Workhorse Group
American manufacturer and technology company focused on battery-electric commercial vehicles and last-mile delivery systems.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Workhorse Group is an American original equipment manufacturer and transportation-technology company focused on battery-electric commercial vehicles for delivery and other vocational applications. The company is headquartered in Sharonville, Ohio, and has historically concentrated on the last-mile segment, where fleet operators value predictable routes, lower operating costs, reduced maintenance requirements, and compliance with increasingly demanding emissions policies. Its product portfolio has included electric step vans, cab-chassis vehicles, strip chassis, telematics software, and delivery-drone technologies. The company was established in 2007 as AMP Electric Vehicles by Steve Burns. Its initial concept was to convert conventionally engineered passenger vehicles to electric propulsion by obtaining glider vehicles—bodies and chassis without internal-combustion drivetrains—from established manufacturers. The business later shifted toward commercial vehicles after cooperation with major passenger-car manufacturers proved difficult and the anticipated passenger-EV market developed more slowly than expected. A major turning point came in 2013, when AMP acquired the assets of Workhorse Custom Chassis from Navistar, including a manufacturing facility in Indiana. The transaction gave AMP a commercial-vehicle platform and the Workhorse name, which became central to the company's identity. AMP Electric Vehicles formally changed its name to Workhorse Group Incorporated in April 2015. Its common stock began trading on Nasdaq under the symbol WKHS in January 2016. Workhorse developed a range of electric delivery vehicles and pursued large fleet opportunities. Its C-Series, later associated with the C-1000, was designed as an electric delivery van. The company was one of the finalists for the United States Postal Service's Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program, a proposed replacement for approximately 165,000 aging postal delivery vehicles. In February 2021, USPS selected Oshkosh Defense instead. Workhorse challenged the decision in the United States Court of Federal Claims but withdrew the complaint in September 2021. The failed bid had significant strategic and financial consequences because the postal program had been viewed as a potential volume anchor for Workhorse's manufacturing plans. Workhorse also developed the W-15 electric pickup concept. In 2019, the company helped establish Lordstown Motors and retained an equity interest, while licensing the W-15 technology to the new company. Lordstown Motors used the licensed design as the basis for the Endurance pickup. Workhorse subsequently concentrated more heavily on commercial vehicles, including the W4 CC, W750, and W56. The W56, a larger class 5 and 6 battery-electric commercial vehicle, was unveiled in 2023 and entered production in September of that year. The company experienced substantial operational and governance challenges. In 2021, after initial C-1000 deliveries, Workhorse suspended deliveries and recalled 41 vehicles for additional testing and modifications intended to address payload and safety-compliance issues. The company also faced scrutiny concerning its unsuccessful USPS bid, securities trading, and statements made during the period surrounding the postal award. Workhorse disclosed investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Under CEO Richard Dauch, appointed in 2021, the company pursued operational restructuring, resolution of legacy matters, manufacturing discipline, and a transition from development-stage startup to commercial-vehicle manufacturer. Workhorse has also pursued connected-vehicle and autonomous-delivery technology. Its Metron software provides telematics capabilities intended to help fleet operators monitor vehicles and operations. Its former aerospace division developed the HorseFly and Falcon delivery-drone concepts and the SureFly electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The Aero division was divested in 2024. In 2025, Workhorse's operations were reported as being combined with those of Motiv Electric Trucks to form a new Workhorse entity. The company therefore remains positioned around electric commercial transportation, although its product range, corporate structure, and production strategy have evolved substantially from its original passenger-vehicle conversion model.
