vehicles pursuant to our plans, we may not be able to meet our gross margin and other financial targets. Many of the factors that impact our manufacturing costs are beyond our control, such as potential increases in the costs of our materials and components, such as batteries and chassis. If we are unable to continue to control and reduce our manufacturing costs, our operating results, business and prospects will be harmed.

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Increases in costs, disruption of supply, or shortage of materials could harm our business.

We may experience increases in the cost or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of materials. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. The prices for these materials fluctuate, and their available supply may be unstable, depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials, including as a result of increased production of electric vehicle (EV) products by our competitors, and could adversely affect our business and operating results. For instance, we are exposed to multiple risks relating to battery packs. These risks include:

·an increase in the cost, or decrease in the available supply, of materials used in the battery packs;

·disruption in the supply of battery packs due to quality issues or recalls by battery cell manufacturers; and

·tariffs on the materials we source in China, which make up a significant amount of the materials we require

Our business is dependent on the continued supply of battery cells for the battery packs used in our vehicles. Any disruption in the supply of battery cells, including those caused by the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia noted above, could disrupt production of our vehicles. Substantial increases in the prices for our materials or prices charged to us, such as those charged by battery cell suppliers, would increase our operating costs, and could reduce our margins if we cannot recoup the increased costs through increased prices. Any attempts to increase prices in response to increased material costs could result in cancellations of vehicle orders and therefore materially and adversely affect our brand, image, business, prospects and operating results.

  

An adverse determination in any significant product liability claim against us could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

The development, production, marketing, sale and usage of our vehicles will expose us to significant risks associated with product liability claims. The powersports vehicles industry in particular is vulnerable to significant product liability claims, and we may face inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event our vehicles do not perform or are claimed to not have performed as expected. If our products are defective, malfunction or are used incorrectly by our customers, it may result in bodily injury, property damage or other injury, including death, which could give rise to product liability claims against us. Any losses that we may suffer from any liability claims and the effect that any product liability litigation may have upon the brand image, reputation and marketability of our products could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition. No assurance can be given that material product liability claims will not be made in the future against us, or that claims will not arise in the future in excess or outside of our insurance coverage and contractual indemnities with suppliers and manufacturers. We believe we have adequate product liability insurance; however, as we release new products and expand our sales channels, we may not be able to obtain adequate product liability insurance or the cost of doing so may be prohibitive. Adverse determinations of material product liability claims made against us could also harm our reputation and cause us to lose customers and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

The markets in which we operate are in their infancy and highly competitive, and we may not be successful in competing in these industries as the industry further develops. We currently face competition from new and established competitors and expect to face competition from others in the future, including competition from companies with new technology.

 

The EV market is in its infancy, and we expect it will become more competitive in the future. There is no assurance that our vehicles will be successful in the respective markets in which they compete. A significant and growing number of established and new companies, as well as other companies, have entered or are reported to have plans to enter the EV market, including the off-road market that we intend to pursue. Most of our current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales networks, and other resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale and support of their products. Increased competition could result in lower vehicle sales, price reductions, revenue shortfalls, loss of customers and loss of market share, which could harm our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

  

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We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and could cause us to incur substantial costs.

 

Others, including our competitors, may hold or obtain patents, copyrights, trademarks or other proprietary rights that could prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell or market our products and services, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. From time to time, the holders of such intellectual property rights may assert their rights and may bring suits alleging infringement or misappropriation of such rights. In addition, if we are determined to have infringed upon a third party’sthird-party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required to cease making, selling or incorporating certain components or intellectual property into the products we offer, to pay substantial damages and/or license royalties, to redesign our products, and/or to establish and maintain alternative branding for our products.

 

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We have applied for trademark rightsa registration for the “Volcon” brand name and our logotrademark GRUNT in the United States and Latin America.States. We have also applied to register additional marks – including VOLCON, VOLCON BRAT, VOLCON STAG, GRUNT EVO, EMPOWERING ADVENTURE, RUNT, and STAG - in certain additional countries including the United States, Latin America, and Canada, and many of these marks are now allowed or registered in some of these countries. While we previously received notice from two entities who have indicated they will protest the issuance of a trademarkopposed our applications for the Volcon nameVOLCON mark in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere due to the alleged similarity of Volconthe mark VOLCON to their trademarks, even though our productswe have resisted these efforts because we believe that the marks are different.not similar and there is no potential for confusion. We are currently in negotiation withthe process of resolving these entities to obtain anmatters. We have obtained a coexistence agreement providing that our VolconVOLCON trademark can co-existcoexist with their trademarks.one party’s trademark. The other party’s opposition was unsuccessful. Our efforts to secure trademark registrations for VOLCON and other trademarks referenced above are ongoing and we may encounter resistance from other companies, though we have received no such notice from any other companies at this time. If we receive objections from other entities and are unsuccessful in obtaining agreementagreements or otherwise resolving the matters with these entities, we will need to consider the use of a different trademarktrademarks for our Company and our products.

 

In the event that we were required to take one or more such actions, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and diversion of resources and management attention.

 

Potential tariffs or a global trade war could increase our costs and could further increase the cost of our products, which could adversely impact the competitiveness of our products and our financial results.

 

Our vehiclesThe Grunt, Runt and Brat depend on materials from China, namely batteries, which are among the main components of our vehicles. We cannot predict what actions may be taken with respect to tariffs or trade relations between the United States and China, what products may be subject to such actions, or what actions may be taken by China in retaliation. The adoption and expansion of trade restrictions, the occurrence of a trade war, or other governmental action related to tariffs, trade agreements or related policies have the potential to adversely impact our supply chain and access to equipment, our costs and our product margins. Any such cost increases or decreases in availability could slow our growth and cause our financial results and operational metrics to suffer.

  

Subsequent to fulfilling orders we have received directly from consumers, we intend toWe primarily sell our vehicles and accessories through a network of third parties, and there is no assurance that we will be able to successfully build out this network.

 

Initially, in the U.S.United States, we intended to sell our vehicles and accessories directly to the consumer via our website. We ceased selling vehicles and accessories directly to consumers in November 2021 andIn November 2021 we began negotiating dealer agreements to sell our vehicles and accessories in the U.S.United States to powersport vehicle dealers. As of December 31,2022, we have signed agreements with 151 dealers to sell our vehicles and accessories. We hired our first regional sales manager in Canada to begin developing our dealer network for Canadian powersports vehicle dealers.

 

We are also developing a line of aftermarket accessories for our vehicles that will be manufactured and produced by third parties. We intend to market our accessories on our website but also use our dealer network to display and sell these accessories.

We also intend to sell our vehicles internationally through international distributors. We have signed distributor agreements with distributors in Central and South America. We are relying on these distributors to market, promote, sell and service our vehicles and sell accessories in their designated countries/territories.

We believe our success will be highly dependent on our ability to build out this network in the major markets in which we intend to compete for customers, and to maintain this network in the future. Our model is dependent not only on our ability to create the foregoing network, but also on the commitment and motivation of these third parties to promote our brand and products.

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Orders for vehicles are cancelable and the deposit fully refundable until delivered to and accepted by the customer 14 days from delivery, and there can be no assurance that such orders will be converted into sales.

As of November 24, 2021, the last day we took orders on our direct-to-consumer platform, U.S. customers have placed orders for 360 Grunts (net of cancellations), plus accessories and a delivery fee representing total net deposits of $2.2 million. These orders are cancelable by the customer until the vehicle is delivered and after a 14-day acceptance period, therefore the deposits have been recorded as deferred revenue. As of December 31, 2021, we have delivered 51 of these Grunts and based on our current production capacity, we believe we will deliver all of the Grunts by the second quarter of 2022.

As of December 31, 2021, we have received orders from Latin America importers for 92 Grunts. Payment for these orders is due prior to shipment and are cancelable until shipped. As of December 31, 2021, we have shipped 24 Grunts to Latin America importers and based on our current production capacity, we believe we will be able to fulfill all pending orders by April 2022.

The estimated fulfillment of all orders we have received assumes we are successfully able to increase our production capacity in the future, of which there is no assurance. We only recently commenced assembling vehicles and we have encountered delays as we increased production. If we are unable to satisfy pending orders on a timely basis, customers may cancel their orders.

In some cases, there will be significant time between a customer ordering a vehicle and the eventual delivery of the vehicle, which creates a heightened risk that a customer that ordered a vehicle may change his or her mind and not ultimately take delivery of the vehicle, and accessories if purchased in their order, even though the customer paid the full list price to complete their order. As a result, no assurance can be made that orders will not be cancelled. Any cancellations could harm our financial condition, business, prospects and operating results.

We are developing our dealer network in the United States, and we may not be able to obtain a sufficient number of dealers to sell our vehicles to be commercially successful.

We initially intended to sell and distribute our vehicles and accessories in the U.S. on a direct-to-consumer sales platform. In November 2021 we shifted away from a direct-to-customer sales platform to a dealer-based sales and distribution network. We are currently negotiating dealership agreements with retail partners to display and sell our vehicles and accessories which will require us to discontinue selling and distributing our vehicles under the direct-to-consumer model.

We will be required to comply with manufacture/dealer laws in each state in which we sell our vehicles through dealers. Dealer laws vary by state and although our dealer agreements are intended to comply with these laws, we may be required to amend our agreements if these laws are changed or are challenged by dealers or other OEMs. Our dealer and distribution agreements are generally short-term in nature and the dealer, distributor or we may cancel these agreements under certain circumstances and we may not be able to retain or expand the scope of our dealer and/or distribution network in the future.

 

Many dealers will require us to identify financing sources for dealers to purchase vehicle inventory and to identify financing sources for the dealers’ customers to finance their purchase. We will incur costs under these financing arrangements to incentivize dealers to buy our vehicles including free dealer financing for certain periods or based on purchase volumes, interest rate buydowns on the dealers’ customer financing to incentivize their customers’ purchase of our vehicles. Because we are a young company with limited sales history and recurring losses, we may not be able to obtain these inventory financing sources which may result in dealers not wanting to sell our vehicles.

 

In the U.S., we will sell the Brat on our website in addition to our dealer network. Customers can request that the Brat be delivered to a local Volcon dealer or directly to a location they can designate.

 

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We also intend to sell our vehicles and accessories internationally through international distributors. We have signed distribution agreements with five distributors in Latin America and one distributor in the Caribbean region. We are relying on these distributors to market, promote, sell and service our vehicles and sell accessories in their designated countries/territories.

 

We believe our success will be highly dependent on our ability to build out this network in the major markets in which we intend to compete for customers, and to maintain this network in the future. Our business model is dependent not only on our ability to create the foregoing network, but also on the commitment and motivation of these third parties to promote our brand and products.

Orders for vehicles are cancelable and there can be no assurance that all orders will result in revenue being recognized.

Orders from U.S. dealers do not require an upfront payment and are cancelable prior to shipment with no penalty. Orders from U.S. consumers for the Stag required a minimal reservation fee and all orders are cancelable prior to shipment, although the reservation fee is forfeited. Most Latin American importers must pay for orders in advance of shipment but can cancel an order prior to shipment and receive a refund without penalty.

The estimated fulfillment of all orders we have received assumes our third-party manufacturers can successfully increase their production capacity in the future, of which there is no assurance. If we are unable to satisfy pending orders on a timely basis, customers may cancel their orders.

In some cases, there will be significant time between a customer ordering a vehicle and the eventual delivery of the vehicle, which creates a heightened risk that a customer that ordered a vehicle may change his or her mind and not ultimately take delivery of the vehicle, and accessories if purchased in their order. Any cancellations could harm our financial condition, business, prospects and operating results.

We may be unable to improve our existing products and develop and market new products that respond to customer needs and preferences and achieve market acceptance.

 

We may not be able to compete as effectively with our competitors, and ultimately satisfy the needs and preferences of our customers, unless we can successfully enhance the Grunt,current products, develop new innovative products and distinguish our products from our competitors’ products through innovation and design. Product development requires significant financial, technological, and other resources. There can be no assurance that we will be able to incur a level of investment in research and development that will be sufficient to successfully make us competitive in product innovation and design. In addition, even if we are able to successfully enhance existing products and develop new products, there is no guarantee that the markets for our existing products and new products will progress as anticipated. If any of the markets in which our existing products compete do not develop as expected, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.  

  

We are utilizing a small number of vendors to assist us with the design our vehicles, including the chassis, electrical systems, safety requirements, body components and accessories, and the inability of these vendors to complete our respective design requirements may delay our ability to release these vehicles for production, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

We have entered into design and development agreements with vendors with experience in the design and development of two-wheel and four-wheel off-road vehicles to assist us with the development of certain aspects of our vehicles. Although these vendors have successfully assisted other companies with design and development of vehicles, they may not be able to successfully design and develop our vehicles. These vendors may experience delays in fulfilling their obligations under these contracts due to the inability to source parts from other vendors, lack of employees available to work on our projects due to labor shortages or other competing projects from other customers or COVID 19 issues impacting employees. Failure of these vendors to complete the contracted design and development projects for our vehicles will result in delays in obtaining regulatory approvals and delay production and release of the vehicles for sale, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We have nolimited experience servicing our vehicles, we intend to primarily utilize third parties to service our vehicles, and if we are unable to address the service requirements of our customers, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We have nolimited experience servicing or repairing our vehicles and we are developing our service manualmanuals and service procedures to repair our vehicles. We are in the process of developing a network of service providers who will also be our dealers as many states require that only dealers can provide warranty service on vehicles. For our international distributors, they will be service providers or will identify third-parties who will be service providers to service our vehicles.

 

Servicing electric vehicles is different than servicing vehicles with internal combustion engines and requires specialized skills, including high voltage training and servicing techniques. If we are unable to successfully address the service requirements of our customers, our business and prospects will be materially and adversely affected. If we are unable to successfully address the servicing requirements of our customers or establish a market perception that we maintain high-quality support, our reputation could be harmed, we may be subject to claims from our customers, and our business, results of operations or financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Significant product repair and/or replacement due to product warranty claims or product recalls could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

We provide a one-year warranty against defects for the Grunt and Brat, and a two-year warranty on the battery. We currently expect to provide a similar warranty for all our vehiclesmotorcycles as they are released for sale. We are in the process of developing our warranty for the Stag and we expect it to be consistent with other UTVs currently on the market. Our warranty will generally require us to repair or replace defective products during such warranty periods at no cost to the consumer. We will record provisions based on an estimate of product warranty claims, but there is the possibility that actual claims may exceed these provisions and therefore negatively impact our results of operations of financial condition.

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In addition, we may in the future be required to make product recalls or could be held liable in the event that some of our products do not meet safety standards or statutory requirements on product safety, even if the defects related to any such recall or liability are not covered by our limited warranty. The repair and replacement costs that we could incur in connection with a recall could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Product recalls could also harm our reputation and cause us to lose customers, particularly if recalls cause consumers to question the safety or reliability of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations or financial condition. 

 

Our success is dependent upon the success of the off-road vehicle industry and upon consumers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles.

 

Our success is dependent upon the success of the off-road vehicle industry as a whole, and in particular upon consumers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles as an alternative to combustion vehicles. If the market for electric off-road vehicles does not develop at the rate or in the manner or to the extent that we expect, our business, results of operations or financial condition may be adversely materially affected. The market for electric vehicles is relatively new, rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, additional competitors, evolving government regulation and industry standard, frequent new vehicle announcements and changing consumer demands and behaviors. Factors that may influence the adoption of electric vehicles include:

 

 ·perceptions about electric vehicle quality, safety, design, performance and costs;

 ·the limited range over which electric vehicles may be driven on a single battery charge, and the decline of an electric vehicle’s range resulting from deterioration over time in the battery’s ability to hold a charge;

 ·the ability to easily charge electric vehicles;vehicles

 ·volatility in the cost of oil and gasoline, and improvements in the fuel economy of combustion engines; and

 ·the environmental consciousness of off-road vehicles customers.

The influence of any of the factors described above may cause our customers not to purchase our vehicles and may otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Higher inflation and interest rates, volatile financial markets, unemployment and consumer confidence may cause consumers to defer or not purchase our products.

Globally inflation and interest rates have been rising throughout 2022 and could continue to rise in the future.

Our vehicles represent a discretionary purchase. Many consumers finance the purchase of an off-road vehicle and higher interest rates will result in higher monthly payments which some consumers may not qualify for or consumers may elect to defer their purchase until interest rates decline.

In addition, global financial markets overall have seen sharp declines in valuations and significant volatility in 2022 and could continue to experience additional declines and volatility in the future. Consumer confidence in the US has declined. A number of large companies have announced layoffs.

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The influence of any of the factors described above may cause our customers not to purchase our vehicles and may otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We currently operate in an area that is not heavily regulated, and future changes in government oversight may subject us to increased regulations, which may increase our expenses.

 

The off-road vehicle market is not heavily regulated, as compared to on-road vehicles, and, as such, we are not currently subject to significant government regulations. As this market develops and grows, it may come under increased regulatory scrutiny, which may result in increased regulations. This increase in regulations may result in increased costs and expenses, which may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

  

The duration and scope of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain uncertain and have adversely affected our supply chain and may continue to affect our operations, distribution, and demand for our products.

