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our dependence on a single supplier for production of a central component of our solar panels;
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our intention to outsource logistics management of our operations to third-party logistics (3PL) and potentially fourth-party logistics (4PL) services providers;
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ongoing negotiations of contractual agreements with many of our prospective suppliers and business partners and potential renegotiations of these agreements as we scale our business;
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the involvement of numerous third parties in our process, which adds significant complexity;
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our dependence on the acceptance of our brand and any negative publicity relating to any of our business partners and their products or services, which could have a significant negative impact on our business and reputation;
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the risk that the Sion or any of our future vehicles may fail to perform as expected;
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our significant use of various communication channels for our public relations activities, including our website and social media;
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damage to our reputation due to the perception that our advertisements were overly positive or that we do not live up to our promises;
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noncompliance of our advertisements with all relevant legal requirements in the past or in the future;
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product recalls that could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition;
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any unauthorized control or manipulation of our vehicles’ systems;
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risks associated with our growth strategy and international operations, including unfavorable regulatory, political, tax and labor conditions, which could harm our business;
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our failure to manage our future growth effectively;
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our inability to attract and retain key employees and hire qualified management, technical and vehicle engineering personnel, which could harm our ability to compete;
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risks related to health epidemics, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic; and
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the need to raise additional funds until the start of the production of the Sion and potentially beyond, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all when we need them.
Risks Related to Our Industry
Our success and future growth is dependent upon the market’s willingness to adopt solar electric vehicles.
The demand for our vehicles will highly depend upon the demand for and adoption of electric vehicles in general and solar electric vehicles in particular. The market for electric vehicles, particularly solar electric vehicles, is still rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price and other competition, evolving government regulation and industry standards, as well as changing or uncertain consumer demands and behaviors. Factors that may influence the adoption of electric vehicles in general, and solar electric vehicles in particular, include:
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perceptions about the effectiveness of solar technology deployed in electric vehicles;
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perceptions about electric vehicle quality, safety, design, performance and cost, especially if adverse events or accidents occur that are linked to the quality or safety of electric vehicles;
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perceptions about vehicle safety in general, including the use of advanced technology, such as vehicle electronics, solar power, storage and regenerative braking systems;
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the range limit over which electric vehicles may be driven on a single battery charge and the speed at which batteries can be recharged;
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technical innovations concerning battery capacity and ability to hold its charge;
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improvements in the fuel economy of internal combustion engines;