Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Inc. of California, has confirmed it will manufacture its 5-passenger PEAR electric automobile at the Lordstown Motors plant in Lordstown. ...AP file photo

LORDSTOWN — Fisker Inc., the California-based manufacturer of electric vehicles, is accepting reservations for its second auto, the PEAR, which will be made in Lordstown.

The announcement confirms speculation going back to October that Fisker would make the vehicle in partnership with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn at the factory it bought from Lordstown Motors Corp.

Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker told this newspaper at the time, “if Foxconn ends up acquiring Lordstown and if the deal closes, it’s our intent to make the PEAR with Foxconn in Lordstown.”

The plant sale for $230 million was formally announced in November. Fisker’s comments came after Lordstown Motors and Foxconn announced they had a deal in principle.

The PEAR (Personal Electric Automotive Revolution) is a compact, five-passenger urban electric vehicle, according to the company. It has a base price of $29,900 before taxes and incentives.

Consumers can reserve the PEAR for $250 for the first reservation and $100 for the second reservation. Deliveries will begin in 2024. The company has targeted 250,000 units per year minimum for initial production.

“PEAR will feature the very latest technology in a beautifully designed, affordable urban mobility device,” Fisker said. “It’s an exciting vehicle and an exciting time for the company as we expand our lineup.”

Said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Fisker’s announcement: “We are another step closer” to making the Mahoning Valley the nation’s hub for electric-vehicle production.

“With this partnership, we’re creating good-paying union jobs for Ohio workers, positioning the United States to lead the world in production of electric vehicles and batteries and ensuring that movement happens right here in Voltage Valley,” he said.

Fisker also said in October because the PEAR is smaller than Lordstown Motors’ first vehicle, the Endurance truck, is uniquely assembled and will be assembled at a higher volume, it will require its own production line. He was hesitant to say then how much would be invested to retool the facility, but did say Fisker’s agreement with Foxconn calls for the two companies to share the investment and profits.

In late January, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told a Japanese news outlet that deliveries of the Endurance, Lordstown Motors’ flagship electric truck, would begin in the second half of 2022.

Within a few days on Jan. 28, Lordstown Motors posted on social media a photo of Endurance trucks being assembled for pre-production.

“Thanks to our collaboration with Foxconn, our pre-production vehicles are rolling out of assembly and into diverse testing environments,” the post states. “This will enable us to both prove and refine the durability, connectivity and maneuverability of our vehicles as well as additional performance criteria for our fleet customers.”

The company announced in November it planned to make about 100 pre-production trucks.

Lordstown Motors plans to announce its fourth quarter and full-year 2021 financial results before the market opens Feb. 28. The company will then host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. that can be accessed on the events pages of the Lordstown Motors’ investor relations website.

rselak@tribtoday.com