If we were to encounter a significant disruption due to COVID-19 at our third-party manufacturers, designers or developers or one or more of our suppliers, we may not be able to satisfy customer demand for a period of time. We have signedrecently experienced delays and extended delivery dates with respect to the components we utilize for our vehicles. Although we believe these delays will not affect our ability to deliver our initial vehicles, they may restrict our third-party manufacturers’, designers’, developers’ and suppliers’ ability to deliver vehicles in the future. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, demand for our products and impacts to our operations, including the measures taken by governmental authorities to address it, may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and/or uncertainties, including specifically many of the risk factors set forth herein, which may have a lease for a new facility from an entity controlledsignificant impact on our operating results and financial condition, although we are unable to predict the extent or nature of these impacts at this time.

We could be negatively impacted by cybersecurity attacks and are subject to evolving privacy laws in the U.S. and other jurisdictions that could adversely impact our founders,business and this arrangement was not conducted on an arm’s length basis.require that we incur substantial costs.

 

We use a variety of information technology systems in the ordinary course of business, which are potentially vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, ransomware software viruses and other similar types of malicious activities and cyber-attacks, including cyber-attacks to our information technology infrastructure and attempts by others to gain access to our proprietary or sensitive information, and ranging from individual attempts to advanced persistent threats. Additionally, our vendors and potentially our customers, such as federal, state and local governments, require us to maintain and protect our information technology infrastructure to specified standards in order to protect not only our sensitive information, but also their sensitive information. Further, ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe. To alleviate the financial, operational, and reputational impact of a ransomware attack, it may be preferable to make extortion payments, but we may be unwilling or unable to do so, including, for example, if applicable laws or regulations prohibit such payments. The procedures and controls we use to monitor these threats and mitigate our exposure may not be sufficient to prevent cybersecurity incidents. The results of these incidents could include misstated financial data, theft of trade secrets or other intellectual property, liability for disclosure of confidential customer, supplier or employee information, increased costs arising from the implementation of additional security protective measures, litigation and reputational damage, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business or results of operations. Any remedial costs or other liabilities related to cybersecurity incidents may not be fully insured or indemnified by other means. Moreover, we or our third-party vendors or business partners may be more vulnerable to such attacks in remote work environments, which have signed a lease for a dedicated, built-to-suit manufacturing facility on 53 acresincreased in Liberty Hill, Texas from an entity controlled by our founders. We are currently evaluating an amendmentresponse to the lease for an expanded facility, including a tenant improvement allowance, and access to an additional 17 acres. Although we believe the lease terms are at or below current market rates, due to the relationship between our company and our founders, the negotiation of the lease agreement was not conducted on an arm’s length basis. As such, it is possible that the terms were less favorable to us thanCOVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, security breaches could result in a transaction negotiatedviolation of applicable U.S. and international privacy and other laws and subject us to governmental investigations and proceedings, which could result in an arm’s length transaction.our exposure to material civil or criminal liability. 

 

 

 1517 

 

Risks Related to our Common Stock

Our founders, directors and executive officers will continue to exercise significant control over us, which will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control.

 

The existing holdings of the outstanding shares of our common stock by our founders, directors and executive officers, assuming full exercise of the warrants held by such individuals and conversion of outstanding Convertible Notes and exercise of all remaining warrants, represent, in the aggregate, approximately 41%22.9% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders will be able to influence our management and affairs and control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and any sale, merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

These stockholders acquired their shares of common stock for substantially less than the price of the shares of common stock acquired in our public offerings, and these stockholders may have interests, with respect to their common stock, that are different from those of other investors and the concentration of voting power among one or more of these stockholders may have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

 

In addition, this concentration of ownership might adversely affect the market price of our common stock by: (1) delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company; (2) impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our company; or (3) discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

 

We are party to certain agreements with our founders that may create a conflict of interest for our board of directors in evaluating a potential change of control transaction.

 

We have entered into consulting agreements with Pink Possum, LLC (“Pink Possum”), an entity controlled by Mr. Okonsky, who is the chairman of our board of directors and Chief Technology Officer, and Highbridge Consultants, LLC (“Highbridge”), an entity controlled by Mr. James, who is a former member of our board of directors and a significant shareholder, pursuant to which Messrs. Okonsky and James provide us with services. Pursuant to the consulting agreements, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction (as contemplated by such agreements), which generally includes a business combination, merger, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets (or similar events), for an aggregate gross sales price of $100.0 million or more, each entity will receive a cash payment equal to 1% of such gross sales price. Since Messrs. Okonsky and James are entitled to these payments, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular Fundamental Transaction is in the best interests of our shareholders.stockholders. Furthermore, these payments upon the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction may make our company less attractive to a potential acquirer or may reduce the valuation we receive in connection with a Fundamental Transaction.

Furthermore, if our market capitalization exceeds $300.0 million for a period of 21 consecutive trading days, each of the entities will receive an additional cash payment equal to $15.0 million; provided that we will have the right, in our sole discretion, to make the foregoing $15.0 million payment by the issuance of shares of our common stock. Since Messrs. Okonsky and James are entitled to these payments, they may have a conflict of interest when evaluating other transactions that may have an impact on our market capitalization. Additionally, if we elect to make any payments to the entities in the form of stock, it would reduce the ownership percentage of our other stockholders.

In December 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Okonsky which provided him with an annual salary of $170,000 and allowed him to participate in the Company’s benefits which are available to all employees. The consulting agreement with Pink Possum was terminated but the provisions related to the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction and the market capitalization thresholds and related cash payments remain in effect.

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Your ownership may be diluted if additional capital stock is issued to raise capital, to finance acquisitions or in connection with strategic transactions.

 

We intend tomay seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions or develop strategic relationships by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, which would reduce the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. Our board of directors has the authority, without action or vote of the stockholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common or preferred stock. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Future issuances of common or preferred stock would reduce your influence over matters on which stockholders vote and would be dilutive to earnings per share. In addition, any newly issued preferred stock could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the common stock. Those rights, preferences and privileges could include, among other things, the establishment of dividends that must be paid prior to declaring or paying dividends or other distributions to holders of our common stock or providing for preferential liquidation rights. These rights, preferences and privileges could negatively affect the rights of holders of our common stock, and the right to convert such preferred stock into shares of our common stock at a rate or price that would have a dilutive effect on the outstanding shares of our common stock.

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We could be negatively impacted by cybersecurity attacks and are subject to evolving privacy laws in the U.S. and other jurisdictions that could adversely impact our business and require that we incur substantial costs.

We use a variety of information technology systems in the ordinary course of business, which are potentially vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, ransomware software viruses and other similar types of malicious activities and cyber-attacks, including cyber-attacks to our information technology infrastructure and attempts by others to gain access to our propriety or sensitive information, and ranging from individual attempts to advanced persistent threats. Further, ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe. To alleviate the financial, operational, and reputational impact of a ransomware attack, it may be preferable to make extortion payments, but we may be unwilling or unable to do so, including, for example, if applicable laws or regulations prohibit such payments. The procedures and controls we use to monitor these threats and mitigate our exposure may not be sufficient to prevent cybersecurity incidents. The results of these incidents could include misstated financial data, theft of trade secrets or other intellectual property, liability for disclosure of confidential customer, supplier or employee information, increased costs arising from the implementation of additional security protective measures, litigation and reputational damage, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business or results of operations. Any remedial costs or other liabilities related to cybersecurity incidents may not be fully insured or indemnified by other means. Moreover, we or our third-party vendors or business partners may be more vulnerable to such attacks in remote work environments, which have increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, security breaches could result in a violation of applicable U.S. and international privacy and other laws and subject us to governmental investigations and proceedings, which could result in our exposure to material civil or criminal liability. 

General Risk Factors

 

If our stock price fluctuates, you could lose a significant part of your investment.

 

Since our initial public offering through March 3, 2023 our share price has fluctuated from a high of $17.96 to a low of $0.95, and closed at $1.73 on March 3, 2023. The market price of our common stock is subject to wide fluctuations in response to, among other things, the risk factors described in this filing and other factors beyond our control, such as fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us. Furthermore, the stock markets have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political, and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock. In the past, many companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm our business.

The terms of the Convertible Notes and Warrants impose additional challenges on our ability to raise capital.

The agreements related to the sale of the Convertible Notes and Warrants contain a number of restrictive covenants that may impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us while the Convertible Notes and Warrants remain outstanding, unless the restrictions are waived by consent of each holder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness; incur liens or allow mortgages or other encumbrances; redeem, or repurchase certain other debt; pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem our capital stock; sell assets or enter into or effect certain other transactions; issue additional equity (outside of the Convertible Notes and Warrants, issuances under our equity compensation plan and other limited exceptions); and enter into variable rate transactions, among other restrictions.

A breach of the covenants or restrictions under the agreements related to the sale of the Convertible Notes and Warrants and related agreements governing our indebtedness could result in an event of default under such agreements. As a result of these restrictions, we may be limited in how we conduct our business, unable to finance our operations through additional debt or equity financings and/or unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.

Further, while we could potentially receive up to an aggregate of $29.2 million in gross proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrant and the warrant issued to Aegis in connection with Company’s 2022 public offering (the “2022 Underwriter Warrant”), assuming the exercise in full of all of the Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrant and 2022 Underwriter Warrant, no assurances can be made that the holders of such warrants will elect to exercise any or all of such warrants and, accordingly, no assurance that we will receive any proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, Placement Agent Warrant and 2022 Underwriter Warrant. We believe the likelihood that the holders will exercise the Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrant and the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, and therefore the amount of cash proceeds that we would receive, is dependent upon the trading price of our common stock, which as of the date this filing was below the exercise price of $2.85 for the Warrants, the exercise price of $3.5625 for the Placement Agent Warrant and the exercise price of $3.75 for the 2022 Underwriter Warrant. If the trading price for our common stock is less than the exercise price for either the Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrant or the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, we believe the holders of such warrants will be unlikely to exercise their warrants. Accordingly, we may not receive cash proceeds with respect to either the Warrants, Placement Agent Warrant or 2022 Underwriter Warrant and we are restricted in our ability to conduct additional debt or equity financings.

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The issuance of our common stock in connection with the Company’s outstanding warrants, including the Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrant and the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, and the Convertible Notes, could cause substantial dilution, which could materially affect the trading price of our common stock.

The Warrants, the Convertible Notes, the Placement Agent Warrant, and the 2022 Underwriter Warrant are exercisable or convertible, as applicable, for up to 22,072,464 shares of the Company’s common stock. The additional shares of common stock issued upon the exercise or conversion, as applicable, of the Warrants, the Convertible Notes, the Placement Agent Warrant and the 2022 Underwriter Warrant will result in dilution to the then existing holders of common stock of the Company and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of a substantial number of such shares in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

The sale of our common stock by our stockholders, or the perception that stock sales may occur, could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

On August 22, 2022 we entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to the investors in the private placement (i) the Convertible Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $27,173,913, at an initial conversion price of $2.25 per share of the Company’s common stock and subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events, and (ii) the Warrants to purchase up to 9,057,971 shares of common stock with an initial exercise price of $2.85 per share of common stock. Contemporaneously, we entered into the Placement Agent Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to issue the Placement Agent Warrant to purchase up to 603,864 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.5625. On February 1, 2022, we entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated February 1, 2022, between the Company and Aegis Capital Corp., pursuant to which we agreed to issue the 2022 Underwriter Warrant to purchase up to 333,334 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.75. Therefore, up to 22,072,464 shares of the Company’s common stock have been registered for resale.

The sale of our common stock in the public market or otherwise, including sales of the common stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Warrants, Convertible Notes, Placement Agent Warrant or the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, as applicable, by the holders of the Warrants, Convertible Notes, Placement Agent Warrant or the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate (which ability to sell equity securities is also subject to restrictions under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement and related agreements). If and when we do issue shares of common stock to holders of the Warrants, Convertible Notes, Placement Agent Warrant or the 2022 Underwriter Warrant, upon the exercise or conversion, as applicable of the Warrants, Convertible Notes, Placement Agent Warrant or 2022 Underwriter Warrant, such stockholders may resell all, some or none of those shares of common stock at any time or from time to time at their discretion. Resales of our common stock may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, regardless of the performance of our business.

We may not be able to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.

The standards for continued listing on Nasdaq include, among other things, that the minimum bid price for the listed securities not fall below $1.00 for a period in excess of thirty consecutive business days. During the months of May 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 our common stock traded at levels below $1.00 per share, but never for thirty consecutive days. However, if the closing bid price of our common stock were to fail to meet Nasdaq’s minimum closing bid price requirement, or if we otherwise fail to meet any other applicable requirements of Nasdaq and we are unable to regain compliance, Nasdaq may make a determination to delist our common stock. The delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq could negatively impact us by (i) reducing the liquidity and market price of our common stock; (ii) reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our common stock, which could negatively impact our ability to raise equity financing; (iii) impacting our ability to use a registration statement to offer and sell freely tradable securities, thereby preventing or limiting us from accessing the public capital markets; and (iv) impairing our ability to provide equity incentives to our employees.

20

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about us, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our common stock, then our stock price and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us, our industry and our market. If no analyst elects to cover us and publish research or reports about us, the market for our common stock could be severely limited and our stock price could be adversely affected. As a small-cap company, we are more likely than our larger competitors to lack coverage from securities analysts. In addition, even if we receive analyst coverage, if one or more analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. If one or more analysts who elect to cover us issue negative reports or adversely change their recommendations regarding our common stock, our stock price could decline.

 

As an “emerging growth company” under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements.

 

As an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. We are an emerging growth company until the earliest of:

 

·the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07$1.235 billion or more;
·the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering;
·the date on which we have, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or
·the date on which we are deemed a “large accelerated issuer” as defined under the federal securities laws.

 

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For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:

 

·have an auditor report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
·comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis);
·submit certain executive compensation matters to shareholders advisory votes pursuant to the “say on frequency” and “say on pay” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve compensation of certain executive officers) and the “say on golden parachute” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve golden parachute arrangements for certain executive officers in connection with mergers and certain other business combinations) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; and
·include detailed compensation discussion and analysis in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and instead may provide a reduced level of disclosure concerning executive compensation.

 

Additionally, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we:

 

·may present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A; and
·are eligible to claim longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act.

 

We intend to take advantage of all of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions, other than the longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act.

 

Certain of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions were already available to us due to the fact that we also qualify as a “smaller reporting company” under SEC rules. For instance, smaller reporting companies are not required to obtain an auditor attestation and report regarding management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting; are not required to provide a compensation discussion and analysis; are not required to provide a pay-for-performance graph or CEO pay ratio disclosure; and may present only two years of audited financial statements and related MD&A disclosure.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

NoneNone.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

Our corporate headquarters is located in Round Rock, Texas, where we currently lease approximately 21,30023,300 square feet of space across three facilities.  We also lease retail space of approximately 6,200 square feet in Denver, Colorado. We have signed a lease for a 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Liberty Hill, Texas, from an entity owned by two of our founders and a third investor. We are evaluating an amendment to the lease that would provide for additional tenant improvements paid for by the lessor. Construction of this facility has not commenced as of December 31, 2021 and we are not obligated to make any rental payments, other than deposits, until a certificate of occupancy has been obtained by the lessor.

We believe that our existing space is adequate for our current operations. We believe that suitable replacement and additional space, if necessary, will be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time in the ordinary course of our business, we may be involved in legal proceedings, the outcomes of which may not be determinable. The results of litigation are inherently unpredictable. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time and result in diversion of significant resources. We are not able to estimate an aggregate amount or range of reasonably possible losses for those legal matters for which losses are not probable and estimable. We have insurance policies covering potential losses where such coverage is cost effective.

We are not at this time party to any legal proceedings. 

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicableapplicable.

 

 1822 

 

PART II

 


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

A) Market Information

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol “VLCN”.

 

B) Holders

 

As of March 21, 2022,3, 2023, we had 1,3811,210 shareholders of record and 24,055,67224,613,234 outstanding shares.

 

C) Dividends

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. Pursuant to the Convertible Notes we issued in August 2022, until all of the Convertible Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied in full, we are not permitted without the prior written consent of the note holders to declare or pay any cash dividend. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in any financing instruments, provisions of applicable law and other factors the board deems relevant.

 

D) Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

In January 2021, we adopted the Volcon, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan, or 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan is a stock-based compensation plan that provides for discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards, stock unit awards and stock appreciation rights to key employees, non-employee directors and consultants.

The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan is 3,000,000.

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The following table summarizes information about the outstanding equity plan as of December 31, 2021.