History
Workhorse Group began in 2007 as AMP Electric Vehicles, founded by Steve Burns. The original business model centered on converting conventionally designed passenger vehicles to electric propulsion. AMP intended to obtain glider vehicles from established automakers and install its own electric powertrains. The strategy encountered resistance from large manufacturers and was affected by slower-than-anticipated development of the passenger-electric-vehicle market. The company moved toward commercial transportation after Navistar decided to sell the assets of Workhorse Custom Chassis in 2012. In March 2013, AMP acquired those assets, including an Indiana manufacturing facility, and began using the Workhorse platform to develop electric commercial vehicles. The acquisition supplied the company with a stronger connection to step vans, chassis engineering, and fleet applications than its earlier passenger-vehicle conversion approach. AMP Electric Vehicles changed its corporate name to Workhorse Group Incorporated on April 16, 2015. The company entered the Nasdaq Capital Market in January 2016 under the ticker WKHS. During this period it developed electric commercial-vehicle concepts, including the W-15 pickup and delivery vans, and experimented with drone-based delivery systems. The W-15 was presented as a fleet-oriented electric pickup with a range extender. Workhorse later licensed the pickup technology to Lordstown Motors, which used it as the foundation for the Lordstown Endurance program. Workhorse's most important commercial opportunity was the United States Postal Service Next Generation Delivery Vehicle competition. The company proposed an electric delivery vehicle intended to replace a large portion of the USPS's aging Grumman LLV fleet. Workhorse reached finalist status, but USPS selected Oshkosh Defense in February 2021. Workhorse filed a protest in the United States Court of Federal Claims in June 2021 and withdrew it in September of that year. The postal competition was followed by intense scrutiny. In 2021, Workhorse confirmed that the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice were investigating securities trading connected with the period before the USPS decision. The company also faced shareholder litigation and public allegations concerning disclosures and insider trading. These matters were associated with the company's failed postal bid and the trading activity of certain executives and directors. Richard Dauch became chief executive officer in August 2021 and was tasked with addressing product, manufacturing, governance, and financial problems. Workhorse's early C-Series delivery vehicle, subsequently associated with the C-1000, exposed further operational difficulties. After initial shipments in 2021, Workhorse suspended deliveries and recalled 41 vehicles for additional testing and modifications. The company indicated that changes were needed to address payload capability and compliance with United States safety requirements. The episode reinforced the challenges of scaling a new commercial-vehicle platform from prototype and limited production into dependable fleet service. Under Dauch, the company emphasized manufacturing execution, legacy-issue resolution, and a narrower commercial-vehicle strategy. To maintain production activity while developing its larger W56 platform, Workhorse entered arrangements involving contract manufacturing and vehicle supply with other commercial-EV companies. The W4 CC and W750 served class 4 applications, while the W56 targeted class 5 and 6 delivery and vocational fleets. The W56 was unveiled at the 2023 NTEA Work Truck Show and entered production in September 2023. Workhorse also maintained a software and technology component through Metron telematics, intended to provide fleet monitoring and operational information. Its Aero activities included the HorseFly and Falcon delivery-drone concepts and the SureFly electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The SureFly program was sold to Moog in 2019, and Workhorse announced the divestiture of the broader Aero division in June 2024. In 2025, the company's operations were reported as being combined with those of Motiv Electric Trucks, forming a new Workhorse entity. This development marked another stage in the company's continuing transition from an experimental EV developer to a focused electric commercial-vehicle business.
- 2025
Operations combine with Motiv Electric Trucks
[1]Workhorse operations were reported as combining with Motiv Electric Trucks to create a new Workhorse entity.
- 2024
Aero division is divested
[1]Workhorse announced the sale or divestiture of its Aero activities, including drone-related development.
- 2023
W56 production begins
[1]Workhorse began producing its larger class 5 and 6 battery-electric commercial vehicle.
- 2021
Oshkosh wins the USPS vehicle competition
[1]USPS selected Oshkosh Defense for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program instead of Workhorse.
- 2021
Richard Dauch becomes CEO
[1]Dauch was appointed chief executive during a period of product, legal, governance, and operational difficulty.
- 2019
Workhorse enters the Lordstown relationship
[1]Workhorse retained an interest in Lordstown Motors and licensed its W-15 pickup technology to the new company.
- 2016
Workhorse begins Nasdaq quotation
[1]The company's common stock began trading on Nasdaq under WKHS.
- 2015
Corporate name changes to Workhorse Group
[1]AMP Electric Vehicles adopted the Workhorse Group Incorporated name.
- 2013
AMP acquires Workhorse Custom Chassis assets
[1]The acquisition gave AMP a commercial-vehicle platform and an Indiana manufacturing facility.
- 2012
Navistar begins divesting Workhorse Custom Chassis
[1]Navistar decided to sell its Workhorse subsidiary and related commercial-chassis assets.
Products and positioning
Electric commercial vehicles and fleet technology for last-mile delivery, vocational transportation, and other fleet applications.
Class 4 electric cab chassis
W4 CC
The W4 CC is a class 4 battery-electric cab-chassis vehicle intended for commercial and vocational bodies. Its cab-chassis format allows fleet operators or body manufacturers to configure the vehicle for applications such as delivery, service work, utility operations, and other medium-duty duties. It represents Workhorse's effort to serve customers that need an adaptable commercial platform rather than a single fixed van body.
Class 4 electric step van
W750
The W750 is a class 4 battery-electric step van designed primarily for last-mile delivery. Its body provides approximately 750 cubic feet of cargo space, making it suitable for parcel, retail, and route-delivery operations. The step-van architecture is intended to support frequent stops and repeated driver entry and exit, conditions common in urban and suburban delivery fleets.
