Ohio Senators optimistic about future production at 'Lordstown Motors Corp.'

CINCINNATI, Ohio (WKBN) – Ever since President Donald Trump's tweets in early May, the name Workhorse has become associated with the company that wants to take over the now-closed facility of General Motors Lordstown.

But all the time, we were told that Workhorse was not the name, that it was actually a third-party company using Workhorse's technology and its people.

On Friday, we learned that this third party company has a name, it will be called “Lordstown Motors Corp. "

In an interview with The Detroit News, Steve Burns – the man behind Lordstown Motors – said he is pushing to raise $ 300 million to reuse the Lordstown plant to build electric commercial pick-ups and hopefully delivery cars for the United States Postal Service.

Burns said he was impressed with the Lordstown facility and has received support from Workhorse and GM.

More optimism was added Friday to the plan for electric vehicles in Lordstown after state Senators Sean O. & B39 and Mike Rulli, of the Youngstown area, visited the Workhorse operation in Cincinnati.

After that meeting with Workshop Director Duane Hughes and Burns, Rulli said he now believes Lordstown Motors has the ability and technology to reopen the Lordstown facility.

Senators checked out a Workhorse concept car and delivery vehicle, the kind the USPS may have contracted to use.

“The pickup on that truck is incredible. The brakes, I mean, these trucks are incredible, "Rulli said.

" They indicated that they have funding in place and went on to receive more funding, "said O & # 39; Brien.

O & # 39; Brien and Rulli learned that along with the USPS contract, Lordstown Motors is also negotiating with postal services in the United Kingdom and Australia to make electric vehicles for them as well. It has a backlog of 6,000 cars that will create about 400 jobs.

Lordstown Motors also plans to partner with the United Auto Workers union to pay UAW wages.

"Well, you could possibly have a million units On the table here you could possibly have three shifts going around the table here around the clock. So it has to be done with UAW's workforce because they are the only ones, to be honest with you, who have the skills to make something like this happen, "Rulli said.

" Not only could they build these fleets as they already have pre-orders for, not only is it possible for the post office to be here, but they are talking about making this their headquarters in Lordstown, making the company's headquarters in Lordstown ̵[ads1]1; hiring engineers, research and development, a whole host of additional jobs that would be high paying and good jobs for the valley, "said O & # 39; Brien.

Workhorse has already built 400 cars for United Parcel Service. They said we should know something definite by the end of the year. Some of that depends on the negotiations between GM and UAW, but they couldn't have been more positive and optimistic that electric vehicles could come to Lordstown.

"The technology I saw here, these guys are Tesla in the Midwest, I have to be honest with you. We have some hardcore, incredible engineering and technology happening here. When I drive these vehicles today, I have no doubt that these people have the opportunity to do this, "Rulli said.

But UAW Local 1112 store chairman Dan Morgan does not share the optimism of O & # 39; Brien and Rulli. [19659002] “It is very difficult to follow all the lies of GM and this workhorse dream. Our members suffer every day and just want to know the truth of what their future holds. One minute they sell the plant, the other they say it must be decided at the negotiating table. We want product in Lordstown and deserve it, "he said.