Plan Category Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities in Column (a))
  (a) (b) (c)
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders 2,401,538 (1) $2.77 478,200 (2)
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders 5,174,209 (3)(4)(5) $1.16 
Total 7,575,747 $1.67 478,200

______________________

(1)Includes 44,623 shares (of a possible total of 87,493 reserved as of December 31, 2021) approved for issuance by the compensation committee of the board of directors on February 28, 2022 for achievement of the Company’s second half 2021 goals.
(2)Includes 42,870 shares reserved for issuance as of December 31, 2021 but not issued for second half 2021 goals.
(3)On August 28, 2020, we entered into consulting agreements with Pink Possum, LLC (“Pink Possum”), an entity controlled by Mr. Okonsky, and Highbridge Consultants, LLC (“Highbridge”), an entity controlled by Mr. James, pursuant to which Messrs. Okonsky and James provide us with services. In consideration for entering into the consulting agreements, we issued the two entities ten-year warrants to purchase our common stock at an exercise price of $0.004 per share. The number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the warrants was based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the time of exercise and provided that Pink Possum and Highbridge would receive 18.75% and 25%, respectively, of our shares of common stock outstanding at the time of exercise on a fully diluted basis. On March 26, 2021, Pink Possum and Highbridge entered into amendments to the consulting agreements agreeing to exchange the original warrants for new ten-year warrants to purchase 4,750,000 and 6,250,000 shares, respectively, of common stock at an exercise price of $0.98. The warrants for Highbridge were exercised in December 2021 on a cashless basis for 5,507,575 shares of common stock.
(4)As additional compensation to Aegis, upon consummation of our initial public offering, we issued to Aegis warrants to purchase 151,250 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $6.88 per share (the “Underwriter Warrants”). The Underwriter Warrants and the underlying shares of common stock will not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Underwriter Warrants by any person for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of commencement of sales of the initial public offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110. The Underwriter Warrants will be exercisable from the date that is six months from the commencement of the sales of our initial public offering and will expire four years and six months after such date in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A). Furthermore, (i) the Underwriter Warrants do not have more than one demand registration right at our Company’s expense in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(B); (ii) the Underwriter Warrants do not have a demand registration right with a duration of more than five years from the commencement of sales of the public offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C); (iii) the Underwriter Warrants do not have piggyback registration rights with a duration of more than seven years from the commencement of sales of the public offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D); and (iv) the Underwriter Warrants have anti-dilution terms that are consistent with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(E) and (F).
(5)As compensation to certain investors, upon consummation of our Series A and Series B preferred stock issuances, certain investors were issued fully vested warrants with five year terms to purchase 79,775 shares of Series A preferred stock at $2.57 per share and 197,277 shares of Series B preferred stock at $3.80 per share. Upon completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, such warrants converted to shares of the Company’s common stock. In October 2021, upon completion of the Company’s initial public offering, warrants totaling 248,268 shares of common stock were exercised on a cashless basis, and the Company issued 170,257 shares of common stock for the exercise of these warrants.

D) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities


None.



Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

All information related to equity securities sold by us during the period covered by this report that were not registered under the Securities Act have been included in our Form 10-Q filings or in a Form 8-K filing. We did not issue any equity securities during the fourth quarter of 2022 that were not registered under the Securities Act.

ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

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ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those discussed in our forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

We are an all-electric, off-road powersports vehicle company developing and manufacturingbuilding electric two and four-wheel motorcycles and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), also known as side-by-sides.side-by-sides, along with a complete line of upgrades and accessories. In October 2020, we launchedbegan building and testing prototypes for our future offerings with two off-road motorcycles – the Grunt and the Runt. Our motorcycles feature unique frame designs protected by design patents. Additional utility and design patents have been filed for other aspects of Volcon’s vehicles.

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We initially began taking orders on our website for these initial offeringsto sell and began deliveringdistribute the GruntsGrunt and related accessories in the third quarter of 2021. Due to delays in development and the estimated cost to manufacture the Runt, we are still evaluating whether to manufacture and sell this product.U.S. on a direct-to-consumer sales platform. We terminated our direct-to-consumer sales platform asin November 2021. Prior to the termination of November 24, 2021, and as of that date,our direct-to-consumer sales platform, U.S. customers made deposits for 360 Grunts (net of cancellations), and five Runts, plus accessories and a delivery fee representing total deposits of $2.2 million. These orders arewere cancelable by the customer until the vehicle iswas delivered and after a 14-day acceptance period, therefore the deposits have beenwere recorded as deferred revenue. We are assemblingAs of June 30, 2022, we had completed shipping of all Grunts sold through our direct-to-consumer sales platform. Due to delays in developing the Grunt in a leased production facilities in Round Rock, Texas. Based on our current production capacity,Runt, we believe we will deliverrefunded the deposits made for all of these orders by second quarter of 2022.

Runts.

Beginning in November 2021, we began negotiating dealership agreements with retail partnerspowersports dealers to display and sell our vehicles and accessories. Customers can now, or will soon be able to, buy our vehicles and accessories directly from a local dealership. Some of these retail partnersdealers will also provide warranty and repair services to our customers. Through December 31, 2021,2022, we have entered into 33151 dealership agreements.

We are designing an upgraded Upon sale of a Grunt the 2023 Grunt EVO, that will have a belt drive rather than a chain drive,dealer may order an upgraded rear shock, a new seat and will be available in additional colors and have aftermarket accessory upgrades such as handlebars, grips, foot pegs and seats. The pricing for the 2023 Grunt EVO and accessories has not yet been determined.Grunt. We expect the Grunt EVO to be available beginning inable to offer the fourth quarterdealers a financing option, or “floor plan” to make larger purchases of 2022.

our vehicles, but we do not currently have this financing option available. We are also designing, and expecthave agreements with third-party financing companies to introduce,provide financing to qualified customers of each dealer. There is no recourse to the 2023 Grunt LE inCompany or the first quarter of 2023 which, likedealer if the Grunt EVO, will have a belt drive, but will also have a larger, integrated battery, black frame and additional color schemes alongdealer’s customer defaults on the financing agreement with other aftermarket upgrades. Pricing for the Grunt LE and related accessories have not yet determined. In addition, we are evaluating an additional model, 2023 Grunt XL (Hunt/Fish edition), and the features and release of this model has not been determined but would be focused on features attractive to hunters and anglers.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, we expect to begin selling the 2023 Volcon Brat E-Bike. Pricing for the Brat has not yet been determined and this will be manufactured by a third-party.

 

We expect to introduce the Volcon Stag inAs of December 31, 2022, which we expect to be available for sale in the second half of 2023. The Stag will be followed with the introduction of a higher performance, longer range UTV (to be named) which we expect to be available for sale in 2024.

We have signed a leaseagreements with five importers in Latin America and one importer for a dedicated, built-to-suit manufacturing facility on 53 acres in Liberty Hill, Texas, 25 miles northwest of downtown Austin from an entity controlled by our founders. We are evaluating an amendmentthe Caribbean Region, collectively referred to herein as the lease that will provide additional tenant improvements and access to an additional 17 acres of land. If we agree to the amendment, we expect to begin production of the Stag, and possibly other vehicles, at this facility in the second half of 2023. We are also evaluating other options for facilities to lease to produce the Stag, including the possibility to fully outsource the manufacturing to a third-party.

We planLATAM importers to sell our vehicles and accessories globally in a three-phase rollouttheir assigned countries/markets. In June 2022 we signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Torrot Electric Europa S.A., referred to herein as Torrot, to distribute their electric motorcycles for youth riders in Latin America. We will use our LATAM importers to sell Torrot’s products in Latin America.

In October 2022, we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to also be the exclusive distributor of export sales–Torrot and Volcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in the United States as well as Latin AmericaAmerica. This agreement supersedes the original Torrot agreement and once all Torrot branded inventory is sold, we will no longer distribute Torrot branded motorcycles. Finally, in December 2022 we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to be the exclusive distributor of Volcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in Canada.

We expect to expand our global sales of our vehicles and accessories beyond our current LATAM importer base. We expect to sign more LATAM importers started in 2021, Canada and Europe expected in 2022 and Australia expected in 2023 subjectand expect to homologation requirements of each country, if any. Exportbegin selling in Canada in 2023. We expect export sales areto be executed throughwith individual importers in each country that will buy vehicles by the container.containers of vehicles. Each importer will sell vehicles and accessories to local dealers or directly to customers. Local dealers will provide warranty and repair services for vehicles purchased in their country.

 

In July 2022, we expanded our offerings with the introduction of the first of our Volcon UTV models, the Stag, which we anticipate will be available for delivery to customers possibly as early as the first half of 2023, followed by additional models of the Stag expected in 2024 and 2025 and the introduction of a higher performance, longer range UTV (to be named) which we expect to begin delivering in 2025. The Stag will be manufactured by a third-party and incorporate electrification units, which include batteries, drive units and control modules provided by General Motors. Beginning in June 2022 we have taken non-binding pre-production orders which are cancelable prior to delivery.

Through August 2022 we assembled the Grunt in a leased production facility in Round Rock, Texas. In August 2022 we announced that we will outsource the manufacturing of the Grunt to a third-party manufacturer, which we anticipate will reduce costs and improve profitability on the Grunt and received Grunts from this manufacturer in January 2023. We also outsourced the manufacturing of the 2023 Grunt EVO to the same third-party manufacturer. The 2023 Grunt EVO will replace the Grunt and has a belt drive rather than a chain drive as well as an updated rear suspension and new seat. We have received prototypes of the Grunt EVO in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to begin sales in the second quarter of 2023.

In September 2022, we reduced our headcount in our product development and administration departments as we outsourced the design and development of certain components of our vehicle development. We also hired our chief marketing officer and expect to hire additional sales and marketing employees and increase marketing activities to further support our brand and products.

 

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AsWe began taking pre-orders for an eBike, the Brat, in September 2022 and shipments to customers began in the fourth quarter of December 31, 2021,2022. In January 2023, we began selling the Brat directly to consumers through our website. Consumers who order the Brat from our website can have the Brat shipped to their specified destination. The Brat is being manufactured by a third-party.

In November 2022 we finalized an agreement for a third-party to manufacture the Runt. We received orders from Latin America importers for 92 Gruntsprototypes of the Runt in the first quarter of 2023 and delivered 24 of them. Payment for these orders is due priorexpect to shipment and are cancelable until shipped. Based on our current production capacity, we believe we will be able to fulfill all pending orders bybegin sales in the second quarter of 2022.2023.

The estimated fulfillment of all orders we have received to date assumes that our third-party manufacturers can successfully meet our order quantities and deadlines. If they are unable to satisfy orders on a timely basis, our customers may cancel their orders.

 

Results of Operations

 

We were formed on February 21, 2020; therefor theThe following financial information is for 2020 is from the date of inception throughyears ended December 31, 2020.2022 and 2021.

 

 2021 2020  2022 2021 
Revenue $448,819  $  $4,546,686  $448,819 
Cost of goods sold  10,507,454      13,412,820   10,507,454 
Gross margin  (10,058,635)     (8,866,134)  (10,058,635)
                
Operating expenses:                
Sales and marketing  2,872,620   125,752   5,694,556   2,872,620 
Product development  10,465,186   407,760   8,456,157   10,465,186 
General and administrative  15,783,409   833,277   9,046,778   15,783,409 
Total operating expenses  29,121,214   1,366,789   23,197,491   29,121,214 
                
Loss from operations  (39,179,850)  (1,366,789)  (32,063,625)  (39,179,850)
                
Interest and other expense  (945,260)  (7,624)  (2,171,780)  (945,260)
Net loss $(40,125,109) $(1,374,413) $(34,235,405) $(40,125,109)

 

Due to recurring losses, there is no provision for income taxes for any period presented.

 

Revenue

 

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $4,546,686 which represents sales of Grunts of $3,576,796 and accessories and parts of $250,780. The sales of Grunts are offset by promotional rebates and discounts provided to dealers and distributors during 2022 resulting in $930,422 being recorded to reduce revenue. The rebate is provided as a year-end incentive to dealers and distributors to sell their remaining 2022 Model Year Grunt inventory. Revenue of $489,769 and $129,383 represents the sale of Brats and Torrot kids motorcycles, respectively. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $448,819 and represents the sale of 75 Grunts and accessories of $17,390. There were no sales during 2020.

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Cost of goods sold

 

Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 30,31, 2022 were $13,412,820 including labor costs of $1,740,645 for employees and contractors performing assembly, logistics, quality control testing, and service and warranty of Grunts through August 2022, when assembly of the Grunt was discontinued, and stock-based compensation of $344,374 for share-based awards for these employees. Subsequent to August 2022, labor costs of $453,471 relate to employee and contractor costs for logistics, quality control testing and service and warranty, including stock-based compensation of $234,178 for share-based awards for these employees. Total cost of materials for Grunts during the year were $5,460,943 which include parts costs for Grunts sold of $3,814,424, adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory of $460,744 and adjustments to record inventory at its net realizable value of $1,692,217. We paid $128,137 for fees owed to cancel purchase orders for Grunt parts to reduce quantities ordered to expected sales demand. Cost of goods sold for Brats and Torrot Youth motorcycles, excluding shipping, was $235,160 and $206,596, respectively, this includes a $82,627 write-down for Torrot Youth inventory to sell remaining quantities on hand in anticipation of the Volcon Youth branded motorcycles which arrived in the first quarter of 2023.

Facilities costs were $585,114 for our manufacturing facility and inventory warehousing costs. Shipping costs and duties/tariffs for inventory purchases and shipments to customers were $2,627,658 which includes an accrual of $350,000 for costs expected to be incurred to ship our raw materials and work-in-process inventory to our third-party manufacturer offset by $242,772 for shipping fees paid by customers. Accrued warranty costs were $575,608. Depreciation expense of $285,564 was recorded in the year and a loss on the write-off of property and equipment of $170,657 was recognized for the disposal of manufacturing assets due to the outsourcing of Grunt assembly.

Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $10,507,454. Costs include labor costs of $1,064,539 for employees and contractors performing parts purchasing, assembly and quality control testing of Grunts and stock-based compensation of $264,314 for share basedshare-based awards for employees. Part costs for Grunts sold during the period waswere $1,489,649. Facilities costs were $148,683 for our manufacturing facility and inventory warehousing costs. Shipping costs for inventory purchases waswere $1,143,442. In addition, the Company recorded a write downwrite-down of inventory of $5,450,007 to record inventory at its net realizable value.

 

InBeginning in the next 6-9 monthsfirst quarter of 2023 we could experience manufacturing delays due to shipping constraints in our supply chain. We expect the cost of goods sold to increase as we expect to sell a higher quantitiesquantity of Grunts, butBrats than in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2023 we expect cost of goods sold to increase further due to the expected sales of the Grunt EVO, Runt and Stag. Our cost per Grunt EVO and Runt is fixed in our contract with the third-party manufacturer. We have identified suppliers who can deliver Grunt EVO parts at a lower cost than we have historically paid for the same or similar Grunt part, as many are interchangeable, and we have provided these vendors to decrease as we gain efficienciesour third-party manufacturer for their consideration in sourcing parts. Additional cost savings may be realized if the manufacturing process andthird-party manufacturer can source or manufacture parts at a lower cost.

Other than the cost of parts is reduced asthe batteries, we purchasehave a fixed cost per unit for the Stag in our contract with our third-party manufacturer. However, not all components have been fully sourced and additional costs for these components or price increases from suppliers for components already sourced could result in a higher volumescost per unit and source additional suppliers.we may not be able to increase the price we sell each unit to our customers which could negatively impact our expected margin.

 

Sales and marketing

 

Sales and marketing expenses relate to costs to increase exposure and awareness for our products and developing our network of U.S. dealers and international distributors. Sales

For the year ended December 31, 2022 sales and marketing expenses were $5,694,556 and include $1,636,619 for the period ended December 30, 2020, were not significant as we did not have significant operations duringpromoting our products, employee payroll costs of $1,949,064, stock-based compensation of $764,517 for share-based awards granted to employees and consultants, $66,625 for professional fees, $356,958 for facilities costs primarily to operate our now closed dealership in Denver, Colorado, including costs of $148,323 for closing this period.store, and travel costs of $294,878 primarily related to costs incurred for travel to build our dealer network.

 

 

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Sales and marketing expenses were $2,872,620 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and were primarily related to expenses associated with promoting our products and brand of $1,260,800, professional fees of $412,429, primarily composed of legal fees of $161,398 to develop our dealer network and evaluate compliance with dealer laws across the United States and $92,888 for consulting fees related to the development of our international and domestic sales channels, employee payroll costs of $645,103, stock-based compensation of $313,718 for share-based awards granted to employees and consultants and $177,628 of facilities costs, primarily to operate our dealership in Denver, Colorado.

 

We expect sales and marketing expenseexpenses to increase as we expand our U.S. dealer and international distributor networks and promote a broader range of our products. We also expect sales expenses to increase as we begin developing our Canadian dealer network.

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

General and administrative expenses relate to costs for our finance, accounting and administrative functions to support the development, manufacturing and sales of our products. General

For the year ended December 31, 2022, general and administrative expenses for the period ended December 31, 2020, were $833,277$9,046,778 and were primarily related to expenses associated with employee payroll costs of $2,497,956, stock-based compensation of $1,211,788, professional fees of $2,197,734, including legal fees of $1,714,350 and related consulting, finance, accountingrecruiting fees of $173,122, insurance costs of $1,539,798, public company costs of $416,629 excluding legal fees of $496,364 included above, and legal costs in connection with establishing the Company and developing the future product development and sales plans. Payroll costs were not significant as the we only had 4 employees, all hired in the fourth quartersoftware fees of 2020.$361,014.

 

General and administrative expenses were $15,783,409 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and were primarily related to expenses associated with employee payroll costs of $679,147, stock-based compensation of $13,504,435 (consisting of $13,031,989 due to warrants issued to our founders in March 2021 and $472,446 due to share basedshare-based awards granted to employees and consultants), professional fees of $804,703, including legal fees of $187,040, tax and accounting fees of $284,290, recruiting fees of $216,677 and IT consulting, outsourcing and other fees of $116,696 and insurance costs of $402,994.

