Electric truck and bus OEM Lion Electric has announced a reduction of its workforce. This action will be combined with other cost-cutting measures. These moves are aimed at further reducing operating expenses and aligning its cost structure to current market dynamics, the company said.

The workforce reduction affects approximately 120 employees. Most of these are Canada-based employees in overhead and product development functions.

The measure should not negatively impact the company's production capacity.

$40 Million in Cost Savings

Following this workforce reduction, Lion will have approximately 1,150 employees, including more than 600 manufacturing positions.

In addition to the workforce reduction, Lion said it continues to undertake internal measures to reduce its cost structure, including in areas such as third-party inventory logistics, lease expenses, consulting, product development and professional fees.

The workforce reduction and cost cutting measures announced today, combined with the measures announced in November 2023 and February 2024, are expected to result in annualized costs savings of approximately $40 million.

"Current market dynamics, notably delays experienced with the Canada's Zero-Emission Transit Fund, continue to adversely impact our school bus deliveries and forced us to further reduce our workforce," said Marc Bedard, CEO and founder of Lion. "We sincerely regret the impact of this decision on our valued employees. It is, however, crucial to right-size our workforce to the current environment. We remain confident in our long-term growth and that of our industry and, keeping our focus on our profitability objectives and our production requirements, we will continue to work tirelessly on the execution of our business plan.”