As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2019

Registration No. 333-               

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Workhorse Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

100 Commerce Drive

Loveland, Ohio 45140

(513) 360-4704 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Duane Hughes

Chief Executive Officer

Workhorse Group Inc.

100 Commerce Drive

Loveland, Ohio 45140

(513) 360-4704 

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Stephen M. Fleming, Esq.

Fleming PLLC

30 Wall Street, 8^th Floor

New York, New York 10005

(516) 833-5034

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholders named in this prospectus may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 9, 2019 

15,682,598 Shares of Common Stock

This prospectus relates to the resale by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus of up to 15,682,598 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, issuable as set forth below.

We are not selling any shares of common stock and will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the Shares. We will, however, receive the net proceeds of any Warrants included in this prospectus exercised for cash, which, if exercised in cash at the current applicable exercise prices with respect to all of the Warrants, would result in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $17.2 million.

We have agreed to bear all of the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of these Shares. The Selling Stockholders will pay or assume brokerage commissions and similar charges, if any, incurred in connection with the resale of the Shares.

The Selling Stockholders identified in this prospectus, or their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that may be identified in a supplement to this prospectus or, if required, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, may offer the Shares from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. For additional information on the methods of resale that may be used by the Selling Stockholders, see the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 27. For information regarding the Selling Stockholders, see the section entitled “Selling Stockholders” beginning on page 23.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “WKHS”. On August 7, 2019, the closing sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $3.52 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference herein under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 8 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                      , 2019.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using such registration statement, the Selling Stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell (in one or more transactions as described under “Plan of Distribution”) up to 15,682,598 shares of our common stock that are issuable as follows:

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sales of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders. We will, however, receive the net proceeds of any Warrants exercised for cash, which, if exercised in cash at the current applicable exercise prices with respect to all of the Warrants included in this prospectus, would result in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $17.2 million.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of us and our securities. We may add, update or change in a prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference. For further information about our business and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as described in “Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”. This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not authorized any other person to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement (including in any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein). You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. We and the Selling Stockholders have not authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. The Selling Stockholders are offering to sell our securities, and seeking offers to buy, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted.

Workhorse Group Inc. and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as “Workhorse”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”, unless otherwise specified or the context indicates otherwise.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before purchasing our common stock, you should read and consider carefully the following risk factors as well as all other information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Each of these risk factors, either alone or taken together, could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know of or that we currently believe are immaterial, which could also impair our business and financial position. If any of the events described below were to occur, our financial condition, our ability to access capital resources, our results of operations and/or our future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected and the market price of our common stock could decline. As a result, you could lose some or all of any investment you may make in our common stock.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We need access to additional financing in 2020 and beyond, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we cannot access additional financing when we need it and on acceptable terms, our business may fail.

Our business plan to design, produce, sell and service commercial electric vehicles through our Union City facility will require continued capital investment in 2020. Our research and development activities will also require continued investment. For the year ended December 31, 2018, our independent registered public accounting firm issued a report on our 2018 financial statements that contained an explanatory paragraph stating that the lack of sales, negative working capital and stockholders’ deficit, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We have adequate capital to continue operations through the end of 2020. In addition, although we have adequate capital as a result of our recent capital raise and the additional capital we have access to through the Marathon Agreement, which will allow us to finalize research and development on the NGEN and fulfill on our existing orders, we will need additional capital beyond 2019 to continue additional research and development and fulfill additional orders. Unless and until we are able to generate a sufficient amount of revenue, reduce our costs and/or enter a strategic relationship, we expect to finance future cash needs through public and/or private offerings of equity securities and/or debt financings. More generally, as discussed above, we have committed debt funding through the Marathon Agreement to support inventory purchases for confirmed customer purchase orders, but do not currently have any committed future funding for other operating costs. If we are not able to obtain additional financing when needed in 2020 and/or substantially increase revenue from sales, we will be unable to continue as a going concern. As a result, we may have to liquidate our assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on our consolidated financial statements, and investors will likely lose a substantial part or all of their investment. We cannot be certain that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms when required, or at all. Further, if there remains doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding on acceptable terms or at all. If we cannot obtain additional financing when we need it and on terms acceptable to us, we will not be able to continue as a going concern.

Our results of operations have not resulted in profitability and we may not be able to achieve profitability going forward.

We have incurred net losses amounting to $184 million for the period from inception (February 20, 2007) through June 30, 2019  We have had net losses in each quarter since our inception. We expect that we will continue to incur net losses through the second half of 2019. We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including the other risks described in this prospectus, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown events. Accordingly, we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Our management is developing plans to alleviate the negative trends and conditions described above and there is no guarantee that such plans will be successfully implemented. Our business plan is focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to the commercial transportation sector but is still unproven. There is no assurance that even if we successfully implement our business plan, that we will be able to curtail our losses. If we incur additional significant operating losses, our stock price may significantly decline.

We have yet to achieve positive cash flow and, given our projected funding needs, our ability to generate positive cash flow is uncertain.