 

We expect general and administrative expenses other than stock-based compensation related to remain relatively consistent with the founder warrants, to increasefourth quarter of 2022 over the next several quarters as we increasehave decreased staffing to support sales, manufacturing, product developmentin some administrative areas but expect costs such as insurance and to comply with public company reporting and compliance requirements.requirements to offset the employee cost reductions.

 

Product Development Expense

 

Product development expenses relate to development of our products and process to manufacture these products. Product development expense for

For the periodyear ended December 31, 2020 was $407,7602022, product development expenses totaled $8,456,157 and primarily related to expenses associated with employee payroll costs of $3,646,927, stock-based compensation of $704,152 for share-based awards granted to employees and consultants, $1,010,895 for consulting fees for product design, other professional fees of $133,680, primarily tofor employee recruiting, prototype developmentparts and tooling costs incurred for the design of our initial vehicles, the Grunt $2,201,706, facilities cost of $262,762 and Runt.software fees, small equipment, tools and shop supplies of $183,761.

 

Product development expenses were $10,465,186 in for the year ended December 31, 2021 and were primarily related to expenses associated with employee payroll costs of $2,048,561, stock-based compensation of $544,916 for share basedshare-based awards granted to employees and consultants, professional fees of $1,004,242 for product design and $303,647 for employee recruitment, prototype parts and tooling costs of $5,712,533, facilities cost of $331,703 and software fees, small equipment, tools and shop supplies of $222,497.

  

We expect employee costs related to product development costs to increasedecrease in the future assince we have outsourced certain design and development of our product development activities expand for new vehicle models. The decrease will be offset by increases due to outsourced design and development costs and costs related to prototype costs for the Stag, Grunt EVO and Runt. Prototype costs, especially for the Stag, will be significant as we begin receiving Stag units that will be used to validate engineering and manufacturing design and costs incurred to perform testing to ensure the vehicles meet regulatory compliance requirements where we expect to sell these vehicles.

27

 

Interest and Other Expenses, net

 

Interest expenseand other expenses, net for the periodyear ended December 31, 2020 relates to2022 were $2,171,780. Non-cash interest expense of $2,231,403 was recognized for the amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of principal on our note payable used to purchase a vehiclethe Convertible Notes issued in December 2020. August 2022.

Interest and other expense for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily relates to interest on our notes payable used to purchase two vehicles and interest paid on the promissory notes issued in September 2021 and repaid in October 2021 with the proceeds from our initial public offering plus accretion of the discount on the issuance of the promissory notes.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss for the periodyear ended December 31, 20212022 was $40,125,109,$34,235,405, compared to $1,374,413$40,125,109 for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.

24

  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

On December 31, 2021,2022, we had cash of $5.6$11.5 million,including $0.5 million of restricted cash and we had a negative working capital of $4.4$0.5 million. Since inception in February 2020, we have funded our operations from proceeds from debt and equity sales.offerings..

 

Cash used in operating activities

 

OperatingNet cash used in operating activities was $33.7 million for the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) toyear ended December 31, 2020, mainly included research2022 and developmentincludes all of our operating costs except non-cash expenses including stock-based compensation of $3.3 million, write-down of inventory and prepaid inventory of $1.7 million, depreciation and amortization of $0.8 million, non-cash interest expense for the amortization of debt issuance costs and professional feesaccretion of principal on Convertible Notes of $2.2 million, amortization of right of use assets and lease costs of $0.4 million and losses on write-off of assets and leases of $0.6 million. Cash used in operating activities includes increases in accounts receivable of $0.8 million for consultants and attorneys for the formationsales made to dealers, an increase in inventory of $5.1 million offset by a reduction in inventory deposits of $1.6 million as we made fewer deposits based on outsourcing of the Company and early product development efforts. Some of these costs were paid for by the founders on behalfassembly of the Company.Grunt in August 2022 as the third-party manufacturer will purchase raw materials prospectively, a decrease of $2.3 million of customer deposits as we fulfilled all direct to consumer orders, a decrease of $0.4 million due to timing of payments on accounts payable, a decrease of $0.2 million in accrued liabilities and an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $0.8 million.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and includes all of our operating costs except stock-based compensation, write down of inventory and prepaid inventory and depreciation and amortization. Cash used in operating activities includes increases in inventory and prepaid inventory totaling $8.2 million as we made payments and deposits to purchase raw materials to begin production of the Grunt in 2021 for delivery to customers, cash provided by customer deposits of $2.2 million and an increase in accounts payable of $1.4 million.

 

Cash used in investing activities

 

CashNet cash used in investing activities was $0.8 million for the periodyear ended December 31, 2020, was not significant. 2022, primarily consisting of $0.3 million of purchases of equipment and tooling related to our Brat, Grunt, and Runt manufacturing and product development, $0.2 million for the cost of Grunts capitalized as demonstration units, and $0.2 million related to computers and equipment due to headcount growth prior to headcount reductions that occurred in the third quarter of 2022.

28


Net cash used in investing activities was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and mainly included purchases of equipment and tooling related to the manufacturing of the Grunt.

 

Cash provided by financing activities

  

Cash provided from financing activities for the periodyear ended December 31, 2020,2022, was $1.9$40.4 million and was primarily related to proceeds received from both the SAFEpublic offering described below offset byof our common stock in February 2022 where we sold 6,666,667 shares at $3.00 per share for net payments on related party notes payable.cash proceeds of $18.1 million and the issuance of senior Convertible Notes and Note Warrants in August 2022 for net cash proceeds of $22.3 million.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

In January 2021, we completed a WeFunder SAFE offering which was convertible into preferred stock upon future financing events. We received gross proceeds of $2,258,940 and paid expenses of $53,500.

 

In February 2021, we completed an offering of our Series A preferred stock. We received gross proceeds of $2,669,978 and issued 415,287 shares of Series A preferred stock. We paid commissions and expenses of $205,470 and issued 79,750 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 79,750 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.57 to placement agents in connection with the offering. This equity financing resulted in the SAFE investments of $2.0 million as of December 31, 2020, converting into 424,269 shares of Series A preferred stock and the WeFunder SAFE investments converting into 351,832 shares of Series A preferred stock.

  

From April 2021 to September 2021, we sold 1,105,827 shares of Series B preferred stock at $9.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds of $10.5 million. We paid commissions and expenses of $890,026 and issued 123,295 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 197,272 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $3.80 to placement agents in connection with the offering.

 

On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a lender for a 6% promissory note of $2 million. The promissory note hashad a maturity date of one year from inception or immediately upon the completion of this offering.a public offering of the Company’s common stock. For providing the above promissory note, the Company agreed to issue 266,664 shares of our common stock and agreed to pay $35,000 of the placement agent’s and investor’s legal costs and paid a 6% commission to the placement agent, who is the underwriter of this offering. Such payment is cash compensation for providing services for a private placement in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110 Supplementary Material .01(b)(2).agent.,

25

  

In October 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering and sold 3,251,875 shares of its common stock at $5.50 per share. The underwriter was also issued 162,594 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock at $6.88 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $16.6 million after expenses of $2.9 million, including the fair value of the warrants issued to the underwriter.

 

Our continuation as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to attain profitable operations and if necessary, obtain continued financial support from our stockholders, necessary equity financing to continue operations and the attainmentissuance of profitable operations.debt or equity. As of December 31, 2021,2022, we had incurred an accumulated deficit of $41.5$75.7 million since inceptioninception. Additionally, one of the covenants for our Convertible Notes requires us to have $10 million of cash on hand if principal (and interest, if any) of $15 million or more of the Convertible Notes is outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and have generated less than $0.5 million in revenue. Additionally, managementDecember 31, 2023 (subject to adjustment if the principal (and interest, if any) is below $15 million).

29

Management anticipates that our cash on hand as of December 31, 2021,2022 plus the proceeds receivedcash expected to be generated from the offering of our common stock that closed in February 2022 is insufficientoperations will not be sufficient to fund planned operations includingand maintain required cash balances for the development of our vehicles,Convertible Notes beyond one year from the date of the issuance of the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 30, 2021.31, 2022. There can be no assurance that such additional funding would be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. We may be required to raise additional proceeds to fund our operations and there is no guarantee that we will be able to raise funding with favorable terms, if at all. Additionally, any equity issuance to raise additional proceeds during the 12 months following our February 2022 public offering would require the consent of our underwriter from our February 2022 offering.

 

JOBS Act Accounting Election

 

The recently enacted JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.

 

We have implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and may impact our financial statements and we do not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

No critical accounting policies or estimates existed as of December 31, 2021.2022.

Item 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

 

 2630 

 

ItemITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

 

 

Report of MaloneBailey, LLP,, Houston, TX (PCAOB ID 206)

Financial Statements
 Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021
 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021
 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021
 Notes to the Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 2731 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of


Volcon, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Volcon, Inc. and its subsidiary (collectively, the “Company”) as of December 31, 20212022 and 2020,2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the yearyears then ended, December 31, 2021 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20212022 and 2020,2021, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the yearyears then ended, December 31, 2021 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Going Concern Matter

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the auditaudits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP


www.malonebailey.com


We have served as the Company's auditor since 2021.


Houston, Texas
March 6, 2023

March 23, 2022

 

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VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DecemberAS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022

AND 2021

         
  2021  2020 
       
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash $5,572,199  $536,082 
Accounts receivable  25,585   0 
Inventory  2,209,015   0 
Inventory deposits  1,981,397   0 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  1,092,860   102,789 
Total current assets  10,881,057   638,871 
Long term assets:        
Property and equipment, net  809,734   305,271 
Intangible assets, net  18,053   16,954 
Other long-term assets  732,810   50,560 
Right of use asset - operating lease  2,182,612   842,357 
         
Total assets $14,624,265  $1,854,013 
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $1,454,103  $81,400 
Accrued liabilities  771,631   34,044 
Accrued purchase commitments  1,506,976   0 
Current portion of notes payable  17,201   8,873 
Right of use operating lease liability, short term  456,207   141,943 
Customer deposits  2,277,607   55,865 
SAFE liability  0   2,000,000 
         
Total current liabilities  6,483,725   2,322,125 
Notes payable, net of discount and current portion  68,785   59,329 
Right of use operating lease liability, long term  1,767,506   614,414 
Total liabilities  8,320,017   2,995,868 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES        
         
Stockholders' equity (deficit):        
Preferred stock: $0.00001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 2,900,000 shares designated 0 shares outstanding        
Common stock: $0.00001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 17,309,187 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021, 1,937,500 issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2020  128   8 
Additional paid-in capital  47,803,643   232,550 
Accumulated deficit  (41,499,522)  (1,374,413)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)  6,304,249   (1,141,855)
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) $14,624,265  $1,854,013 

       
  2022  2021 
       
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash $10,986,592  $5,572,199 
Restricted cash  551,250    
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $62,451 and $0
at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively
  864,957   25,585 
Inventory  5,645,883   2,209,015 
Inventory deposits  427,662   1,981,397 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  1,850,666   1,092,860 
Total current assets  20,327,010   10,881,057 
Long term assets:        
Property and equipment, net  601,766   809,734 
Intangible assets, net  5,813   18,053 
Other long-term assets  285,037   732,810 
Right-of-use asset - operating lease  1,505,987   2,182,612 
         
Total assets $22,725,613  $14,624,265 
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $1,036,628  $1,454,103 
Accrued liabilities  2,045,239   771,631 
Accrued purchase commitments  28,600   1,506,976 
Current portion of notes payable  18,670   17,201 
Convertible Notes, net of issuance costs  17,353,748    
Right-of-use operating lease liability, short term  391,117   456,207 
Customer deposits  23,471   2,277,607 
Total current liabilities  20,897,472   6,483,725 
         
Notes payable, net of discount and current portion  50,116   68,785 
Right-of-use operating lease liability, long-term  1,143,011   1,767,506 
Total liabilities  22,090,599   8,320,017 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES      
         
Stockholders' equity:        
Preferred stock: $0.00001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding      
Common stock: $0.00001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 24,426,260 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022, 17,309,187 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021  198   128 
Additional paid-in capital  76,369,742   47,803,643 
Accumulated deficit  (75,734,927)  (41,499,522)
Total stockholders’ equity  635,013   6,304,249 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $22,725,613  $14,624,265 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 2933 

 

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

AND 2021

       
  2022  2021 
       
Revenue: $4,546,686  $448,819 
Cost of goods sold  13,412,820   10,507,454 
Gross margin  (8,866,134)  (10,058,635)
         
Operating expenses:        
Sales and marketing  5,694,556   2,872,620 
Product development  8,456,157   10,465,186 
General and administrative expenses  9,046,778   15,783,409 
Total operating expenses  23,197,491   29,121,214 
         
Loss from operations  (32,063,625)  (39,179,850)
         
Other income (expense)  87,765   (854,022)
Interest expense  (2,259,545)  (91,238)
Total other expense  (2,171,780)  (945,260)
         
Loss before provision for income taxes  (34,235,405)  (40,125,109)
Provision for income taxes      
         
Net loss $(34,235,405) $(40,125,109)
         
Net loss per common share – basic $(1.45) $(8.79)
         
Net loss per common share – diluted $(1.45) $(8.79)
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic  23,686,752   4,567,072 
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted  23,686,752   4,567,072 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

34

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

                                     
  Common stock                  Additional         
  Number                      paid-in  Accumulated     
  of Shares  Amount                  capital  deficit  Total 
                                     
Balance at January 1, 2022  17,309,187  $128            $47,803,643  $(41,499,522) $6,304,249 
                                     
Issuance of common stock for public offering, net of issuance costs of $1,910,816  6,666,667   67                   18,089,117      18,089,184 
                                     
Issuance of common stock for cashless exercise of warrants  83,552                             
                                     
Issuance of common stock for exercise of stock options and restricted shares  315,107   2                   39,998      40,000 
                                     
Stock-based compensation  54,623   1                   3,259,008      3,259,009 
                                     
Forfeiture of performance shares  (2,876)                            
                                     
Issuance of Note Warrants and underwriter warrants, net of issuance costs of $1,003,513                        7,177,976      7,177,976 
                                     
Net loss                       (34,235,405)  (34,235,405)
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2022  24,426,260  $198              $76,369,742  $(75,734,927) $635,013 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.  

35

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

AND

  Common stock  Series A preferred stock  Series B preferred stock  Additional         
  Number of      Number of      Number of      paid-in  Accumulated     
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  capital  deficit  Total 
                                     
Balance at January 1, 2021  1,937,500  $8     $     $  $232,550  $(1,374,413) $(1,141,855)
                                     
Proceeds from WeFunder offering, net of issuance costs of $53,500                    2,205,440      2,205,440 
                                     
Issuance of series A preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $205,470  79,750      415,287   4         2,464,504      2,464,508 
                                     
Conversion of WeFunder offering to series A preferred stock        351,832   4         (4)      
                                     
Conversion of SAFE Liability to series A preferred stock        424,269   4         1,999,996      2,000,000 
                                     
Issuance of series B preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $890,026  123,296            1,105,827   11   9,615,320      9,615,331 
                                     
Issuance of common stock with promissory notes, net of issuance costs of $65,000  266,664   3               734,997      735,000 
                                     
Issuance of common stock for initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $2,949,882  3,251,875   33               15,917,269      15,917,302 
                                     
Conversion of preferred stock for initial public offering  5,743,175   23   (1,191,388)  (12)  (1,105,827)  (11)         
                                     
Issuance of common stock for exercise of warrants  5,743,795   57               6,193      6,250 
                                     
Stock-based compensation  163,132   2               14,627,380      14,627,382 
                                     
Net loss                       (40,125,109)  (40,125,109)
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2021  17,309,187  $128     $     $  $47,803,643  $(41,499,522) $6,304,249 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

36

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM

FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (INCEPTION) TOYEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20202022

AND 2021

       
  2022  2021 
Cash flow from operating activities:        
Net loss $(34,235,405) $(40,125,109)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:        
Stock-based compensation  3,259,009   14,627,382 
Loss on write down of inventory and inventory deposits  1,692,217   5,450,007 
Loss on repayment of promissory notes     841,330 
Loss on lease terminations  378,176    
Loss on write-off of property & equipment  250,369   145,000 
Write-off of intangible assets  6,427    
Amortization of right-of-use asset  430,644   367,213 
Non-cash interest expense  2,231,403   54,670 
Depreciation and amortization  762,826   218,411 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (839,372)  (25,585)
Inventory  (5,129,085)  (4,155,996)
Inventory deposits  1,553,735   (3,977,574)
Prepaid assets and other current assets  (740,059)  (990,071)
Other assets  (37,414)  (682,250)
Accounts payable  (417,475)  1,372,703 
Accrued liabilities  (204,769)  737,715 
Right-of-use liabilities - operating lease  (354,340)  (240,110)
Customer deposits  (2,254,136)  2,221,742 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  (33,647,249)  (24,160,526)
Cash flow from investing activities:        
Purchase of property and equipment  (799,412)  (824,905)
Purchase of intangible assets     (13,125)
Net cash used by investing activities  (799,412)  (838,030)
Cash flow from financing activities:        
Repayment of notes payable  (17,201)  (13,158)
Proceeds from WeFunder offering, net of offering costs of $53,500     2,205,440 
Proceeds from issuance of Series A preferred stock, net of $205,470 of issuance costs     2,464,508 
Proceeds from issuance of Series B preferred stock, net of $890,026 of issuance costs     9,615,331 
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes, net of issuance costs of $96,000     1,104,000 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock with promissory notes, net of $65,000 of issuance costs     735,000 
Repayment of promissory notes     (2,000,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $2,949,882     15,917,269 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from public offering, net of issuance costs of $1,910,816  18,089,184    
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes, net of issuance costs of $2,312,895  15,122,345    
Proceeds from issuance of warrants to convertible note holders, net of issuance costs of $1,003,513  7,177,976    
Proceeds from exercise of stock options  40,000    
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants     6,250 
Net cash provided by financing activities  40,412,304   30,034,673 
         
