Hyperdrive

Nikola Founder Exaggerated the Capability of His Debut Truck

  • The Nikola One revealed in 2016 was inoperable, missing parts
  • ‘I never deceived anyone,’ Trevor Milton says in an interview
Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton is accused of exaggerating the capability of his Nikola One electric truck. Ed Ludlow reports.Source: Bloomberg)
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After half an hour of promotional videos and big promises, Nikola Corp.’s 13-foot-tall prototype parked atop a rotating stage began to spin.

The dramatic music reached a crescendo, lights flicked on and a partially translucent white sheet lifted off the Nikola One. Founder Trevor Milton walked up to applause, put his hands on his side and admired the big rig.