We have had negative cash flow from operating activities of $11.8 million and $7.5 million for the periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We anticipate that we will continue to have negative cash flow from operating and investing activities through the second half of 2019 as we expect to incur research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses and make modest capital expenditures in our efforts to increase sales and ramp up operations at our Union City facility. Our business also will at times require significant amounts of working capital to support our growth of additional platforms. An inability to generate positive cash flow for the near term may adversely affect our ability to raise needed capital for our business on reasonable terms, diminish supplier or customer willingness to enter into transactions with us, and have other adverse effects that may decrease our long-term viability.

The development of our business in the near future is contingent upon the implementation of orders from UPS and other key customers for the purchase of Workhorse vehicles and if we are unable to perform under these orders, our business may fail.

On June 4, 2014, the Company entered into a Vehicle Purchase Agreement with United Parcel Service Inc. (“UPS”) which outlined the relationship by which the Company would sell vehicles to UPS. To date, we have received six separate orders totaling up to 1,405 vehicles from UPS. The sixth and most recent order is from Q1 2018. We have entered into various purchase orders with UPS relating to the delivery of the vehicles ordered. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to perform under these orders and if it does perform, that UPS will purchase additional vehicles from the Company. Also, there is no assurance that UPS will not terminate its agreement with the Company pursuant to the termination provisions therein. Further, if the Company is not able to raise the required capital to purchase required parts and pay certain vendors, the Company may not be able to comply with UPS’s deadlines. Accordingly, despite the receipt of the orders from UPS, there is no assurance, due to the Company’s financial constraints and status as a development stage company, that the Company will be able to deliver such vehicles or that it will receive additional orders whether from UPS or other potential customers.

If we are unable to perform under our orders with UPS, the Company business will be significantly negatively impacted.

Our limited operating history makes it difficult for us to evaluate our future business prospects and make decisions based on those estimates of our future performance.

As we begin to fully implement our manufacturing capabilities, it is difficult, if not impossible, to forecast our future results based upon our historical data. Because of the uncertainties related to our lack of historical operations, we may be hindered in our ability to anticipate and adapt to increases or decreases in revenues or expenses.  If we make poor budgetary decisions as a result of unreliable historical data, we could be less profitable or incur losses, which may result in a decline in our stock price.

Our obligations to Marathon, which holds a secured loan, are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets, so if we default on those obligations, Marathon could foreclose on, liquidate and/or take possession of our assets. If that were to happen, we could be forced to curtail, or even to cease, our operations.

All amounts due under the loan payable to Marathon are secured by our assets. As a result, if we default on our obligations under the secured loan, Marathon could foreclose on its security interest and liquidate or take possession of some or all of these assets, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations and could require us to curtail, or even to cease our operations.

We are subject to certain covenants set forth in the Marathon Credit Agreement. Upon an event of default, including a breach of a covenant, we may not be able to make such accelerated payments under the Loan Agreement.

The Marathon Agreement contains customary events of default, including for non-payment, misrepresentation, breach of covenants, defaults under other material indebtedness, material adverse change, bankruptcy, change of control and material judgments. The Loans mature on the third anniversary of the closing date. The Company is required to repay a portion of the Tranche One Loans with $500,000 installment payments on each of June 30, 2020, December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the Lenders may declare all outstanding amounts thereunder immediately due and payable and may terminate commitments to make any additional advances under the Tranche Two Loans. Upon an event of default, the outstanding principal amount of the loan plus any other amounts owed to Marathon will become immediately due and payable and Marathon could foreclose on our assets. A default would also likely significantly diminish the market price of our common stock.

We offer no financing on our vehicles. As such, our business is dependent on cash sales, which may adversely affect our growth prospects.

While most of our current customers are well-established companies with significant purchasing power, many of our potential smaller and medium-sized customers may need to rely on credit or leasing arrangements to gain access to our vehicles. Unlike some of our competitors who provide credit or leasing services for the purchase of their vehicles, we do not provide, and currently do not have commercial arrangements with a third party that provides, such financial services. We believe the current limited availability of credit or leasing solutions for our vehicles could adversely affect our revenues and market share in the commercial electric vehicle market.

We do not receive progress payments on orders of our vehicles, and if a purchaser fails to pay upon delivery, we may not be able to recoup the costs we incurred in producing such vehicles.

Our arrangements with existing customers do not provide for progress payments as we begin to fulfill orders. Customers are only required to pay us upon delivery of vehicles.  If a customer fails to take delivery of an ordered vehicle or fails to pay for such vehicle, we may not receive cash to offset the production expenses of such vehicle, which could adversely affect our cash flows.

Our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be adversely affected if we cannot reduce and adequately control the costs and expenses associated with operating our business, including our material and production costs.

We incur significant costs and expenses related to procuring the materials, components and services required to develop and produce our electric vehicles. We have secured supply agreements for our critical components including our batteries. However, these are dependent on volume to ensure that they are available at a competitive price. We continually work on cost-down initiatives to reduce our cost structure so that we may effectively compete. If we do not reduce our costs and expenses, our net losses will continue which will negatively impact our business and stock price.

Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of lithium-ion cells could harm our business.