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH  5,965,643   5,036,117 
CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD  5,572,199   536,082 
CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD $11,537,842  $5,572,199 

 

         
  2021  2020 
       
Revenue $448,819  $0 
Cost of goods sold  10,507,454   0 
Gross margin  (10,058,635)  0 
         
Operating expenses:        
Sales and marketing  2,872,620   125,752 
Product development  10,465,186   407,760 
General and administrative expenses  15,783,409   833,277 
Total operating expenses  29,121,214   1,366,789 
         
Loss from operations  (39,179,850)  (1,366,789)
         
Other income (expense)  (854,022)  0 
Interest expense  (91,238)  (7,624
Total other expense  (945,260)  (7,624
         
Loss before provision for income taxes  (40,125,109)  (1,374,413)
Provision for income taxes  0   0 
         
Net loss $(40,125,109) $(1,374,413)
         
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted $(8.79) $(5.69)
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted  4,567,072   241,640 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 3037 

 

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2020

                                     
  Common stock  Series A preferred stock  Series B preferred stock         
  Number of     Number of     Number of     

Additional

paid-in

  Accumulated    
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  capital  deficit  Total 
                            
Balance at February 21, 2020    $0     $0     $0  $0  $0  $0 
                                     
Issuance of founders shares for cash  1,625,000   7               10,826      10,833 
                                     
Stock-based compensation  312,500   1               221,724      221,725 
                                     
Net loss                       (1,374,413)  (1,374,413)
                                     
Balance at December  31, 2020  1,937,500  $8     $     $  $232,550  $(1,374,413) $(1,141,855)

31

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

  Common stock  Series A preferred stock  Series B preferred stock  Additional       
  Number of     Number of     Number of     paid-in  Accumulated    
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  capital  deficit  Total 
                            
Balance at January 1, 2021  1,937,500  $8     $     $  $232,550  $(1,374,413) $(1,141,855)
                                     
Proceeds from WeFunder offering, net of issuance costs of $53,500                    2,205,440      2,205,440 
                                     
Issuance of series A preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $205,470  79,750      415,287   4         2,464,504      2,464,508 
                                     
Conversion of WeFunder offering to series A preferred stock     0   351,832   4      0   (4)  0   0 
                                     
Conversion of SAFE Liability to series A preferred stock        424,269   4         1,999,996      2,000,000 
                                     
Issuance of series B preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $890,026  123,296            1,105,827   11   9,615,320      9,615,331 
                                     
Issuance of common stock with promissory notes, net of issuance costs of $65,000  266,664   3               734,997      735,000 
                                     
Issuance of common stock for initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $2,949,882  3,251,875   33               15,917,269      15,917,302 
                                     
Conversion of preferred stock for initial public offering  5,743,175   23   (1,191,388)  (12)  (1,105,827)  (11)  0   0   0 
                                     
Issuance of common stock for exercise of warrants  5,743,795   57               6,193      6,250 
                                     
Stock-based compensation  163,132   2               14,627,380      14,627,382 
                                     
Net loss                       (40,125,109)  (40,125,109)
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2021  17,309,187  $128     $     $  $47,803,643  $(41,499,522) $6,304,249 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

32

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARYEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

2022 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 20202021

 

 

         
  2021  2020 
Cash flow from operating activities:        
Net loss $(40,125,109) $(1,374,413)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:        
Stock-based compensation  14,627,382   221,725 
Loss on disposal of tooling  145,000   0 
Loss on write down of inventory and inventory deposits  5,450,007   0 
Loss on repayment of promissory notes  841,330   0 
Amortization of right of use asset  367,213   0 
Noncash interest expense  54,670   0 
Depreciation and amortization  218,411   2,522 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (25,585)  0 
Inventory  (4,155,996)  0 
Inventory deposits  (3,977,574)  0 
Prepaid assets and other current assets  (990,071)  (102,789)
Other assets  (682,250)  (50,560)
Right of use asset – operating lease  0   12,084 
Accounts payable  1,372,703   81,400 
Accrued liabilities  737,715   34,044 
Right of use liabilities - operating lease  (240,110)  (98,084)
Customer deposits  2,221,742   55,865 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  (24,160,526)  (1,155,123)
Cash flow from investing activities:        
Purchase of property and equipment  (824,905)  (231,607)
Purchase of intangible assets  (13,125)  (17,438)
Net cash used by investing activities  (838,030)  (249,045)
Cash flow from financing activities:        
Proceeds from SAFE liability  0   2,000,000 
Proceeds from related party notes payable  0   80,000 
Repayment of related party notes payable  0   (143,083)
Proceeds from equity issuance  0   10,833 
Repayment of notes payable  (13,158)  (7,500)
Proceeds from WeFunder offering, net of offering costs of $53,500  2,205,440   0 
Proceeds from issuance of Series A preferred stock, net of $205,470 of issuance costs  2,464,508   0 
Proceeds from issuance of Series B preferred stock, net of $890,026 of issuance costs  9,615,331   0 
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes, net of issuance costs of $96,000  1,104,000   0 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock with promissory notes, net of $65,000 of issuance costs  735,000   0 
Repayment of promissory notes  (2,000,000)  0 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $2,949,882  15,917,269   0 
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants  6,250   0 
Net cash provided by financing activities  30,034,673   1,940,250 
         
NET CHANGE IN CASH  5,036,117   536,082 
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD  536,082   0 
CASH AT END OF PERIOD $5,572,199  $536,082 

       
  2022  2021 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:        
Cash paid for interest $6,483  $23,048 
Cash paid for income taxes $  $ 
         
Non-cash transactions        
Recognition of initial right-of-use asset - operating lease $1,128,609  $1,707,466 
Acquisition of property and equipment with note payable $  $30,942 
Conversion of SAFE liability to Series A preferred stock $  $2,000,000 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 3338 

VOLCON, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2020

       
  2021  2020 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:        
Cash paid for interest $23,048  $7,624 
Cash paid for income taxes $0  $0 
         
Non-cash transactions        
Conversion of SAFE liability to Series A preferred stock $2,000,000  $0 
Noncash increase in related party notes payable $0  $63,083 

34

 

VOLCON, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION, NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN

 

Organization and Nature of Operations

 

Volcon, Inc. (“Volcon”) was formed on February 21, 2020, as a Delaware Corporation, under the name Frog ePowersports, Inc. The Company was renamed Volcon on October 1, 2020. Volcon is developerdesigns and manufacturer ofsells all-electric off roadoff-road powersport vehicles.

 

On January 5, 2021, the Company created Volcon ePowersports, LLC, (“Volcon LLC”) a Colorado wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, to sell Volcon vehicles and accessories in the United States.States on a direct to consumer basis. Volcon LLC is no longer used for selling vehicles and accessories.

 

Going Concern

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has recurring losses and has generated negative cash flows from operations since inceptioninception.

In August 2022, the Company ceased manufacturing the Grunt motorcycle in Round Rock, Texas and has outsourced the manufacturing of the Grunt to a third-party in Mexico. Further, the Company has outsourced the manufacturing of all its future vehicles to third-parties for the foreseeable future. The Company has also outsourced certain design and prototype services of its vehicles to third-parties. In September 2022, management reduced headcount and employee related costs in its product development and administrative departments to reduce operating costs.

Also in August 2022, the Company received net proceeds of approximately $22.3 million for the issuance of Convertible Notes due February 2024 and warrants (see Note 6). The Convertible Notes require the Company to have unrestricted and unencumbered cash on deposit of $10,000,000 if the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Convertible Notes is $15,000,000 or greater as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The cash on deposit requirement is reduced dollar for dollar to the extent that the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Convertible Notes is less than $15,000,000 on each of these dates.

Management anticipates that our cash on hand as of December 31, 2022 plus the cash expected to be generated from operations will neednot be sufficient to obtainfund planned operations and maintain required cash balances for the Convertible Notes beyond one year from the date of the issuance of the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that such additional funding, in 2022if needed, would be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue its operations.as a going concern. Due to these conditions, this raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management intends to finance operating costs over the next twelve months with loans or the sale of equity. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Impact of COVID-19

 

The outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”), which was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, and the related responses by public health and governmental authorities to contain and combat its outbreak and spread, has severely impacted the U.S. and world economies. Economic recessions, including those brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak may have a negative effect on the demand for the Company’s products and the Company’s operating results. The range of possible impacts on the Company’s business from the coronavirus pandemic could include: (i) changing demand for the Company’s products; (ii) potential disruption to the Company’s supply chain and distribution network; and (iii) disruption in the production of the Company’s vehicles due to employee illness or government regulations regarding social distancing and workplace requirements.

39

Impact of Russia and Ukraine Conflict

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine could impact the availability of nickel, an element used in the production of lithium ion cells used in batteries that power our vehicles. The shortage of these cells could have an impact on the Company’s ability to produce vehicles to meet its customers’ demands. In addition, sanctions against Russia could impact the price of elements, including nickel, that are used in the production of batteries which could result in higher costs to produce the Company’s vehicles. These sanctions have also impacted the U.S. and global economy and could result in an economic recession which could cause a broader disruption to the Company’s supply chain and distribution network and customer demand for our products.

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

 

Basis of presentation

 

The basis of accounting applied is the United States generally accepted accounting principles (USGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany accounts, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Stock Dividend

 

On July 27, 2021, the board of directors approved a common stock dividend of 1.5 shares for each share of common stock. The Company has accounted for this as a stock split since all common stock shares, warrants, options and restricted stock unit amounts and common stock per share amounts have been adjusted for this stock dividend. All periods presented have been adjusted to reflect this stock dividend. As a result of the stock dividend, Series A and Series B preferred stock converted at a ratio of 2.5 common shareshares for each preferred share outstanding upon completion of the Company’s initial public offering completed in October 2021.

35

 

Use of estimatesEstimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principlesGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“

(“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

  

Cash, and cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase. The recorded value of our cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair value. Restricted cash includes cash equivalents restricted as collateral for the Company’s corporate credit cards and a letter of credit with the Company’s bank.

40

 

Revenue recognition

 

For sales of Grunts directly to consumers, revenue iswas recognized when the Company transfers control of the product to the customer and the 14-day acceptance period has expired, or earlier acceptance has beenwas received from the customer. All direct to consumer Grunt sales were completed by June 30, 2022. For sales to dealers or distributors revenue is recognized when transfer of control of the product is made. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring control of vehicles, parts, and accessories. Consideration that is received in advance of the transfer of goods is recorded as customer deposits until delivery has occurred or the customer cancels their order and the consideration is returned to the customer. Sales and other taxes the Company collects concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue. If a right of return exists, the Company adjusts revenue for the estimated effect of returns. Until the Company develops sales history, it will estimate expected returns based on industry data for sales returns as a percent of sales, type of product, and a projection of this experience into the future. The Company’s sales do not have a financing component.

 

Sales promotions and incentives. The Company provides for estimated sales promotions and incentives, which are recognized as a component of sales in measuring the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Examples of sales promotion and incentive programs include distributerdistributor fees, rebates, dealer co-op advertising and volume incentives. Sales promotions and incentives are estimated based on contractual requirements. The Company records these amounts as a liability in the balance sheet until they are ultimately paid. Adjustments to sales promotions and incentives accruals are made as actual usage becomes known to properly estimate the amounts necessary to generate consumer demand based on market conditions as of the balance sheet date.

 

Shipping and handling charges and costs. The Company records shipping and handling charged to the customer and related shipping costs as a component of cost of sales when control has transferred to the customer.

 

Product warranties

 

The Company provides a one-year warranty on vehicles,motorcycles and eBikes, and a two-year warranty on the battery pack. The Company accrues warranty reserves at the time revenue is recognized. Warranty reserves include the Company’s best estimate of the projected cost to repair or to replace any items under warranty, based on actual warranty experience as it becomes available and other known factors that may impact the evaluation of historical data. The Company reviews its reserves quarterly to ensure that the accruals are

adequate to meet expected future warranty obligations and will adjust estimates as needed. Factors that could have an impact on the warranty reserve include the following: changes in manufacturing quality, shifts in product mix, changes in warranty coverage periods, product recalls and changes in sales volume. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of goods sold in the statement of operations. The portion of the warranty provision whichoperations and is expected to be incurred within 12 months from the balance sheet date will be classifiedrecognized as a current while the remaining amount will be classified as long-term liabilities.liability.

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Inventory and Inventory Deposits

 

The Company purchases partsInventories and assemblesprepaid inventory deposits are stated at the Grunt in a leased facility. Raw materials inventory costs include thelower of cost of parts, including duties, tariffs and shipping. Work in process and finished goods includes the cost of parts, labor and manufacturing overhead costs associated with the assembly of the vehicle. Finished goods also includes accessories for the vehicle and branded merchandise such as hats and shirts.(first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value.

 

Certain vendors require the Company to pay an upfront deposit before they will manufacture and ship our parts or accessories. These payments are classified as prepaid inventory deposits inon the balance sheet until title and risk of loss transfers to the Company, at which time they are classified as inventory.

 

InventoriesRaw materials inventory costs include the cost of parts, including duties, tariffs and inventory deposits are statedshipping. Work in process and finished goods include the cost of parts, labor and manufacturing overhead costs associated with the assembly of the vehicle. Finished goods also include accessories for the vehicle and branded merchandise such as hats and shirts.

41

Through August 2022 the Company assembled the Grunt motorcycle in a leased facility. The Company ceased assembly operations at the lowerend of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value.August and outsourced the assembly of the Grunt to a third-party. As of December 31, 2022, the Company is in the process of transferring its raw materials and work in process inventory for the Grunt to the third-party manufacturer. This manufacturer will take title to the inventory and provide the Company with a credit towards future purchases of finished goods once it begins production. The Company has adjusted the value of these inventories to the amount of the credit the third-party manufacturer has agreed to give the Company for future manufacturing of the Company’s vehicles.

 

Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are valued at cost. Additions are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on dispositions of equipment are reflected in operations. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Schedule of estimated useful lives for property, plant and equipment  
Category Estimated
Useful Lives
Machinery, tooling and equipment 3-7 years
Vehicles 5 years
Internal use manufactured vehicles 1-2 years
Furniture & Fixtures 5 years
Computers 3 years

 

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter period of their estimated useful life or term of the lease.

 


Intangible assets


Intangible assets include acquired domain names and software. Domain names are amortized over 15 years and software is amortized over the life of the shorter of the software term or three years.

 

Long-lived assets

 

The Company’s long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the historical carrying cost value of an asset may no longer be appropriate. The Company assesses recoverability of the asset by comparing the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the asset to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flows of the asset, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. An impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value and the fair value of the long-lived asset.

 

Leases

 

Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not separate non-lease components from the lease components to which they relate, and instead accounts for each separate lease and non-lease component associated with that lease component as a single lease componentcomponent.

37

  

ASC 842 defines initial direct costs as only the incremental costs of signing a lease. Initial direct costs related to leasing that are not incremental are expensed as general and administrative expense in our statements of operations.

42

 

The Company’s operating lease agreements primarily consist of leased real estate and are included within ROU assets – operating leases and ROU lease liabilities – operating leases on the balance sheets. The Company’s lease agreements may include options to extend the lease, which are not included in minimum lease payments unless they are reasonably certain to be exercised at lease commencement. The Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.

 

Research and development expenses

 

The Company records research and development expenses in the period in which they are incurred as a component of product development expenses.

 

Income taxes

 

Deferred taxes are determined utilizing the "asset and liability" method, whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on the differences between financial reporting and the tax basesbasis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, when it's more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are classified as current or non-current based on the underlying asset or liability or if not directly related to an asset or liability based on the expected reversal dates of the specific temporary differences.

   

Fair value of financial instruments

 

The Company discloses fair value measurements for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

The accounting standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets but are corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

The Company has a stock-based incentive award plan for employees, consultants and directors. The Company measures stock-based compensation at the estimated fair value on the grant date and recognizes the amortization of stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, or when it is probable criteria will be achieved for performance-based awards. Fair value is determined based on assumptions related to the fair value of the Company common stock, stock volatility and risk-free rate of return. The Company has elected to recognize forfeitures when realized.

 

Concentration Risk

The Company outsources certain portions of product design and development for its vehicles to third parties. In addition, the Company has outsourced the manufacturing of all of its vehicles to third-party manufacturers, including one manufacturer for three of its vehicles and this third-party is also performing product design and development services on these vehicles.

One supplier provides the battery and drivetrain components for the Company’s utility terrain vehicle, the Stag. The components are critical to the operation of the Stag.