Class 5 and 6 electric commercial vehicle · 2023
W56
The W56 is a larger battery-electric commercial vehicle for class 5 and 6 applications. It is intended for last-mile delivery but can also be supplied in strip-chassis and cab-chassis configurations for other commercial bodies. The vehicle provides approximately 1,000 cubic feet of storage in its delivery configuration and uses an e-axle supplied by Linamar. Workhorse unveiled it at the 2023 NTEA Work Truck Show and began production in September 2023.
Electric delivery van · 2021
C-1000
The C-1000 was Workhorse's early production electric delivery van, developed from the C-Series program. It was intended for commercial fleets and last-mile routes, but initial vehicles required additional testing and modifications. In September 2021, Workhorse suspended deliveries and recalled 41 units to address payload and safety-compliance concerns. The model is discontinued or inactive.
Electric pickup truck · 2016
W-15
The W-15 was a planned electric pickup truck announced in 2016. The concept combined a battery-electric drivetrain with a gasoline range extender and was promoted for fleet, utility, and municipal use. In 2020, Workhorse transferred the project to Lordstown Motors under a licensing agreement. The licensed design became the basis for the Lordstown Endurance pickup, so the Workhorse-branded W-15 did not proceed as a continuing product.
Fleet telematics software
Metron
Metron is Workhorse's telematics software system for connected commercial vehicles. It is designed to provide fleet operators with information about vehicle operation and delivery activity, supporting monitoring, route management, maintenance planning, and the evaluation of electric-vehicle performance. The software reflects Workhorse's broader effort to combine vehicle hardware with fleet-management technology.
Truck-mounted delivery drone · 2016
HorseFly
HorseFly was a truck-mounted drone concept developed for last-mile delivery. The system was intended to allow a delivery vehicle to serve as a mobile launch and recovery platform for an unmanned aircraft, potentially extending delivery reach and reducing walking or driving time on individual routes. Workhorse developed the technology with external partners, including Moog and Unmanned Systems Operations Group.
Electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft · 2018
SureFly
SureFly was an electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing octocopter concept intended for applications such as medical transport, military missions, agriculture, and urban commuting. Workhorse announced the aircraft for debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show. Moog acquired the SureFly program in December 2019 for use as a demonstrator for autonomous delivery-vehicle technology.
Controversies
2021
Regulatory investigations and securities-trading allegations
Workhorse disclosed investigations by the SEC and Department of Justice concerning securities trading in the period before the USPS selected Oshkosh Defense. The disclosure followed allegations from a short-selling research firm and media reporting about stock sales by executives and directors, as well as shareholder litigation alleging misconduct connected with the USPS bid. The available reference material does not establish a final finding of wrongdoing.
2021
Workhorse recalls 41 delivered electric vehicles
Workhorse Group announced a recall of 41 electric vehicles that had recently been delivered to customers. The company cited customer feedback and the need for enhancements to the C-1000's production process and design. Workhorse stated that additional testing and modifications were required to certify C-1000 vehicles under federal motor vehicle safety standards. The recall covered only vehicles already delivered to customers, and the announcement did not specify further outcomes or remedies.
2021
Pushback over Oshkosh’s USPS vehicle contract
Lawmakers and Workhorse Group pushed back after Oshkosh Corp. won the USPS next-generation delivery vehicle contract. A resolution sponsored by Rep. Marcy Kaptur sought to delay the contract pending an investigation into whether it aligned with the president’s climate-change executive order and whether inappropriate political influence affected the award.
2021
Investors file class-action lawsuit against Workhorse
Investors filed a class-action complaint against Workhorse in federal court, alleging that company executives made misleading and false statements about its bid for a U.S. Postal Service truck contract. Workhorse said it believed the claims were without merit and intended to defend itself.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle bid
United States
Workhorse promoted its electric delivery-vehicle proposal in the United States Postal Service competition to replace aging Grumman LLV delivery vehicles. The bid positioned the company as an electric alternative for a large federal fleet and became the central commercial opportunity in its growth strategy.
Outcome. Workhorse was not selected; USPS awarded the contract to Oshkosh Defense. Workhorse filed a court challenge and later withdrew it.
Brand decisions
2025
Combine operations with Motiv Electric TrucksM&ABackground
The company continued to reorganize around electric commercial-vehicle manufacturing and operating scale.
Action taken
Workhorse's operations were reported as merging with those of Motiv Electric Trucks to form a new Workhorse entity.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the company's operating structure; further ownership and governance details are not specified in the supplied reference material.
2024
Divest the Aero divisionStrategyBackground
Workhorse had developed drone and electric-aircraft technologies but was concentrating increasingly on commercial ground vehicles.
