Lordstown Motors Corp., an electric vehicle maker that planned to build an all-electric motorhome with Camping World, named automotive industry veteran Eric Purcell as its vice president of global quality.
Purcell will be responsible for implementing and overseeing the company’s quality standards ahead of the start of production of the Lordstown Endurance. He will report to Lordstown Motors President Rich Schmidt and work closely with leaders across operations, engineering, warranty, sales and service.
“As we ramp up to production and the beginning of vehicle delivery, it is absolutely crucial that we have the strongest and best set of executives in place to ensure Lordstown Motors’ success, which is why Eric Purcell is an obvious and natural addition to our team,” Schmidt said. “Eric has the necessary quality experience in the automotive industry and a strong track record of building and leading teams, and I look forward to working side-by-side with him as we get the Endurance on the road.”
Lordstown said Purcell will play a pivotal role in ensuring the continued compliance of quality standards for Lordstown Motors products and processes.
“I have had my eyes on Lordstown Motors since they said they would be producing a full-size, all-electric pickup truck with in-wheel hub motors,” Purcell said. “It is that kind of innovation and history-making commitment I am attracted to, both professionally and personally, and I am eager to get started.”
Since Lordstown announced financial difficulties resulting in executive leadership change earlier in the year, Camping World has cut back on rhetoric concerning its partnership with the electric vehicle maker.
In a conference call with analysts to discuss second-quarter earnings Aug. 3, Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis said the company’s electrification plans were continuing.
“We are not linked in the electrification,” he said. “Our leadership and disruption in the electrification of the recreation space is not linked to any one company. … Our affinity is for not one single company; it is for the customer and to our shareholders.”