 

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Recently issued accounting pronouncementsIssued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2019,August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740)2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2019-12”2020-06”): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.. The new standard eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxesamendments in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences related to changes in ownership of equity method investments and foreign subsidiaries. The guidance also simplifies aspects of accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifiesASU 2020-06 simplify the accounting for transactionscertain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. Under ASU 2020-06, embedded conversion features are no longer separately reported in equity and convertible debt instruments are now accounted for as a single liability measured at amortized cost, as long as no other features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. These changes will reduce reported interest expense and increase reported net income for entities with convertible instruments that resultwere bifurcated between liabilities and equity under previously existing guidance. Additionally, temporary differences between the book and tax bases resulting from the bifurcation of the embedded conversion feature under previously existing guidance have been eliminated and deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from such temporary differences will no longer be reported. The new guidance also requires the if-converted method to be used in a step-updiluted earnings per share computations for all convertible instruments and revised the if-converted method to preclude the addback of interest expense to the numerator if the principal portions of the convertible instruments are required to be settled in the tax basis of goodwill. For public business entities, itcash. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years.2021. Until the issuance of the Convertible Notes as discussed in Note 6, ASU 2020-06 did not affect the Company as the Company did not have any instruments outstanding that would be affected by ASU 202-06. The Company has determined thatadopted ASU No. 2020-06 effective with the issuance of the Convertible Notes. The adoption of this standard willASU 2020-06 does not have a material impact on its financial statements.the Company’s liquidity or cash flows.

 

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. The Company does not believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

  

NOTE 3 – INVENTORY

 

Inventory consists of the following at December 31:

 Schedule of inventory      
  2022  2021 
       
Raw materials $3,060,160  $1,822,306 
Work in process  439,839   45,444 
Finished goods  2,145,884   341,265 
Total inventory $5,645,883  $2,209,015 

The Company has recognized a loss of $1,692,217 on inventory and inventory deposits for Grunt parts for the year ended December 31, 20212022 to reduce inventories for Grunts to their net realizable value. The Company has purchase commitments for future payments due for inventory where initial deposits were paid as of December 31, 2022. The total additional payments due subsequent to December 31, 2022 are $1,708,595.

Schedule of inventory    
Raw materials $1,822,306 
Work in process  45,444 
Finished goods  341,265 
Total inventory $2,209,015 

 

The Company has recognized a loss of $5,450,007 on inventory and inventory deposits for Grunt parts for the year ended December 31, 2021 to reduce inventories related to the vehicle to their net realizable value. Of this loss, $1,506,849 representsrepresented an accrual for purchase commitments for future payments due for inventory where deposits were paid as of December 31, 2021. The total additional payments due subsequent to December 31, 2021 are $2,972,686.

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NOTE 4 – LONG – LIVED ASSETS

 

Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment consist of the following at December 31:

Schedule of property and equipment             
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
Machinery, tooling and equipment $554,378  $215,995  $352,137  $554,378 
Vehicles  148,460   73,202   156,648   148,460 
Internal use manufactured vehicles  73,500   0   274,385   73,500 
Fixtures & furniture  75,935   0   50,768   75,935 
Leasehold improvements  60,248   0   44,663   60,248 
Computers  88,610   18,112   228,671   88,610 
  1,001,130   307,309   1,107,272   1,001,130 
Less: Accumulated depreciation  (191,397)  (2,038)  (505,506)  (191,397)
Total property and equipment $809,734  $305,271  $601,766  $809,734 

 

Depreciation expense for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021 was $206,385757,013 andand $2,038206,385, respectively.

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Intangible assets

 

Intangible assets consist of the following at December 31:

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets             
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
Domain names $17,438  $17,438  $17,438  $17,438 
Software  13,125   0      13,125 
  30,563   17,438   17,438   30,563 
Less: Accumulated amortization  (12,510)  (484)  (11,625)  (12,510)
Total intangible assets $18,053  $16,954  $5,813  $18,053 

 

Amortization expense for the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 waswas $5,813 and $12,026 and $484, respectively.

 

NOTE 5 – NOTES PAYABLE AND PROMISSORY NOTES

 

Notes Payable

 

In December 2020, theThe Company has entered into atwo financing arrangementarrangements for $75,702the purchase of vehicles with an interest raterates of 8.64% for a vehicle. The Company will make monthly payments of $1,211 over 72 months. In April 2021, the Company entered into a financing arrangement for $30,942 with an interest rate ofand 7.64% for a vehicle. The Company will make monthly payments of $753 over 48 months.

. The following table provides the maturities of these notes payable as of December 31, 2021:2022:

Schedule of maturities for notes payable       
2022 $23,685 
2023  23,685  $23,685 
2024  23,685   23,685 
2025  17,664   17,664 
2026  14,654   14,654 
Total future payments  103,373   79,688 
Less: Interest  (17,386)  (10,902)
Total notes payable  85,986   68,786 
Less current portion  (17,201)  (18,670)
Long-term notes payable $68,785  $50,116 

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Promissory Notes

 

On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with two lenders to issue promissory notes of $2.02.0 million. The promissory notes bore interest at 6% and were due at the earlier of one year from issuance or immediately upon completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock. The Company also agreed to issue 266,664 shares of common stock to the lenders. Proceeds of $800,000 received from the promissory note arewere recorded as shareholders’ equity based on the allocation of the proceeds between the promissory note and shares of common stock issued. In addition, total issuance costs of $161,000 were allocated to the promissory note and shareholders’ equity of $96,000 and $65,000, respectively.

 

The promissory notes were repaid on October 8, 2021, with the proceeds received from the Company’s initial public offering in the amount of $2,007,333, which includes interest due for the period the promissory notes were outstanding. The Company recognized noncashnon-cash interest of $54,670 for accretion on the promissory notes for the period they were outstanding. The Company recognized a loss of $841,330 representing the difference between the $2,000,000 principal and the unamortized balance of the promissory notes when repaid.

  

NOTE 6 - CONVERTIBLE NOTES

On August 24, 2022, the Company issued senior convertible notes with an aggregate principal amount of $27,173,913 due February 24, 2024 (“the Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes have a conversion price of $2.25 per share of common stock (12,077,295 total shares if fully converted) and were issued with an original issue discount of 8.0% and do not bear interest unless an event of default has occurred, upon which interest accrues at 10% per annum. The holders of the Convertible Notes can convert any portion of the principal at any time during the term of the notes. The holders of the Convertible Notes also received fully vested warrants (the “Note Warrants”) to purchase 9,057,971 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.85 per share. The conversion and warrant exercise prices are subject to adjustment if the Company declares a stock dividend, stock split or recapitalization. The Company has reserved shares of common stock for the total number of shares the Convertible Notes can be converted into and the total shares issuable for the exercise of the Note Warrants. The Company received net cash proceeds, after issuance costs (excluding the value of the warrants issued to the placement agent as discussed below) of $22,300,321.

The Convertible Note and Note Warrant holders (collectively the “Holders”) do not have voting rights to the extent they have not converted their notes or exercised their warrants. The Holders do participate in any dividends or distributions of assets made by the Company to common stockholders based on the number of shares their notes can convert into or the number of shares they would receive if all warrants were exercised.

The Convertible Notes contain certain conversion limitations, providing that no conversion may be made if, after giving effect to the conversion, the holder, together with any of its affiliates, would own in excess of 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock after giving effect to such conversion. The Company can force conversion of the Convertible Notes at any time if the weighted average price of the Company’s common stock for ten consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $3.50, subject to the share limitations described above. In addition to default interest of 10% accruing on the Convertible Notes, the holders may require the Company to redeem a portion or all of the outstanding Convertible Notes at anytime through the due date.

 

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Events of default for the Convertible Notes are defined in the note agreements and include the following:

·Failure of the Company to file a registration statement, and have declared effective to register the shares of the Company’s common stock within a specified period
·Suspension of trading, or failure to be listed, of the Company’s common stock on an eligible market, as defined, for a period of two consecutive trading days or an aggregate of ten trading days in a 365 day period
·Failure to deliver shares of the Company’s common stock within five days following a conversion notification
·Failure to reserve shares of the Company’s common stock for the conversion of the Convertible Notes and Note Warrants
·Any acceleration prior to maturity of any indebtedness of the Company, declaration of bankruptcy, or court ordered bankruptcy
·Final judgment or judgments for payment aggregating in excess of $250,000 are rendered against the Company not covered by insurance or indemnity and are not discharged or stayed pending appeal within 60 days of judgment
·Breach of any representation, warranty or covenant by the Company to the transaction documents of the Convertible Notes and Note Warrants
·Any material damage to, or loss, theft or destruction of a material amount of the property of the Company
·Failure to remove any restrictive legends on any shares of the Company’s common stock issued to the holders of the Convertible Notes
·Electronic transfer of shares of the Company’s common stock is not available

As of December 31, 2022, the Company is in compliance with all covenants. The Convertible Notes require the Company to have unrestricted and unencumbered cash on deposit of $10,000,000 if the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Convertible Notes is $15,000,000 or greater as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The cash on deposit requirement is reduced dollar for dollar to the extent that the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Convertible Notes is less than $15,000,000 on each of these dates.

The Note Warrants expire on August 24, 2027. The Note Warrants contain certain conversion limitations, providing that a holder thereof may not exercise such Note Warrant to the extent that, if after giving effect to such conversion, the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock immediately after giving effect to such exercise. The Note Warrants provide the holders with the right to exercise the warrants on a non-cash basis if the Company does not have an effective registration statement for the underlying shares of common stock. The Company evaluated the provisions of the Note Warrants and concluded that they should be classified as equity.

The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $3,316,409, which includes $616,730 for the fair value of the warrants issued to the placement agent of the Convertible Notes as further described in Note 8. The Company allocated the net proceeds received from the issuance of the Convertible Notes and Note Warrants based on the relative fair values of each resulting in net proceeds of $15,122,345 being allocated to the Convertible Notes recorded as a current liability in the balance sheet and net proceeds of $6,561,247 being allocated to the Note Warrants which was recorded in equity. The Company will record non-cash interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes to accrete the allocated value of the Convertible Notes to the aggregate principal amount of $27,173,913 using the effective interest method and an interest rate of 39.6%. As of December 31, 2022, no conversions of the Convertible Notes or exercise of the Note Warrants or warrants issued to the placement agent had occurred.

The following is a summary of the Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2022:

Summary of convertible notes    
Principal amount $27,173,913 
Unamortized discount and issuance costs  (9,820,165)
Net carrying amount $17,353,748 
Fair value (Level 2) $24,637,026 

Interest expense recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $2,231,403.

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NOTE 67RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

During the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020,2022, the Company entered intoissued purchase orders and made prepayments for prototype parts of $21,860 to a notes payable agreement with a companyvendor that Pink Possum, LLC (“Pink Possum”) an entity controlled by a founder and directorMr. Okonsky, one of the Company which were secured by all assetsCompany’s founders, Chairman of the Company, for cash proceedsBoard and Chief Technology Officer, holds an equity interest of $75,000. The notes were due October 1, 2020 and were repaid in full25% as of December 31, 2020. The Company also received cash proceeds2022. This vendor is expected to provide additional prototype and product parts for a prototype of $5,000 from a company controlled byan upgraded version of the Company’s Chairman and founding stockholder which was unsecured, due on demand and non-interest bearing. The amount was repaidStag expected to be released in full prior to December 31, 2020.the future.

 

A related party paid expenses of $63,083 on behalf of the Company. These advances were unsecured, and due on demand. The Company repaid $63,083 plus interest of $7,624 during the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020.

On October 1, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with a consultant to serve as Chief Operating Officer and to manage the Company’s product development efforts. The consultant provided statements of work for the various projects to be executed and charged the Company hourly rates for his services. The Company also agreed to compensate a company owned by the consultant and his spouse $5,560 per month for the use of asubleased warehouse and office space on a month-to-month basis. Subsequentmonth to December 31, 2020,month basis from a company owned by a consultant who was also the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and his spouse. Monthly rent was $11,120 and the Company amendedcould cancel the agreement to increase the rental cost to $11,120 per month,lease with a 90-day cancellation provision.notice. In May 2021, the consultant became a salaried employee of the Company, however, in December 2021, the employee resigned from the Company. As of December 31, 2021, the Company continued to rent the warehouse and office space under the same terms. Total expense recognized for this lease for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $133,440.

In January 2022, the Company executed a lease assignment with the ultimate landlord of this facility. The lease willwas set to expire on December 31, 2023 and the monthly lease payment will bewas approximately $9,800. The Company paid the former Chief Operating Officer $15,317 to reimburse him for the security deposit on the lease of $9,453 plus $5,864 for leasehold improvements and equipment he installed in the facility. Total expenses recognized to this related party for this lease for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were $11,120 and $133,440, respectively. See further discussion of the termination of this lease effective September 2022 in Note 12 below.

 

In November 2020, the Company entered into an operating lease with an entity controlled by the Company’s two founders for its planned future headquarters and production facility in Liberty Hill, Texas. The lease hashad a lease term of 5 years, and monthly payments ranging from approximately $15,000 per month to $17,000 per month over the lease term.term and gave the Company access to the land for use in testing its vehicles prior to the construction of any facilities. In February 2021, the Company entered into an amendment of the lease related to its future headquarters to expand the leased premises. The Company paid an additional security deposit of $139,230 and additional prepaid rent of $315,588. The total minimum lease payments under the amended lease totaltotaled approximately $3,930,170.

 

In October 2021, the Company began discussions for an additional amendment to the lease, in anticipation of manufacturing the Stag at this location, which would resulthave resulted in the monthly payment increasing to $100,000 for the first year of the lease and increasing annually throughout the term of the lease to $107,000 in the final year. Monthly payments for the initial lease and the amended agreement beginwould have begun at the time a certificate of occupancy iswas received by the landlord, which is expectedlandlord.

The Company evaluated the cost of this facility in relation to other lower cost options, including having a third-party manufacturer the Stag, and determined that it would be in the first quarter of 2023. This amendment has not been finalized asbest interest of the issuance dateCompany to terminate this lease. On April 27, 2022, the Company informed the landlord that it would be terminating the lease. On May 27, 2022, the landlord notified the Company that the landlord would refund $85,756 of these financial statements.the prepaid rent and security deposit balance of $601,818 paid by the Company. This refund would be paid to the Company once the landlord has sold the land and the landlord will release the Company from any remaining obligations under the lease and amendments. The unrefunded portion of the prepaid rent and security deposit relates to some survey, architecture and construction design costs that were incurred by the landlord prior to the Company terminating the lease. The Company has recognized a loss on the termination of this lease of $247,525 for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Total amortization expense for the right-of-use asset recorded for the initial lease for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $ $61,709 and $148,102, respectively.

 

In June 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a company controlled by the Company’s Chairman and founding stockholderco-founder to lease office space for $2,000 per month for a period of one year. In May 2022, the Company informed the landlord that it will terminate this lease, and the landlord has confirmed that the lease terminated effective September 1, 2022. Total expense recorded for this lease for the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $16,000 and $14,000, respectively.

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On August 28, 2020, the Company entered into consulting agreements with Pink Possum and Highbridge Consultants, LLC (“Highbridge”), an entity controlled by Mr. James, one of the Company’s founders, pursuant to which Messrs. Okonsky and James provide the Company with services. In consideration for entering into the consulting agreements, the Company issued the two entities ten-year warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.004 per share. The number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the warrants was based on the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding at the time of exercise and provided that Pink Possum and Highbridge would receive 18.75% and 25%, respectively, of the Company’s shares of common stock outstanding at the time of exercise on a fully diluted basis. On March 26, 2021 and March 25, 2021, respectively, Pink Possum and Highbridge entered into amendments to the consulting agreements agreeing to exchange the original warrants for new ten-year warrants to purchase 4,750,000 and 6,250,000 shares, respectively, of common stock at an exercise price of $0.98. During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized compensation expenses of $5.6 million and $7.4 million for the warrants issued to Pink Possum and Highbridge, respectively. On December 20, 2021, Highbridge exercised all of its warrants on a cashless basis and the Company issued 5,507,575 shares of common stock to Highbridge.

In addition, pursuant to the consulting agreements, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined below) for an aggregate gross sales price of $100.0 million or more, each entity will receive a cash payment equal to 1% of such gross sales price. For the purposes of the consulting agreements, “Fundamental Transaction” means any of the following: (i) a consolidation or merger involving the Company if the holders of the voting securities of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such consolidation or merger do not, immediately after the consummation of such consolidation or merger, hold voting securities that collectively possess at least a majority of the voting power of all the outstanding securities of the surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or such surviving entity’s parent entity; (ii) a transfer or issuance (in a single transaction or series of related transactions) by one or more of the Company and its stockholders to one person or to any group of persons acting in concert, of shares of the Company’s capital stock then collectively possessing 50% or more of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock (computed on an as-converted to common stock basis); or (iii) any sale, license, lease, assignment or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. Furthermore, commencing upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of the shares of our common stock, if the Company’s market capitalization exceeds

$300.0 million for a period of 21 consecutive trading days, each of the entities will receive an additional cash payment equal to $15.0 million; provided that the Company will have the right, in its sole discretion, to make the foregoing $15.0 million payment by the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock. The foregoing amounts will be payable to the entities if the above milestones occur any time prior to the ten-year anniversary of the original consulting agreements, or August 28, 2030.

In December 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Okonsky and the consulting agreement with Pink Possum was terminated. However, the warrants to Pink Possum, and the provisions for a Fundamental Transaction and the market capitalization thresholds and related payments owed to Pink Possum if these were to occur remain in effect subsequent to the employment agreement.