We may experience increases in the cost or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of lithium-ion cells. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. The prices for these lithium-ion cells can fluctuate depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials and could adversely affect our business and operating results. We are exposed to multiple risks relating to lithium-ion cells including:

Our business is dependent on the continued supply of battery cells for the battery packs used in our vehicles. While we believe several sources of the battery cells are available for such battery cells, we have fully qualified only Panasonic for the supply of the cells used in such battery packs and have very limited flexibility in changing cell suppliers. Any disruption in the supply of battery cells could disrupt production of our vehicles until such time as a different supplier is fully qualified. Furthermore, fluctuations or shortages in petroleum, tariff or trade issues and other economic or tax conditions may cause us to experience significant increases in freight charges. Substantial increases in the prices for the battery cells or prices charged to us, would increase our operating costs, and could reduce our margins if we cannot recoup the increased costs through increased vehicle prices. Any attempts to increase vehicle prices in response to increased costs in our battery cells could result in cancellations of vehicle orders and therefore materially and adversely affect our brand, image, business, prospects and operating results.

The demand for commercial electric vehicles depends, in part, on the continuation of current trends resulting from dependence on fossil fuels. Extended periods of low diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices could adversely affect demand for our vehicles, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We believe that much of the present and projected demand for commercial electric vehicles results from concerns about volatility in the cost of petroleum-based fuel, the dependency of the United States on oil from unstable or hostile countries, government regulations and economic incentives promoting fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy, as well as the belief that climate change results in part from the burning of fossil fuels. If the cost of petroleum-based fuel decreased significantly, the outlook for the long-term supply of oil to the United States improved, the government eliminated or modified its regulations or economic incentives related to fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy, or if there is a change in the perception that the burning of fossil fuels negatively impacts the environment, the demand for commercial electric vehicles could be reduced, and our business and revenue may be harmed.

Diesel and other petroleum-based fuel prices have been extremely volatile, and we believe this continuing volatility will persist. Lower diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices over extended periods of time may lower the perception in government and the private sector that cheaper, more readily available energy alternatives should be developed and produced. If diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices remain at deflated levels for extended periods of time, the demand for commercial electric vehicles may decrease, which would have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Our future growth is dependent upon the willingness of operators of commercial vehicle fleets to adopt electric vehicles and on our ability to produce, sell and service vehicles that meet their needs. This often depends upon the cost for an operator adopting electric vehicle technology as compared to the cost of traditional internal combustion technology.

Our growth is dependent upon the adoption of electric vehicles by operators of commercial vehicle fleets and on our ability to produce, sell and service vehicles that meet their needs. The entry of commercial electric vehicles into the medium-duty commercial vehicle market is a relatively new development, particularly in the United States, and is characterized by rapidly changing technologies and evolving government regulation, industry standards and customer views of the merits of using electric vehicles in their businesses. This process has been slow as without including the impact of government or other subsidies and incentives, the purchase prices for our commercial electric vehicles currently is higher than the purchase prices for diesel-fueled vehicles. Our growth has also been negatively impacted by the relatively low price of oil over the last few years.

If the market for commercial electric vehicles does not develop as we expect or develops more slowly than we expect, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be adversely affected.

As part of our sales efforts, we must educate fleet managers as to the economical savings we believe they will benefit from during the life of the vehicle. As such, we believe that operators of commercial vehicle fleets should consider a number of factors when deciding whether to purchase our commercial electric vehicles (or commercial electric vehicles generally) or vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, particularly diesel-fueled or natural gas-fueled vehicles. We believe these factors include:

If, in weighing these factors, operators of commercial vehicle fleets determine that there is not a compelling business justification for purchasing commercial electric vehicles, particularly those that we produce and sell, then the market for commercial electric vehicles may not develop as we expect or may develop more slowly than we expect, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

If our customers are unable to efficiently and effectively integrate our electric vehicles into their existing commercial fleets our sales may suffer and our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.

Our sales strategy involves a comprehensive plan for the pilot and roll-out of our electric vehicles, as well as the ongoing replacement of existing commercial vehicles with our electric vehicles, that is tailored to the individual needs of our customers. If we are unable to develop and execute fleet integration strategies or fleet management support services that meet our customers’ unique circumstances with minimal disruption to their businesses, our customers may not realize the economic benefits they expect from our electric vehicles. If this were to occur, our customers may not order additional vehicles from us, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We currently do not have long-term supply contracts with guaranteed pricing which exposes us to fluctuations in component, materials and equipment prices. Substantial increases in these prices would increase our operating costs and could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Because we currently do not have long-term supply contracts with guaranteed pricing, we are subject to fluctuations in the prices of the raw materials, parts and components and equipment we use in the production of our vehicles. Substantial increases in the prices for such raw materials, components and equipment would increase our operating costs and could reduce our margins if we cannot recoup the increased costs through increased vehicle prices. Any attempts to increase the announced or expected prices of our vehicles in response to increased costs could be viewed negatively by our customers and could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

If we are unable to scale our operations at our Union City facility in an expedited manner from our limited low volume production to high volume production, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be adversely affected.

