IVECO, la marca de vehículos comerciales de CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) y Nikola Corporation (NYSE: NKLA) han firmado hoy un memorando de entendimiento (MdE) con la Autoridad Portuaria de Hamburgo (HPA) durante la inauguración de su planta de producción conjunta en Ulm (Alemania). Este acuerdo manifiesta su intención de asociarse para la entrega de hasta 25 vehículos 100% eléctricos (BEV) del modelo Nikola Tre al puerto, que se llevará a cabo en dos fases a lo largo de 2022.

En la primera etapa se probarán en el los vehículos BEV Nikola Tre  en el puerto para operaciones de transporte y logística, junto con soluciones de carga de alto rendimiento. En un segundo paso del proyecto, más definitivo, se integrarán totalmente estos vehículos eléctricos en las operaciones del puerto, y se instalará una infraestructura de carga y de asistencia in situ que incluirá a los principales proveedores. Los vehículos que se suministrarán en estas dos fases serán la versión estadounidense del modelo  Nikola Tre, con permisos especiales para operar en el puerto.

"Hamburgo trabaja para combatir el cambio climático. Es un objetivo que se enmarca en la estrategia a largo plazo de la UE de conseguir la neutralidad en emisiones de carbono de aquí a 2050. Como puerto, nuestra prioridad es ser pioneros en aplicar innovaciones tecnológicas a modo de pruebas piloto. Creemos que los camiones que se van a fabricar en Ulm son la respuesta perfecta a nuestras necesidades y que nos ayudarán a conseguir nuestros objetivos", ha afirmado Jens Meier, director ejecutivo de la Autoridad Portuaria de Hamburgo.

"Hamburgo está preparada para establecer nuevos estándares y convertirse en una ciudad respetuosa con el medio ambiente. La cooperación con Nikola, fabricante de vehículos pesados para el transporte de cero emisiones y con batería, es un hito importante. Queremos trabajar juntos y poner en marcha un proyecto piloto sin precedentes con Nikola e IVECO y socios del sector de la logística portuaria en el puerto de Hamburgo. Para mí, este MdE entre Nikola y la HPA es un primer paso, pero decisivo, para convertir el Puerto de Hamburgo en un piloto de motores innovadores y alternativos. Desde el punto de vista de la Ciudad Libre y Hanseática de Hamburgo, espero una buena y fructífera cooperación", afirmaba el senador de Economía e Innovación de Hamburgo, Michael Westhagemann.

"Desde Nikola celebramos los objetivos de sostenibilidad del puerto de Hamburgo. Es para nosotros un orgullo colaborar con ellos en este proyecto", añadía Mark Russell, CEO de Nikola. "Nikola también está trabajando en otro programa similar en Estados Unidos. Acuerdos históricos como este son los que siguen reforzando el evidente cambio de rumbo global hacia un futuro con cero emisiones".

"Se trata del mayor puerto marítimo de Alemania por volumen y, por tanto, el lugar ideal para demostrar la eficacia y la competitividad del Nikola Tre. Estamos deseando ver los primeros resultados de la primera fase, y de ir viendo cómo ayudar a la Autoridad Portuaria de Hamburgo a lograr sus objetivos energéticos", ha declarado Gerrit Marx, President Commercial & Specialty Vehicles CNH Industrial.

El Nikola Tre, diseñado como solución de transporte de larga distancia de altas prestaciones y de cero emisiones, representa un punto de inflexión en el sector. Basado en la plataforma del camión IVECO S-WAY con eje eléctrico codiseñado y fabricado por FPT Industrial, contará con la avanzada tecnología eléctrica y de pilas de combustible de NIKOLA e incorporará componentes clave suministrados por Bosch.

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website: www.cnhindustrial.com

Nikola Corporation (NYSE: NKLA) is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or 3 indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential benefits of the joint-venture relationship between Nikola and CNHI/IVECO; the ability to hit the expected delivery timelines for the BEV and FCEV vehicles; the manufacturing capabilities and standards of the new joint-venture manufacturing facility; the joint-venture's ability to assemble fuel-cell power modules at the new manufacturing facility; the expected benefits from integrating the S-Way truck platform with electric vehicle technology; expectations regarding its business, business model and strategy; the company's expectations for its trucks and market acceptance of electric trucks, both BEV and FCEV; and market opportunity. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Nikola's management and are not predictions of actual performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, design and manufacturing changes and delays; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the definitive agreements; general economic, financial, legal, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the potential effects of COVID-19; the outcome of legal, regulatory and judicial proceedings to which Nikola is, or may become a party; demand for and customer acceptance of Nikola's trucks; risks associated with development and testing of fuel-cell power modules and hydrogen storage systems; risks related to the rollout of Nikola's business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Nikola's future business; the availability of capital; risks associated with changes in accounting treatment or accounting standards; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Nikola's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and other documents Nikola files with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Nikola specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.