Also see “Note 8 - Stockholders’Equity” for a further discussion of the warrants issued to Pink Possum and Highbridge.

 

NOTE 78STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

The Company is authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.00001.$0.00001. In addition, the Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.00001. The specific rights of the preferred stock, when so designated, shall be determined by the board of directors.

 

Common stock

 

During the period ending December 31, 2020, the Company sold 1,625,000 shares of common stock to founders for cash proceeds of $10,833. The Company also issued 312,500 shares of common stock to an individual for services and recognized $2,088 of expense related to this grant.

In October 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering and sold 3,226,875 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $15.9 million million.. Total issuance costs were $2,949,882 including the issuance of fully vested warrants to purchase 162,594 shares of the Company’s common stock with a five year exercise term at an exercise price of $6.88 per share to the underwriter of the initial public offering which were valued at $981,871. Upon completion of the initial public offering all shares of preferred stock were converted to common stock. The total shares of common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock were 5,743,175. See Note 12 for discussion

On February 1, 2022, the Company sold 6,666,667 shares of its common stock in a public offering at $3.00 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $18,089,117 after underwriter commissions and expenses of $1,910,816. The underwriter was also issued a warrant to purchase 333,334 shares of the Company’s additional public offering completed in February 2022.common stock at an exercise price of $3.75 per share that expires five years from the date of issuance.

 

 4149 

 

As discussed in Note 6 above, the Company issued the Convertible Notes and Note Warrants, along with the warrants to the placement agent in August 2022. The Company received consent from the underwriter to issue such securities. In addition, the Company was required to reserve 21,135,267 shares of common stock for future issuance of shares for the conversion of the Convertible Notes and exercise of the Note Warrants and 603,864 shares for the exercise of the placement agent warrants.

 

SAFE Agreements

 

During the period ended December 31, 2020, the Company entered into SAFE agreements (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) with investors through an exchange for cash investments totaling $2,000,000. Upon a future equity financing, the SAFE agreements would convert into the same securities in that equity financing at the lower of the price per share of the funding, or a price per share based on a $5 million company valuation using a fully diluted common stock basis. The SAFE agreements had no interest rate or maturity date, and the SAFE investors had no voting right prior to conversion. The SAFE agreements were recorded as a liability of $2,000,000 as of December 31, 2020. In January 2021, upon closing of the Series A preferred stock offering discussed below, the amount invested under these SAFE agreements were converted into 424,269 shares of Series A Preferred Stock.preferred stock.

 

In January 2021, the Company completed a WeFunder SAFE offering which was convertible into shares of the Company’s preferred stock upon specified future financing events. The Company received gross proceeds of $2,258,940 and paid expenses of $53,500, reflected as costs of capital. In connection with the Series A Preferredpreferred stock offering as discussed below, the WeFunder SAFE investments were converted into 351,832 shares of Series A Preferredpreferred Stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

In 2021, the Company designated 1,400,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Preferred Stock.preferred stock. The Series A Preferred Stockpreferred stock had a par value of $0.0001,$0.00001, had no voting rights, no dividends and each share would automatically convert into 2.5 shares of common stock of the Company at the time of the Company’s initial public offering. In February 2021, the Company completed an offering of 415,287 shares of Series A Preferred Stockpreferred stock and received gross proceeds of $2,669,9782,669,974. The Company paid expenses of $205,470 related to the offering including issuing to one financial broker dealer 79,750 shares of common stock and 79,775 fully vested warrants with a 5 year exercise term to purchase common stock with an exercise price of $2.57 valued at $49,743.

 


In 2021, the Company designated 1,500,000 shares of preferred stock as Series B Preferred Stock, with a par value of $0.00001 per share and a stated value of $9.50 per share. The Series B Preferred Stock would receive dividends equivalent to any such dividends paid on common stock in the future, had no voting rights, and each share would automatically convert into 2.5 shares of common stock upon completion of the Company’s initial public offering. In May 2021, the Company completed an offering of 1,105,827 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and received gross proceeds of $10,505,357. The Company paid expenses of $890,026 related to the offering, including issuing to two financial broker dealers 123,296 shares of common stock and 197,277 fully vested warrants to purchase common stock with a 5 year exercise term and an exercise price of $3.80 valued at $182,281.


As noted above, the Series A and Series B Preferredpreferred stock was converted to shares of common stock upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering.offering in October 2021. As of December 31, 2022, there are no shares of preferred stock designated.

 

Warrants

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued fully vested warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to consultants. During the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, the Company issued warrants to purchase 151,590 shares of the Company’s common stock to consultants. The common stock warrants issued in 2021 have anconsultants with exercise priceprices ranging from $0.245 - $1.00 and the warrants issued in 2020 have an exercise price of $0.004 per share. All of the warrants have an exercise term ofwhich expire 10 years and certain 2020 warrants vest over periodsfrom the date of up to eighteen months while all 2021 warrants are fully vested. The Company estimated the fair value of the 2020 warrants using the fair value of its common stock based on the most recent fundraising at $1.88 per share.issuance. The Company valued the 2021 warrants using an estimated fair value of the shares of common stock between $0.76 – $1.18, volatility of 105% based on peer companies, risk free interest rate of 0.85%, no dividends and an estimated life of 5 years. During the year ended December 31, 2021, certain warrant holders, including those from the Series A and Series B Preferredpreferred stock offerings, exercised warrants representing 317,018 shares of common stock, primarily on a cashless basis, and the Company issued 236,220 shares of common stock as settlement for these warrants. Total proceeds received from warrant exercises occurring in the year ended December 31, 2021 was $6,250.

 

 

 4250 

 

Additionally, the Company’s two founders, whom are both directors and one of which is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer, and the other who was a director until July 2022, each entered into an anti-dilution warrant with the Company. In the event of their ownership of the Company’s fully diluted capitalization being less than 25% or 18.75%, each individual would have received common stock warrants with an exercise price of $0.0041 to purchase sufficient shares to return them to those ownership percentages. The warrants were fully vested upon grant and have an exercise period of 10 years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2020, no warrants were owed to the two founders. As discussed below, subsequent to December 31, 2020, the anti-dilution warrants were exchanged for a fixed number of warrants.

 

In March 2021, the Company agreed to exchange the two anti-dilution warrants that were issued to Company foundersHighbridge and Pink Possum for a total of 11,000,000 warrants to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.98 for a period of 10 years. In connection with this exchange, the Company amended its existing consulting agreements with the founders,Highbridge and Pink Possum, to allow for the payment of compensation totaling $30,000,000 in the event that the Company’s market capitalization exceeds $300,000,000 for 21 consecutive trading days. The Company will have the option to settle the amount by issuing shares of common stock based on the closing price of the Company’s stock at the start of the 21-day period. In addition to this payment, each of the two foundersHighbridge and Pink Possum will continue to receive a cash payment equal to 1% of the gross sale price in the event of a change of control of the Company with a sale price of at least $100,000,000. In connection with the exchange, the Company recognized expense of $13,031,989$13,031,989 for the estimated fair value of the warrants on a Black-Scholes option pricing model utilizing the following assumptions: 1) volatility of 106% based on a peer group of companies; 2) risk-free rate of 1.67%; 3) dividend rate of 0.0%; and 4) an expected term of 10 years. In December 2021, one of the foundersHighbridge exercised hisits warrants on a cashless basis and the Company issued 5,507,575 shares of common stock. As of July 26, 2022, this founder is no longer on the board of directors but does hold board observer rights.

As discussed in Note 6, the Company issued the Note Warrants, which are fully vested, to purchase 9,057,971 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.85. The Note Warrants expire five years from the issuance date. Also, the Company issued to the placement agent of the Convertible Notes, fully vested warrants to purchase 603,864 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.5625. The warrants are not exercisable until February 24, 2023 and expire on February 24, 2028. The Company valued all of these warrants using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on August 24, 2022 of $2.44, volatility of 79.81% based on peer companies, risk free interest rate of 3.03%, no dividends and an estimated life of 2.5 years.

 

During the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized expense of $7,302 and $250,174, respectively, related to common stock warrants. During the period February 21, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, the Company recognized expense of $67,574 related to common stock warrants. The Company expects to recognize $7,302 over the remaining vesting period of these warrants.



The following is the activity related to common stock warrants during the year ended December 31, 2021:2022:

Schedule of warrant activity                         
 Common Stock Warrants  Common Stock Warrants 
 Shares  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  Weighted
average
Remaining
Life in years
  Intrinsic Value  Shares Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 Weighted
average
Remaining
Life in years
 Intrinsic Value 
                  
Outstanding at January 1, 2021  151,590  $0.004         
Outstanding at January 1, 2022 5,174,209 $1.16     
Granted  11,586,646   1.12          9,995,169  2.92     
Cancelled  0            
Canceled        
Expired  0                    
Exercised  (6,757,018) $1.07           (83,760) $0.004     
Outstanding at December 31, 2021  5,174,209  $1.16   9.02  $49,262,266 
Exercisable at December 31, 2021  5,174,209  $1.16   9.02  $49,262,266 
Outstanding at December 31, 2022  15,085,618 $2.33  5.79 $192,539 
Exercisable at December 31, 2022  15,085,618 $2.33  5.79 $192,539 

 

NOTE 89STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

In January 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Volcon, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan, (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan is a stock-based compensation plan that provides for discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards, and restricted stock unit awards to employees, members of the board of directors and consultants (including restricted stock units issued prior to the adoption of the plan as further discussed below). The Company hasinitially reserved a total of 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for issuance under the 2021 Plan,Plan. On July 26, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved an increase of 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for issuance under the 2021 plan, which may be adjusted for changes in capitalization and certain corporate transactions. To the extent that an award, if forfeitable, expires, terminates or lapses, or an award is otherwise settled in cash without the delivery of shares of common stock to the participant, then any unpaid shares subject to the award will be available for future grant or issuance under the 2021 Plan. Shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan as of December 31, 2021,2022, were 522,8233,106,808. shares. Awards vest according to each agreement and as long as the employee remains employed with the Company or the consultant continues to provide services in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The Company has granted awards with time-based vesting and performance-based vesting features.

 

 

 4351 

 

Restricted Stock Units

Beginning in October 2020, the Company entered into various agreements with employees and a consultant (who became an employee in May 2021 and continued to vest under the same terms as the consulting agreement) where the Company agreed to award a total of 637,500 shares of restricted stock units (RSUs) which vest equally over a period of three years. The Company estimated the fair value of the shares of common stock using the estimated fair value of its common stock based on the most recent fundraising at $1.88 per share. For the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, the Company recognized expense of $58,875 related to these RSUs.

In July 2021, the Company’s CEO resigned effective July 30, 2021. The share-based awards of 187,500 RSUs and 187,500 stock options awarded to the former CEO were forfeited and were returned to the shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan and all previously recognized compensation expense for his RSUs and stock options was reversed. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized expense of $237,764 for RSUs. The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense of $1,483,425 related to RSUs (including 1,126,250 related to the modification in January 2022 noted below) assuming all awards outstanding at December 31, 2021 will vest.

 

The following is the restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2021:2022:

Schedule of restricted stock unit activity    
Outstanding January 1, 20212022  562,500350,000 
Granted35,000
Vested (1)(260,000)
Canceled(50,000)
Outstanding December 31, 2022  75,000
Vested (1)0
Cancelled(287,500)
Outstanding December 31, 2021350,000 

_____________________ 

(1)A total of 125,000 RSUs vestedwere scheduled to vest in 2021. In January 2022, the Company modified the vesting terms of 100,000 of these to extend the vesting through May 15, 2022. The Company granted an additional 25,000 RSUs to the holders of these RSUs that vesting was extended and these additional RSUs will also vestvested as of May 15, 2022. The Company will recordrecorded additional expense of $1,126,250 during 2022 related to these modifications. The remaining 25,000 shares that were vested as of December 31, 2021 were issued in January 2022.

In January 2022, the Company granted 10,000 RSUs that vested over 3 months (vesting began in December 2021), to a consultant.

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized expenses for RSUs of $1,267,550 and $237,764 , respectively. The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expenses of $121,765 related to RSUs assuming all awards outstanding at December 31, 2022 will vest.

 

Performance shares

In January 2021, the Board of Directors authorized 250,000 of common sharesstock to be reserved under the 2021 Plan for issuance to employees upon achieving multiple Company performance milestones. The allocation of the number of shares to be awarded was to be determined upon achievement of all the milestones. In July 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved a grant of 162,507 shares since some of the performance milestones were met. The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $594,775 related to the grant of these shares.

 

The remaining 87,493 shares not awarded in July 2021 were available for issuance to employees based upon achieving multiple Company performance milestones for the second half of 2021. On February 28,March 1, 2022, the Compensation Committee of the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors approved a grant of 44,623 shares for the achievement of some of the Company’s performance milestones. In February 2022,milestones, and the Company will recognizerecognized share-based compensation expenseexpenses of $83,445 based on the Company’s stock price on February 28, 2022$82,050 related to the grant of these shares.shares in the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Certain individuals whose employment terminated subsequent to December 31, 2021 forfeited their share grants totaling 2,876 shares and such shares are available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan.

On February 6, 2023 the compensation committee of the board of directors approved a grant of 154,983 shares (154,332 will be issued due a forfeiture of 661 shares) for the achievement of some of the Company’s 2022 performance milestones to active employees as of February 6, 2023 who were employed as of December 31, 2022. The Company will recognize share-based compensation expenses of $258,821 related to the grant of these shares in the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The compensation committee also approved reserving the remaining 95,018 not issued for 2022 performance milestones for issuance to active employees on the date the first Stag is shipped to a customer. In addition, the compensation committee also approved reserving 250,000 shares to issue based on achievement of the Company’s 2023 performance milestones to employees who are employed in 2023 and are active employees on the date of approval in 2024 by the compensation committee.

 

 

 4452 

 

Stock Options

 

The following is the common stock options to employees and consultants for services during the year ended December 31, 2021:2022:

Schedule of stock option activity                         
 Common Stock Options  Common Stock Options 
 Shares  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
  Weighted
average
Remaining
Life in years
  Intrinsic Value  Shares Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 Weighted
average
Remaining
Life in years
 Intrinsic Value 
Outstanding at January 1, 2021  0  $0         
Outstanding at January 1, 2022 1,964,045 $3.33     
Granted  2,189,670  $2.98          2,296,454 $3.38     
Forfeited  (225,625) $1.00          (916,562) $4.33     
Exercised  0  $0           (55,107) $1.00       
Outstanding at December 31, 2021  1,964,045  $3.33      $21,211,286 
Exercisable at December 31, 2021  0  $0     $0 
Outstanding at December 31, 2022  3,288,830 $3.08  9.13  $6,868 
Exercisable at December 31, 2022  626,750 $2.57  8.55 $3,283 

On September 14, 2022, the Company granted 856,000 stock options to employees, excluding Company officers, of which 50% of the options will vest on March 15, 2023 and the remaining 50% will vest on September 14, 2023 so long as employment continues as of each applicable vesting date. The remaining grants during 2022 primarily represent options granted to new employees with vesting terms primarily over three years, one third on the employees’ employment anniversary date.

 

The Company valued the options granted in 2022 using an estimatedthe fair value of the shares of common stock between $0.98$0.98$5.00,$5.00, volatility between 71%71% - 105%105% based on peer companies, risk free interest rate between 0.77%0.77% - 0.85%0.85%, no dividends and an estimated life of 6 years. During the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized expense of $1,966,958 and $544,069 related to these common stock options. The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense of $3,234,8163,683,936 related to these common stock options assuming all awards vest.

 

Total stock-based compensation recorded for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and for the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021 for all stock based compensation awards, including warrants, has been recorded as follows:

Schedule of stock-based compensation expense             
 2021 2020  2022  2021 
Cost of Goods Sold $344,720 $0  $578,552  $344,720 
Sales and Marketing 313,718 3,925   764,517   313,718 
Product Development 464,510 186,274   704,152   464,510 
General and Administrative  13,504,435  31,526   1,211,788   13,504,435 
Total $14,627,382 $221,725  $3,259,009  $14,627,382 

53

 

NOTE 910LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

 

The basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the Company's net loss available to common shareholdersstockholders by the weighted average number of common shares during the year. The diluted net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the Company's net loss available to common shareholdersstockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding is the basic weighted number of common shares adjusted for any potentially dilutive debt or equity.

 Schedule of earnings per share      
  Year ended  Year ended 
  December 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
       
Numerator:        
         
Net loss $(34,235,405) $(40,119,235)
         
Denominator:        
         
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per common share - weighted average of common shares  23,686,752   4,567,235 
         
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(1.45) $(8.78)

Common shares consisting of common stock warrants, stock options and restricted stock units totaling 7,488,256 and 60,636shares potentially dilutive as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and 2020, respectively, and any potential shares issuable under the anti-dilution warrants discussed above, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share due to their antidilutive effect. There were 0 dilutive instruments outstandingare as of December 31, 2021 or 2020. 

follows:

45

Schedule of earnings per share      
  Year ended  Period ended 
  December 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
       
Numerator:        
         
Net loss $(40,119,235) $(1,374,413)
         
Denominator:        
         
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per common share - weighted average of common shares  4,567,235   604,100 
         
Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(8.78) $(2.28)
 Schedule of shares potentially dilutive      
  2022  2021 
Series A preferred stock (number of common shares convertible to) $  $2,978,588 
Series B preferred stock (number of common shares convertible to)     2,764,587 
Convertible Notes  12,077,295    
Warrants  15,085,618   5,174,209 
Stock options  3,288,830   1,964,045 
Restricted stock units  75,000   350,000 
Total $30,526,743  $13,231,429 

 

NOTE 1011INCOME TAXES

All of the Company’s operations are domestic and due to losses, no provision for income taxes for federal or state has been recorded for any period presented.