We are currently assembling our orders at our Union City facility which has been acceptable for our historical orders. To satisfy increased demand, we will need to quickly scale operations in our Union City facility as well as scale our supply chain including access to batteries. Such a substantial and rapid increase in operations may strain our management capabilities. Our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected if we experience disruptions in our supply chain, if we cannot obtain materials of sufficient quality at reasonable prices or if we are unable to scale our Union City facility.

We depend upon key personnel and need additional personnel. The loss of key personnel or the inability to attract additional personnel may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our success depends on the continuing services of our CEO, Duane Hughes and top management. On February 4, 2019, Mr. Hughes and the Company entered into an Executive Retention Agreement whereby Mr. Hughes was retained as Chief Executive Officer in consideration of an annual salary of $350,000. Further, on various dates, the Company entered Executive Retention Agreements with Rob Willison as Chief Operating Officer, Paul Gaitan as Chief Financial Officer and Julio Rodriguez as Chief Information Officer. The loss of any of these individuals could have a material and adverse effect on our business operations. Additionally, the success of our operations will largely depend upon our ability to successfully attract and maintain other competent and qualified key management personnel. As with any company with limited resources, there can be no guarantee that we will be able to attract such individuals or that the presence of such individuals will necessarily translate into profitability for our company. Our inability to attract and retain key personnel may materially and adversely affect our business operations. Any failure by our management to effectively anticipate, implement, and manage the changes required to sustain our growth would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We face intense competition. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial or other resources, longer operating histories and greater name recognition than we do and could use their greater resources and/or name recognition to gain market share at our expense or could make it very difficult for us to establish market share.

Companies currently competing in the fleet logistics market offering alternative fuel medium-duty trucks include Ford Motor Company and Freightliner. Ford and Freightliner are currently selling alternative fuel fleet vehicles including hybrids. Ford and Freightliner have substantially more financial resources, established market positions, long-standing relationships with customers and dealers, and who have more significant name recognition, technical, marketing, sales, financial and other resources than we do. Although we believe that HorseFly, our unmanned aerial system (“UAS”), is unique in the marketplace in that it currently does not have any competitors when it comes to a UAS that works in combination with a truck, there are better financed competitors in this emerging industry, including Google and Amazon. While we are seeking to partner with existing delivery companies to improve their efficiencies in the last mile of delivery, our competitors are seeking to redefine the delivery model using drones from a central location requiring extended flight patterns. Our competitors’ new aerial delivery model would essentially eliminate traditional package delivery companies. Our model is focused on coupling our delivery drone with delivery trucks supplementing the existing model and providing shorter term flight patterns. Google and Amazon have more significant financial resources, established market positions, long-standing relationships with customers, more significant name recognition and a larger scope of resources including technical, marketing and sales than we do.

The market for personal VTOL aircraft is new, rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, additional competitors, evolving government regulation and industry standards, frequent new vehicle announcements and changing consumer demands and behaviors. The market is highly competitive, and the SureFly design is competing with experimental aircraft from large original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, small OEMs, other aviation related companies, technology companies and entrepreneurs. Currently, there are several VTOL aircraft being developed that have some similarity to SureFly, including eHang and Volocopter.

The resources available to our competitors to develop new products and introduce them into the marketplace exceed the resources currently available to us. As a result, our competitors may be able to compete more aggressively and sustain that competition over a longer period than we can. This intense competitive environment may require us to make changes in our products, pricing, licensing, services, distribution, or marketing to develop a market position. Each of these competitors has the potential to capture significant market share in our target markets which could have an adverse effect on our position in our industry and on our business and operating results.

If we are unable to keep up with advances in electric vehicle technology, we may suffer a decline in our competitive position.

There are companies in the electric vehicle industry that have developed or are developing vehicles and technologies that compete or will compete with our vehicles. We cannot assure that our competitors will not be able to duplicate our technology or provide products and services similar to ours more efficiently. If for any reason we are unable to keep pace with changes in electric vehicle technology, particularly battery technology, our competitive position may be adversely affected. We plan to upgrade or adapt our vehicles and introduce new models to continue to provide electric vehicles that incorporate the latest technology. However, there is no assurance that our research and development efforts will keep pace with those of our competitors.

Our electric vehicles compete for market share with vehicles powered by other vehicle technologies that may prove to be more attractive than ours.

Our target market currently is serviced by manufacturers with existing customers and suppliers using proven and widely accepted fossil fuel technologies. Additionally, our competitors are working on developing technologies that may be introduced in our target market. If any of these alternative technology vehicles can provide lower fuel costs, greater efficiencies, greater reliability or otherwise benefit from other factors resulting in an overall lower total cost of ownership, this may negatively affect the commercial success of our vehicles or make our vehicles uncompetitive or obsolete. 

We currently have a limited number of customers, with whom we do not have long-term agreements, and expect that a significant portion of our future sales will be from a limited number of customers. The loss of any of these customers could materially harm our business.