Action taken
Workhorse announced the divestiture of its Aero division.
Aftermath
The move narrowed the company's technology portfolio and reinforced its focus on electric commercial trucks and fleet software.
2023
Launch the W56 production platformProduct launchBackground
Workhorse needed a larger and more commercially usable electric vehicle platform after difficulties with earlier products.
Action taken
The company unveiled the W56 and began production in September 2023.
Aftermath
The W56 became a central product in Workhorse's strategy for class 5 and 6 delivery and vocational fleets.
2021
Withdraw USPS contract challengeOtherBackground
USPS selected Oshkosh Defense for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle contract, despite Workhorse having been a finalist.
Action taken
Workhorse filed a complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims in June 2021 and withdrew the complaint in September 2021.
Aftermath
The company lost its principal legal route for overturning the award and continued without the anticipated postal-fleet volume.
- Oshkosh Defense — Oshkosh proceeded as the selected supplier for the USPS program.
2021
Suspend C-1000 deliveries and initiate recallGeneration changeBackground
Initial C-1000 vehicles required further validation concerning payload capability and compliance with United States safety requirements.
Action taken
Workhorse suspended deliveries and recalled 41 vehicles for additional testing and modifications.
Aftermath
The C-1000 program was effectively discontinued as Workhorse redirected resources toward more robust commercial-vehicle platforms.
2019
Create Lordstown Motors relationship and license the W-15M&ABackground
Workhorse sought a path for its electric pickup technology while General Motors' Lordstown assembly plant was being considered for a new manufacturing use.
Action taken
Workhorse retained an approximately 10 percent interest in Lordstown Motors and entered a licensing agreement covering the W-15 pickup technology.
Aftermath
Lordstown Motors used the licensed design as the basis for the Endurance pickup, while Workhorse shifted more attention toward commercial delivery vehicles.
Recent events
Workhorse recalls 41 delivered electric vehicles[2]
Reported:
Workhorse announced a recall of 41 electric vehicles recently delivered to customers, citing customer feedback and the need for enhancements to the C-1000's production process and design. The company said additional testing and modifications were needed to certify C-1000 vehicles under federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Workhorse suspends production amid C-1000 review[2]
Reported:
Workhorse said it was suspending production to address customer feedback and implement enhancements to the C-1000's production process and design. The company also said it was suspending future vehicle deliveries.
Workhorse challenges USPS vehicle contract[5]
Reported:
Workhorse Group filed a protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims challenging the contract awarded to Oshkosh Corp. for the Postal Service’s next-generation delivery vehicles.
- Unconfirmed
Pushback over Oshkosh’s USPS vehicle contract[3]
Reported:
Lawmakers and Workhorse Group pushed back after Oshkosh Corp. won the USPS next-generation delivery vehicle contract. A resolution sponsored by Rep. Marcy Kaptur sought to delay the contract pending an investigation into whether it aligned with the president’s climate-change executive order and whether inappropriate political influence affected the award.
Investors file class-action lawsuit against Workhorse[4]
Investors filed a class-action complaint against Workhorse in federal court, alleging that company executives made misleading and false statements about its bid for a U.S. Postal Service truck contract. Workhorse said it believed the claims were without merit and intended to defend itself.
Lordstown Motors to license Workhorse electric-drive technology[6]
Reported:
Lordstown Motors said it would license components of Workhorse Group’s electric-drive technology for use in building the Endurance electric pickup truck. The agreement also provided an opportunity to transfer existing Workhorse pre-orders to Lordstown Motors.
Workhorse and Lordstown Motors enter into an IP licensing agreement[7]
Reported:
Workhorse entered into an agreement granting Lordstown Motors a three-year exclusive license to certain intellectual property related to Workhorse's W-15 electric pickup truck, in exchange for equity and license-related payments.
Workhorse and USOG partner on medical drone-delivery pilots[8]
Workhorse Group partnered with Unmanned Systems Operations Group (USOG) on an initial drone-delivery pilot program in the San Diego area for medical supplies, using Workhorse's HorseFly system.
Sources8 sources
- 1Workhorse Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2Workhorse recalls 41 delivered electric vehicleswcpo.com
- 3Pushback over Oshkosh’s USPS vehicle contractthenorthwestern.com
- 4Investors file class-action lawsuit against Workhorsevindy.com
- 5Workhorse对美国邮政车队合同提出异议thenorthwestern.com
- 6Lordstown Motors将许可使用Workhorse电驱技术prnewswire.com
- 7Workhorse与Lordstown Motors签订知识产权许可协议prnewswire.com
- 8Workhorse与USOG合作开展医疗无人机配送试点aero-news.net
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