US headquartered zero-emissions transportation solutions provider, Nikola Corporation has reported positive financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
“During the first quarter Nikola continued to deliver on our previously communicated milestones and execute on our business plan,” said Mark Russell, Nikola’s Chief Executive Officer. “We have had continued success in commissioning and validating the Nikola Tre BEVs, and are nearing completion of both our Ulm, Germany (with Iveco) and Coolidge, Arizona manufacturing facilities.”
Mark continued: “Commissioning and validation activities continue on the Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV). As expected in a new program development cycle, we have had to overcome some component level delays which we have worked through with our suppliers to minimize the impact on the scheduled timeline. Q1 activities included commissioning the first batch of five Tre BEVs and validation testing at the proving grounds. As of today, powertrain performance and durability testing have started at the proving grounds.
We are nearing completion of the second batch of nine beta Nikola Tre BEVs in Ulm, Germany. As of today, we have completed eight of the nine trucks, with the ninth scheduled to be completed shortly. Three trucks from the second batch of nine are at Nikola’s headquarters (HQ) in Arizona, one is in Indiana for crash testing, and four are in transit to the HQ in Arizona. We anticipate that the four trucks in transit, in addition to the ninth truck being completed, will arrive at our HQ by the end of May.”
“As of May 7, Nikola and IVECO have nearly completed the building modifications of the joint venture manufacturing facility. The dismantling and building restructuring have been completed. The automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system installation is ongoing and is expected to be completed over the next few weeks. The tool and equipment installation of the 14 separate workstations should be completed by the end of the month. Nikola is on track to begin the start of trial production in June 2021.
During the first quarter of 2021, Nikola continued to make progress at the greenfield manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona. The building has been substantially enclosed with the floor slab, roofing, and walls complete. The electrical and mechanical construction and installation is nearing completion and the manufacturing equipment is beginning to be installed. The road paving is ongoing and utilities have been installed. As we begin vehicle trial builds at the facility in July, Nikola will concurrently be building out the Phase 1 assembly expansion area at Coolidge.”
Nikola’s technicians are in Ulm building second batch Nikola Tre BEV betas and Nikola Tre fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) alphas, and by the end of Q2 2021 will come to Arizona to build trucks at the Coolidge facility. Nikola has also begun the assembly of the first Tre FCEV alpha in Coolidge.