A significant portion of our projected future revenue is expected to be generated from a limited number of fleet customers. Additionally, much of our business model is focused on building relationships with a few large fleet customers. Currently, we have no contracts with customers that include long-term commitments or minimum volumes that ensure future sales of vehicles. As such, a customer may take actions that negatively affect us for reasons that we cannot anticipate or control, such as reasons related to the customer’s financial condition, changes in the customer’s business strategy or operations or as the result of the perceived performance or cost-effectiveness of our vehicles. The loss of or a reduction in sales or anticipated sales to our most significant customers would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Changes in the market for electric vehicles could cause our products to become obsolete or lose popularity.

The modern electric vehicle industry is in its infancy and has experienced substantial change in the last few years. To date, demand for electric vehicles has been slower than forecasted by industry experts. As a result, growth in the electric vehicle industry depends on many factors outside our control, including, but not limited to:

We cannot assume that growth in the electric vehicle industry will continue. Our business will suffer if the electric vehicle industry does not grow or grows more slowly than it has in recent years or if we are unable to maintain the pace of industry demands.

President Trump’s administration may create regulatory uncertainty for the alternative energy sector and may materially harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

President Trump’s administration may create regulatory uncertainty in the alternative energy sector. During the election campaign, President Trump made comments suggesting that he was not supportive of various clean energy programs and initiatives designed to curtail global warming. Since taking office, President Trump has released his America First Energy Plan which relies on fossil fuels, cancelled U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement and signed several executive orders relating to oil pipelines. It remains unclear what specifically President Trump would or would not do with respect to these programs and initiatives, and what support he would have for any potential changes to such legislative programs and initiatives in the Unites States Congress. If President Trump and/or the United States Congress take action or publicly speak out about the need to eliminate or further reduce legislation, regulations and incentives supporting alternative energy or take action to further support the use of fossil fuels, such actions may result in a decrease in demand for alternative energy in the United States and may materially harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

The unavailability, reduction, elimination or adverse application of government subsidies, incentives and regulations could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We believe that, currently, the availability of government subsidies and incentives including those available in California and other areas is an important factor considered by our customers when purchasing our vehicles, and that our growth depends in part on the availability and amounts of these subsidies and incentives. Any reduction, elimination or discriminatory application of government subsidies and incentives because of budgetary challenges, policy changes, the reduced need for such subsidies and incentives due to the perceived success of electric vehicles or other reasons may result in the diminished price competitiveness of the alternative fuel vehicle industry.

We may be unable to keep up with changes in electric vehicle technology and, as a result, may suffer a decline in our competitive position.

Our current products are designed for use with, and are dependent upon, existing electric vehicle technology. As technologies change, we plan to upgrade or adapt our products to continue to provide products with the latest technology. However, our products may become obsolete or our research and development efforts may not be sufficient to adapt to changes in or to create the necessary technology. Thus, our potential inability to adapt and develop the necessary technology may harm our competitive position.

The failure of certain key suppliers to provide us with components could have a severe and negative impact upon our business.

We have secured supply agreements for our critical components, including our batteries. However, the agreements are dependent on volume to ensure that they are available at a competitive price. Further, we rely on a small group of suppliers to provide us with components for our products. If these suppliers become unwilling or unable to provide components or if we are unable to meet certain volume requirements in our existing supply agreements, there are a limited number of alternative suppliers who could provide them and the price for them could be substantially higher. Changes in business conditions, wars, governmental changes, and other factors beyond our control or which we do not presently anticipate could negatively affect our ability to receive components from our suppliers. Further, it could be difficult to find replacement components if our current suppliers fail to provide the parts needed for these products. A failure by our major suppliers to provide these components could severely restrict our ability to manufacture our products and prevent us from fulfilling customer orders in a timely fashion.

Product liability or other claims could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The risk of product liability claims, product recalls, and associated adverse publicity is inherent in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of electrical vehicles. Although we have product liability insurance for our consumer and commercial products, that insurance may be inadequate to cover all potential product claims. We also carry liability insurance on our products. Any product recall or lawsuit seeking significant monetary damages either in excess of our coverage, or outside of our coverage, may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. We may not be able to secure additional product liability insurance coverage on acceptable terms or at reasonable costs when needed. A successful product liability claim against us could require us to pay a substantial monetary award. Moreover, a product recall could generate substantial negative publicity about our products and business and inhibit or prevent commercialization of other future product candidates. We cannot provide assurance that such claims and/or recalls will not be made in the future.

We may have to devote substantial resources to implementing a retail product distribution network.

Dealers are often hesitant to provide their own financing to contribute to our product distribution network. Thus, we anticipate that we may have to provide financing or other consignment sale arrangements for dealers. A capital investment such as this presents many risks, foremost among them being that we may not realize a significant return on our investment if the network is not profitable. Our inability to collect receivables from dealers could cause us to suffer losses. Additionally, the amount of time that our management will need to devote to this project may divert them from performing other functions necessary to assure the success of our business. We have established a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Ryder to lower this risk.

Regulatory requirements may have a negative impact upon our business.

While our vehicles are subject to substantial regulation under federal, state, and local laws, we believe that our vehicles are or will be materially in compliance with all applicable laws. However, to the extent the laws change, or if we introduce new vehicles in the future, some or all of our vehicles may not comply with applicable federal, state, or local laws. Further, certain federal, state, and local laws and industrial standards currently regulate electrical and electronics equipment. Although standards for electric vehicles are not yet generally available or accepted as industry standards, our products may become subject to federal, state, and local regulation in the future. Compliance with these regulations could be burdensome, time consuming, and expensive.