 

Deferred taxes are determined by applying the provisions of enacted tax laws and rates for the jurisdictions in which the Company operates to the estimated future tax effects of the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the Company's financial statements. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized.

54

Due to losses since inception and for all periods presented, no income tax benefit or expense has been recognized as a full valuation allowance has been established for any tax benefit that would have been recognized for the loss in any period presented.

The components of income tax expense (benefit) for the yearyears ended December 31, 20212022 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 20202021 are as follows:

Schedule of components of income tax expense             
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
          
Expected federal income tax benefit at statutory rate $8,426,269  $288,600  $7,184,840  $8,426,269 
State income taxes (net of federal benefit)  0   0 
Nondeductible expenses  (224,189)  (46,600)
Non-deductible expenses  (288,249)  (224,189)
Research and development credit  537,705   0   595,244   537,705 
Return to provision true up  (94,707)  0   93,285   (94,707)
Change in valuation allowance  (8,834,492)  (242,000)  (7,585,120)  (8,834,492)
Income tax benefit  0   0  $  $ 

 

Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 20212022 and 20202021 are as follows:

Schedule of deferred tax assets and liabilities        
  2021  2020 
Deferred tax assets        
Net operating losses $5,078,075  $242,000 
Depreciation and amortization  46,030   0 
Research & development credit  592,276   0 
Lease liability  466,980   0 
Stock-based compensation  2,872,973   0 
Accrued expenses  478,171   0 
Other  336   0 
Total  9,534,840   242,000 
Valuation allowance  (9,076,492)  (242,000)
Net deferred tax asset  458,348   0 
Deferred tax liabilities        
Right of use assets  (458,348)  0 
Total net deferred taxes Deferred tax liabilities $0  $0 

46

 Schedule of deferred tax assets and liabilities      
  2022  2021 
Deferred tax assets        
Net operating losses $9,106,430  $5,078,075 
Depreciation and amortization  1,502,868   46,030 
Research & development credit  1,308,956   592,276 
Lease liability  322,167   466,980 
Stock-based compensation  3,103,037   2,872,973 
Inventory  1,290,968    
Accrued expenses  233,284   478,171 
Capital loss carryover  261,922    
Other  177,074   336 
Total  17,306,705   9,534,840 
Valuation allowance  (16,661,612)  (9,076,492)
Net deferred tax asset  645,093   458,348 
Deferred tax liabilities        
Prepaid expenses  (328,836)   
Right-of-use assets  (316,257)  (458,348)
Total net deferred taxes Deferred tax liabilities $  $ 

  

Management currently believes that since the Company has a history of losses it is more likely than not that the deferred tax regarding the loss carry forwards and other temporary differences will not be realized in the foreseeable future. The Company believes that carryforward limitations will be applied to the historical net operating losses due to the recent change of control transition. The Company's cumulative net operating loss carry forward of approximately $24,181,30843.4 million as of December 31, 2021,2022, may be limited in future years depending on future taxable income in any given fiscal year. The net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely.

  

The Company has recorded no liability for income taxes associated with unrecognized tax benefits at the date of adoption and has not recorded any liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any interest or penalty in regard to any unrecognized benefit.

 

55

NOTE 1112LEASES

 

The components of lease cost for operating leases for the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, wereare as follows:

Schedule of lease cost for operating leases             
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
Lease Cost                
Operating lease cost $398,440  $16,000  $524,036  $398,440 
Short-term lease cost  219,604   11,120   263,277   219,604 
Variable lease cost  0   0       
Sublease income  0   0       
Total lease cost $618,044  $27,120  $787,313  $618,044 

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the period from February 21, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020, wasare as follows:

Schedule of supplemental cash flow information related to leases             
 2021  2020  2022  2021 
Other Lease Information                
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:                
Operating cash flows from operating leases $323,162  $194,175  $354,340  $323,162 
Amortization of right-of-use assets $430,644  $367,213 

 

The following table summarizes the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at December 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020:2021:

Schedule of lease-related assets and liabilities        
  2021  2020 
Lease Position        
Operating Leases        
Operating lease right-of-use assets $2,182,612  $842,357 
Right of use liability operating lease short term  456,207   141,943 
Right of use liability operating lease long term  1,767,506   614,414 
Total operating lease liabilities $2,223,713  $756,357 

47

 Schedule of lease-related assets and liabilities      
  2022  2021 
Lease Position        
Operating Leases        
Operating lease right-of-use assets $1,505,987  $2,182,612 
Right-of-use liability operating lease - short- term  391,117   456,207 
Right-of-use liability operating lease - long-term  1,143,011   1,767,506 
Total operating lease liabilities $1,534,128  $2,223,713 

  

The Company utilizes the incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. The Company recognized an initial right of useright-of-use asset and lease liability of $1,707,466$1,128,609 for leases entered into during the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

Schedule of right of use asset and lease liability        
Lease Term and Discount Rate      
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)        
Operating leases  4.4   4.9 
Weighted-average discount rate        
Operating leases  5.5%   5.5% 
Schedule of right of use asset and lease liability
Lease Term and Discount RateDecember 31, 2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases3.7
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases6.67%

56

 

The following table provides the maturities of lease liabilities at December 31, 2022:

 Schedule of maturities of lease liabilities   
  Operating 
  Leases 
    
2023 $458,572 
2024  471,638 
2025  485,702 
2026  340,591 
Total future undiscounted lease payments  1,756,503 
Less: Interest  (222,375)
Present value of lease liabilities $1,534,128 

The Company closed its Denver, Colorado, store location (the Company’s only store) in June 2022 and entered into a lease termination agreement in July 2022 to relieve the Company of its future obligations under the lease. The Company has recorded a loss of $148,322 in the year ended December 31, 2021:

Schedule of maturities of lease liabilities   
  Operating 
  Leases 
    
2022 $770,615 
2023  1,184,356 
2024  1,143,532 
2025  1,118,146 
2026  910,289 
Total future undiscounted lease payments  5,126,937 
Less: Interest  (610,866)
Present value of lease liabilities $4,516,070 

Note that amounts above include future payments for a lease signed as of December 31, 20212022 related to this facility which includes the write-off of prepaid rent, security deposit, right-of-use asset and liability and a facility to be constructed in Liberty Hill, Texas by an entity associated withloss on the Company’s founders (see Note 6)write-off of leasehold improvements and fixtures and furniture of $46,289.

 

NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On February 1,In July 2022, the Company sold 6,666,667 sharesentered into a new lease agreement for office space in Round Rock, Texas with the landlord of its common stockcurrent Round Rock facilities. The lease began in a public offering at $3.00 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $18,055,000 after underwriter commissionsAugust 2022 and expenses of $1,945,000. The underwriter was also issued a warrantterminates in August 2026. In connection with signing this lease, the landlord has agreed to purchase 333,334 sharesterminate the lease on one of the current facilities that would have expired in December 2023. The additional monthly rent after consideration of the rent on the facility being canceled is not significant. As discussed in Note 7 above, the Company terminated the lease, and related amendment, as of September 30, 2022 for a leased warehouse facility in conjunction with entering into the lease agreement for office space and the above does not include any amounts related to that lease. There was an insignificant impact to the Company’s common stock at an exercise priceoperations for the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the termination of $3.75 per share that expires five years from the date of issuance.this lease.

 

The underwriting agreement provided the underwriter with the option to sell an additional 1,000,000 shares (the “Overallotment”) which can be sold for up to 45 days subsequent to the completion of the offering at $3.00 per share. The underwriter did not exercise the optiontotal loss on lease terminations for the Overallotmentyear ended December 31, 2022 was 378,176.

  

The Company’s officers and directors have agreed not to sell any shares for 90 days following this offering. The Company has agreed not to issue any shares for a period of twelve months following the offering, other than for the purposes of shares issued related to the 2021 Plan or for an acquisition or merger, without the consent of the underwriter.

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded the Ukraine. The conflict between Russia and the Ukraine could impact the availability of nickel, an element used in the production of lithium ion cells used in batteries that power our vehicles. The shortage of these cells could have an impact on our ability to produce vehicles to meet our customers’ demands. In addition, sanctions against Russia could impact the price of elements, including nickel, that are used in the production of batteries which would result in higher costs to produce our vehicles. These sanctions have also impacted the US and global economy and could result in an economic recession which could cause a broader disruption to the Company’s supply chain and distribution network and customer demand for our products.

 

 

 

 4857 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

NoneITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

ITEM 9ACONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the appropriate time periods, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal executive officer, and Chief Financial Officer, who is our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure. We, under the supervisionssupervision of and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effectiveineffective as of December 31, 2021.2022. 

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

This annual report does not include a report of management's assessment regardingManagement is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or because the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management has determined that internal controls over financial reporting are ineffective as the material weaknesses identified by our independent registered public accounting firm in our internal control over financial reporting in our 2020 audit have not been remediated as of December 31, 2022. These material weaknesses are as follows:

·Inadequate segregation of duties within account processes due to limited personnel
·Insufficient formal written policies and procedures for accounting, IT, financial reporting and record keeping

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the company'sour registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the SEC for an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies

Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2021,2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonablereasonably likely to materially effect,affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

NoneNone.

 

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.INSPECTIONS

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 4958 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate GovernanceDIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Information as to Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the information in our definitive proxy statement for the 20222023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we will file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

 

ItemITEM 11. Executive CompensationEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information as to Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the information in our definitive proxy statement for the 20222023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we will file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

 


Item
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder MattersSECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information as to Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the information in our definitive proxy statement for the 20222023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we will file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

In January 2021, we adopted the Volcon, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan, or 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan is a stock-based compensation plan that provides for discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards, stock unit awards and stock appreciation rights to key employees, non-employee directors and consultants.

The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan is 7,000,000.

The following table summarizes information about the outstanding equity plan as of December 31, 2022.

Plan Category Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights  Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights  Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities in Column (a)) 
   (a)   (b)   (c) 
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders  3,518,813 (1)  $2.88   2,761,791 (2) 
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)  15,085,618  $2.33    
Total  18,604,431  $2.43   2,761,791 

______________________

(1)Includes 154,983 shares (of a possible total of 250,000 reserved as of December 31, 2022) approved for issuance by the compensation committee of the board of directors on February 6, 2023 for achievement of the Company’s 2022 goals.
(2)Amount includes a reduction of 95,017 shares reserved for issuance as of December 31, 2022 but not issued for 2022 goals not achieved. In addition, this includes 250,000 shares reserved for issuance for achievement of the Company’s 2023 goals.

59

(3)On August 28, 2020, we entered into a consulting agreement with Pink Possum, LLC (“Pink Possum”), an entity controlled by Mr. Okonsky, pursuant to which Mr. Okonsky provides us with services. In consideration for entering into the consulting agreements, we issued ten-year warrants to purchase our common stock at an exercise price of $0.004 per share. The number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the warrants was based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the time of exercise and provided that Pink Possum would receive 18.75% of our shares of common stock outstanding at the time of exercise on a fully diluted basis. On March 26, 2021, Pink Possum entered into an amendment to the consulting agreement agreeing to exchange the original warrants for new ten-year warrants to purchase 4,750,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.98. In December 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Okonsky and the consulting agreement with Pink Possum was canceled.  However, the warrants remain in effect.   
(4)As additional compensation to Aegis, upon consummation of our initial public offering, we issued to Aegis warrants to purchase 151,250 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $6.88 per share (the “Underwriter Warrants”). The Underwriter Warrants became exercisable on the date that is six months from the commencement of the sales of our initial public offering and will expire four years and six months after such date in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).
(5)In connection with certain pre-IPO financings, we issued a foreign broker five year warrants to purchase 79,775 shares of Series A preferred stock at $2.57 per share and 197,277 shares of Series B preferred stock at $3.80 per share (included in the Series B warrants were 23,345 to Aegis). Upon completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, such warrants converted to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. In October 2021, upon completion of the Company’s initial public offering, warrants totaling 248,268 shares of common stock were exercised on a cashless basis, and the Company issued 170,257 shares of common stock for the exercise of these warrants.
(6)As additional compensation to Aegis, upon consummation of our public offering on February 1, 2022, we issued to Aegis warrants to purchase 333,334 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $3.75 per share (the “2022 Underwriter Warrants”). The 2022 Underwriter Warrants became exercisable on the date that is six months from the commencement of the sales of our public offering and will expire four years and six months after such date in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).  
(7)As additional compensation to Aegis, upon consummation of the Convertible Notes offering, we issued to Aegis warrants to purchase 603,864 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $3.56 per share (the “Underwriter Note Warrants”). The Underwriter Note Warrants will be exercisable from the date that is six months from the commencement of the sales in offering and will expire four years and six months after such date in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).  

ItemITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director IndependenceCERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Information as to Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the information in our definitive proxy statement for the 20222023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we will file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

 

ItemITEM 14. Principal AccountANT Fees and ServicesPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information as to Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the information in our definitive proxy statement for the 20222023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we will file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the year ended December 31, 2021.2022.

 

 

 

 5060 

 

PART IV

 
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(1)  Financial Statements

 

The consolidated financial statements of Volcon, Inc. and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included in Part II, "Item 8.— Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. Reference is made to the accompanying Index to Financial Statements.

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

All financial statement schedules have been omitted, since the required information is not applicable or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

 

(3) Index to Exhibits

 

The information required by this Item 15(a)(3) is set forth on the exhibit index, which immediately precedes the signature page to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 

We have elected not to provide summary information.

 

 

 

 5161 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

 Description
   
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Volcon, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 of the Form 8-K filed October 8, 2021)
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Volcon, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
4.1 Form of common stock (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
4.2 Form of Warrant issued to Pink Possum, LLC and Highbridge Consulting, LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
4.3 Form of Underwriter Warrant  (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-262343)
4.4Form of Underwriter Warrant issued in IPO (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
4.5Form of Senior Convertible Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)
4.6Note Amendment to Senior Convertible Note, dated September 6, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Form S-1 file number 333-267404)
4.7Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)
4.8Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)
4.9*Description of Registrant’s Securities
10.1 2021 Stock Plan of Volcon, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.2 Consulting Agreement, as amended, between Volcon, Inc. and Pink Possum, LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.3 Consulting Agreement, as amended, between Volcon, Inc. and Highbridge Consulting, LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.4 Lease Agreement dated November 20, 2020, as amended between Volcon, Inc. and Alexander EV Park, LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.5† Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Greg Endo dated June 7, 2021(incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.5 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.6 Sublease Agreement dated June 1, 2021 between Volcon, Inc. and Sustainability Initiatives, LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.6 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.7† Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Jordan Davis dated August 5, 2021 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.8 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
10.8Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Buyers of Convertible Notes, dated August 22, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)
10.9Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company and the Buyers of Convertible Notes, dated August 22, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)
10.10Placement Agent Agreement for Convertible Notes (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.5 of the Form 8-K filed August 24, 2022)
10.11†Amendment to the Volcon, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan (as amended and restated) (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K filed July 27, 2022)
10.12Supply Agreement with General Motors LLC executed as of August 9, 2022 and effective as of August 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 of the Form 10-Q filed August 15, 2022)
10.13Supplier Agreement with GLV Ventures effective August 11, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 of the Form 10-Q filed August 15, 2022)
10.14†Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Stephanie Davis, dated January 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 of the Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2022)
10.15Underwriting Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and Aegis Capital Corp., dated January 28, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2022)

62

14.1* Business Ethics and Conduct Policy dated October 1, 2021
21.1 List of subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to exhibit 21.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468)
23.1* Consent of MaloneBailey LLP
31.1* Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 19341934..
31.2* Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 19341934..
32.1*(1) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 20022002..
32.2*(1) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 20022002..
   
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in IXBRL, and included in exhibit 101).

 

*Filed herewith.
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

 

(1)The certifications on Exhibit 32 hereto are deemed not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

 

 5263 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

VOLCON, INC.    
     
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE

 

 

    
/s/ Jordan Davis Chief Executive Officer and Director March 23, 20226, 2023
Jordan Davis (principal executive officer)  
     
/s/ Greg Endo Chief Financial Officer March 23, 20226, 2023
Greg Endo (principal financial and accounting officer)  

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on March 23, 2022.6, 2023.

 

Signature Title
   
/s/ Jordan Davis Chief Executive Officer
Jordan Davis (Principal Executive Officer)
Director
   
   
/s/ Greg Endo 

Chief Financial Officer

Greg Endo 

(Principal Financial Officer and

  Principal Accounting Officer)
   
/s/ Christian Okonsky Chairman of the Board, Director and Chief Technology Officer
Christian Okonsky  
 
/s/ Adrian JamesDirector
Adrian James  
   
/s/ Jonathan P. Foster Director
Jonathan P. Foster  
   
/s/ John Kim Director
John Kim  
   
/s/ Karin-Joyce Tjon Director
Karin Joyce Tjon  

 

 

 

 5364