Canoo Faces Production Delays Amid Missing Parts and Payment Issues

Electric vehicle startup Canoo has begun limited production of its delivery vehicles, but internal documents reveal significant operational challenges. Despite CEO Tony Aquila's promise to complete fifteen vehicles by the end of 2022 for clients like Walmart and NASA, reports indicate that critical parts are missing at the third-party manufacturing facility in Michigan. Internal slides show that the manufacturer, Roush, lacked several components for the first vehicle, forcing Canoo to send salvaged parts from its California headquarters. Additionally, financial records and lawsuit filings suggest the company is delinquent on supplier payments, which may further disrupt the supply chain. While a Canoo spokeswoman dismissed these reports as inaccurate preliminary data and affirmed that production is on schedule using a just-in-time model, she declined to provide corroborating evidence. This lackluster start contrasts with the high-profile production launches of competitors like Fisker, raising concerns about Canoo's ability to meet its ambitious capacity goals for 2023 amidst global supply chain issues.