Our products are subject to environmental and safety compliance with various federal and state regulations, including regulations promulgated by the EPA, NHTSA, FAA and various state boards, and compliance certification is required for each new model year. The cost of these compliance activities and the delays and risks associated with obtaining approval can be substantial. The risks, delays, and expenses incurred in connection with such compliance could be substantial.

Our success may be dependent on protecting our intellectual property rights.

We rely on trade secret protections to protect our proprietary technology as well as several registered patents and five patent applications. Our patents relate to the vehicle chassis assembly, vehicle header and drive module and manifold for electric motor drive assembly. Our existing patent applications relates to the onboard generator drive system for electric vehicles, the delivery drone, and the manned multicopter. Our success will, in part, depend on our ability to obtain additional trademarks and patents. We are working on registering additional patents and trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office but have not finalized any as of this date. Although we have entered into confidentiality agreements with our employees and consultants, we cannot be certain that others will not gain access to these trade secrets. Others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and technologies or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets.

Our business may be adversely affected by union activities.

Although none of our employees are currently represented by a labor union, it is common throughout the automotive industry for many employees at automotive companies to belong to a union, which can result in higher employee costs and increased risk of work stoppages. Our employees may join or seek recognition to form a labor union, or we may be required to become a union signatory. Our production facility in Union City, Indiana was purchased from Navistar. Prior employees of Navistar were union members and our future work force at this facility may be inclined to vote in favor of forming a labor union. Furthermore, we are directly or indirectly dependent upon companies with unionized work forces, such as parts suppliers and trucking and freight companies, and work stoppages or strikes organized by such unions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or operating results. If a work stoppage occurs, it could delay the manufacture and sale of our trucks and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results or financial condition. The mere fact that our labor force could be unionized may harm our reputation in the eyes of some investors and thereby negatively affect our stock price. Consequently, the unionization of our labor force could negatively impact our company’s health.

We may be exposed to liability for infringing upon the intellectual property rights of other companies.

Our success will, in part, depend on our ability to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others. Although we have conducted searches and are not aware of any patents and trademarks which our products or their use might infringe, we cannot be certain that infringement has not occurred or will not occur. We could incur substantial costs, in addition to the great amount of time lost, in defending any patent or trademark infringement suits or in asserting any patent or trademark rights, in a suit with another party.

Our electric vehicles make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which, if not appropriately managed and controlled, have occasionally been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flames. If such events occur in our electric vehicles, we could face liability associated with our warranty, for damage or injury, adverse publicity and a potential safety recall, any of which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

The battery packs in our electric vehicles use lithium-ion cells, which have been used for years in laptop computers and cell phones. On occasion, if not appropriately managed and controlled, lithium-ion cells can rapidly release the energy they contain by venting smoke and flames in a manner that can ignite nearby materials. Highly publicized incidents of laptop computers and cell phones bursting into flames have focused consumer attention on the safety of these cells. These events also have raised questions about the suitability of these lithium-ion cells for automotive applications. There can be no assurance that a field failure of our battery packs will not occur, which would damage the vehicle or lead to personal injury or death and may subject us to lawsuits. Furthermore, there is some risk of electrocution if individuals who attempt to repair battery packs on our vehicles do not follow applicable maintenance and repair protocols. Any such damage or injury would likely lead to adverse publicity and potentially a safety recall. Any such adverse publicity could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. Warranty expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $8.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The increase during the current year relates to issues with certain battery packs in our 2016 and 2017 E-GEN and E-100 vehicles. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the battery pack monitoring software indicated that some of the battery packs were not performing at expected levels. Some vehicles have undergone replacement of battery pack components. The Company is continuing to investigate the issue and explore potential quality issues with certain vendors. As a result of the above information, the Company increased its warranty reserve by $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2019

We are subject to significant corporate and accounting regulation as a public company and failure to comply with all applicable regulations could subject us to liability or negatively affect our stock price.

As a publicly traded company, we are subject to a significant body of regulation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. While we have developed and instituted a corporate compliance program based on what we believe are the current best practices in corporate governance and continue to update this program in response to newly implemented or changing regulatory requirements, we cannot provide assurance that we are or will be in compliance with all potentially applicable corporate regulations. In connection with management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we identified material weaknesses pertaining to the lack of established adequate financial reporting activities and the lack of established proper accounting and financing reporting oversight. We cannot provide assurance that, in the future, our management will not find additional material weakness in connection with its annual review of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We also cannot provide assurance that we will be able to remediate existing weaknesses and any such additional weakness identified; our failure to do so would prevent our management from concluding that our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of our fiscal year is effective. If we fail to comply with any of these regulations, we could be subject to a range of regulatory actions, fines or other sanctions or litigation. If we must disclose any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, our stock price could decline.

