However, we have encountered some challenges, including COVID-related and industry-wide related issues, as we progress towards our start of production deadline. These include significantly higher than expected expenditures for parts/equipment, expedited shipping costs, and expenses associated with third-party engineering resources. We secured a number of critical parts and equipment in advance, so we are still in a position to ramp the Endurance, but we do need additional capital to execute on our plans. We believe we have several opportunities to raise capital in various forms and have begun those discussions.
We are excited to showcase our plant, vehicle, technologies, and strategy at our upcoming Lordstown Week during the week of June 21 as we host investors, customers, partners, suppliers and the media at our Lordstown, Ohio facility.”
2021 Objectives and Financial Outlook
We are updating the financial outlook for 2021 that we previously provided with our fourth quarter 2020 earnings release. Revised guidance is as follows:
| ● | Expected Endurance production in 2021 will be limited and would at best be 50% of our prior expectations. |
| ● | Expected capital expenditures of between $250 and $275 million. |
| ● | Expected operating expenses of between $55 and $60 million in selling and administrative (S&A) costs and between $280 and $290 million in research and development (R&D) costs. |
| ● | Expected year-end 2021 liquidity of between $50 and 75 million in cash and cash equivalents after giving effect to certain cost reductions and delayed investments. |
As stated above, we are seeking additional capital to fund our business plans. We are pursuing an Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (“ATVM”) loan, which is in the due diligence phase, and tax credits and grants across multiple jurisdictions. We hope to complete the ATVM loan opportunity in the next few months.
As we begin to receive feedback from our initial customers throughout this quarter, we anticipate an acceleration of purchase commitments going into the second half of the year. Around that same time, we will also start targeting and following up with municipal and government fleets for potential and significant engagement opportunities.
Conference call Information
Lordstown Motors will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today (Monday, May 24, 2021). The call can be accessed via a live webcast that is accessible on the Events page of Lordstown Motors’ Investor Relations website at https://investor.lordstownmotors.com/. An archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.