Cyber attacks could adversely affect the company

The Company faces a heightened risk of cyber-attack. Cyber-attacks may include hacking, viruses, malware, denial of service attacks, ransomware or other data security breaches. The Company’s business requires the continued operation of information systems and network infrastructure. In the event of a cyber-attack that the Company was unable to defend against or mitigate, the Company could have its operations and the operations of its customers and others disrupted. The Company could also have their financial and other information systems and network infrastructure impaired, property damaged and customer and employee information stolen; experience substantial loss of revenues, response costs and other financial loss; and be subject to increased regulation, litigation, penalties and damage to their reputation. The Company has experienced cyber-attacks, although none of the attacks had a material impact.

Risks Related to Owning Our Common Stock

The trading of our shares of common has been relatively thin and there is no assurance that a liquid market for our shares of common stock will develop.

Our common stock has traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market, under the symbol “WKHS”, since January 2016. Since that date, our common stock has been relatively thinly traded. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully develop a liquid market for our common shares. The stock market in general, and early stage public companies in particular, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such companies. If we are unable to develop a market for our common shares, you may not be able to sell your common shares at prices you consider to be fair or at times that are convenient for you, or at all.

Our stock price and trading volume may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for our stockholders.

The equity trading markets may experience periods of volatility, which could result in highly variable and unpredictable pricing of equity securities. The market price of our common stock could change in ways that may or may not be related to our business, our industry or our operating performance and financial condition. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock has been low and may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. We have experienced significant volatility in the price of our stock. In addition, the stock markets in general can experience considerable price and volume fluctuations.

We have not paid cash dividends in the past and have no immediate plans to pay cash dividends.

We plan to reinvest all of our earnings, to the extent we have earnings, in order to develop our products, deliver on our orders and cover operating costs and to otherwise become and remain competitive. We do not plan to pay any cash dividends with respect to our securities in the foreseeable future. We cannot assure you that we would, at any time, generate sufficient surplus cash that would be available for distribution to the holders of our common stock as a dividend. Therefore, you should not expect to receive cash dividends on our common stock.

Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market for our common stock.

Of the 66,081,812 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2019, approximately 52.1 million shares are held by “non-affiliates” and may be freely tradable without restriction assuming compliance with Rule 144. In addition, we have previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-3 for purposes of registering the resale of 3,033,717 shares of common stock and 8,085,519 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock purchase warrants that have been declared effective, and pursuant to this registration statement we are registering an additional [●] shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and in respect of dividends on the Series B Preferred. Any substantial resale of our common stock pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to any resale prospectus may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Shareholders may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in our prior offerings. We may sell shares or other securities in any future offering at a price per share that is lower than the price per share paid by historical investors, which would result in those newly issued shares being dilutive. In addition, investors purchasing shares or other securities in this offering or the future offerings could have rights superior to existing stockholders, which could impair the value of existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by our historical investors.

Our charter documents and Nevada law may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable.

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable provisions of Nevada law may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. The provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws:

There are limitations on director/officer liability.

As permitted by Nevada law, our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of a director’s fiduciary duty except for liability in certain instances. As a result of our charter provision and Nevada law, shareholders may have limited rights to recover against directors for breach of fiduciary duty. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, from time to time we or our representatives have made or will make forward-looking statements in various other filings that we make with the SEC or in other documents, including press releases or other similar announcements. Forward-looking statements concern our current plans, intentions, beliefs, expectations and statements of future economic performance. Statements containing terms such as “will,” “may,” “believe,” “do not believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate” and other phrases of similar meaning are considered to be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause actual results to differ include, among others, those set forth under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and those discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our future periodic reports filed with the SEC, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. The following are important factors, among others, that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, performance or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements: 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein and therein, which reflect management’s views and opinions only as of their respective dates. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures we have made or will make in the filings we make with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any related issuer free writing prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of our common stock by the Selling Stockholders. However, we may receive proceeds from the cash exercise of the Warrants included in this prospectus, which, if exercised in cash at the current exercise prices with respect to all 10,744,326 shares of common stock, would result in gross proceeds to us of approximately $17.2 million. The use of proceeds from such Warrant exercises, if any, will not be subject to any restrictions.

The Selling Stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and brokerage commissions and any similar expenses they incur in disposing of the common stock. We will bear all other reasonable costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the common stock covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws, listing application fees, printing expenses, transfer agent’s and registrar’s fees, costs of distributing prospectuses as well as any supplements thereto, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the independent registered public accounting firm and other persons we retained by the Company.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

Preferred Stock Financing

Commencing May 31, 2019 through June 5, 2019, Workhorse entered into Subscription Agreements with Seaport, Armory, AMFCO and Arosa (the “Investors”) pursuant to which the Investors for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000,000 purchased 1,250,000 units consisting of (i) one newly-issued share of Series B Preferred Stock, with a stated value of $20.00 per share (the “Stated Value”) and a par value of $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and (ii) a common stock purchase warrant to purchase 7.41 shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Warrants”). The closing with respect to these investments occurred on May 31, 2019 and June 10, 2019.

The rights, preferences, privileges and limitations of the Series B Preferred Stock are set forth in a certificate of designation filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada (the “Certificate of Designation”). The Series B Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution. The Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to annual dividends at a rate equal to 8.0% simple interest per annum on the Stated Value of the Series B Preferred Stock. Accrued dividends will be payable quarterly in shares of common stock of the Company based on a share price of $1.62, which was the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the five trading days immediately preceding May 31, 2019 and in excess of the closing price of $1.60 on May 30, 2019.

The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible and does not hold voting rights. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, liquidation of the Company’s assets will be made in the following order of priority: (a) first, payment or provision for payment of debts and other liabilities; (b) second, payment to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock an amount with respect to each share of the Series B Preferred Stock’s Stated Value plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon; and (c) third, payment to the holders of common stock.

On the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company shall redeem all the outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock at the Stated Value, plus accrued and unpaid dividends. At any time prior to such date, the Company subject to the repayment and retirement, in accordance with its terms, of the Credit Agreement dated as of December 31, 2018 (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as the borrower, the lenders thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Agent, the Company may, in its sole discretion, redeem any outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock at the Stated Value, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (“Optional Redemption”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may effect an Optional Redemption prior to the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date so long as it obtains from the lenders to the Credit Agreement their prior written consent to such Optional Redemption.

The Warrants have an exercise price of $1.62 per share, which was in excess of the closing price of $1.60 on May 30, 2019, are immediately exercisable and will expire seven years from the date of issuance..

In addition, as discussed above under “Recent Developments—Marathon Financing,” until the later of the repayment of all obligations owed to Marathon or two years from the closing date, the Company will be required to issue additional common stock purchase warrants (the “Additional Warrants”) to Marathon equal to 10%, in the aggregate, of any additional issuance, subject to certain exceptions, on substantially the same terms and conditions of the initial common stock purchase warrants, except that (i) the applicable expiration date thereof shall be five years from the issuance date of the applicable warrant, (ii) the initial exercise price shall be a price equal to the price per share of common stock used in the relevant issuance multiplied by 110% and (iii) the holder shall be entitled to exercise the warrant on a cashless exercise at any time the warrant is exercisable. In accordance with the above, on June 30, 2019, the Company issued a common stock purchase warrant to acquire 550,943 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.4863 per share to Marathon Centre, a common stock purchase warrant to acquire 423,379 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.4863 per share issued to Marathon Structured, a common stock purchase warrant to acquire 228,836 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.4863 per share issued to TRS and a common stock purchase warrant to acquire 278,668 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.4863 per share issued to Marathon Blue Grass.

The Offering

We are registering the resale of the above-referenced Shares underlying the Warrants, issuable in respect of dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock and that have been issued to date as dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock to permit the Selling Stockholders identified below, or their permitted transferees, successors and permitted assigns that may be identified in a supplement to this prospectus or, if required, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, to resell or otherwise dispose of the Shares in the manner contemplated under “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus (as may be supplemented or amended) following the exercise of the Warrants. 

The Selling Stockholders may resell some, all or none of their Shares. We do not know how long the Selling Stockholders will hold the Shares before reselling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the Selling Stockholders regarding the sale or other disposition of any of the Shares. The Shares covered hereby may be offered from time to time by the Selling Stockholders.

The following table sets forth the name of the Selling Stockholders, the number and percentage of our common stock beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders as of August 7, 2019, the number of shares of our common stock that may be offered under this prospectus, and the number and percentage of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders assuming all of the Shares registered hereunder are sold. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to our common stock. Generally, a person “beneficially owns” shares of our common stock if the person has or shares with others the right to vote those shares or to dispose of them, or if the person has the right to acquire voting or disposition rights within 60 days. The number of shares of our common stock in the column “Number of Shares Offered” represents all of the Shares that the Selling Stockholders may offer and resell from time to time under this prospectus, without regard to any limitations on exercise.

All information contained in the table below and the footnotes thereto is based upon information provided to us by the Selling Stockholders. The information in the table below and the footnotes thereto regarding shares of common stock to be beneficially owned after the offering assumes that the Selling Stockholders have exercised the Warrants in full pursuant to cash exercises without regard to any limitations on exercise and further assumes the resale of all Shares being offered by the Selling Stockholders under this prospectus. The percentage of shares owned prior to and after the offering is based on 66,186,447 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 9, 2019 and, with respect to the percentage of shares owned after the offering, on the assumption that the Selling Stockholders have exercised the Warrants in full pursuant to cash exercises and therefore that all Shares were outstanding as of that date. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that the Selling Stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their respective shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned. Based on the information provided to us by the Selling Stockholders, none of the Selling Stockholders are not a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer.

No offer or resale pursuant to this prospectus may occur unless the registration statement that includes this prospectus has been declared effective by the SEC and remains effective at the time the Selling Stockholders offer or resell shares of common stock. We are required, under certain circumstances, to update, supplement or amend this prospectus to reflect material developments in our business, financial position and results of operations and may do so by an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus. 

Relationships with the Selling Stockholders

Except with respect to the foregoing and the transactions contemplated by the Marathon Agreement as described above, none of the Selling Stockholders (or their control persons) has, or within the past three years has had, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our affiliates.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the offer and resale of the Shares issued under the Series B Preferred Stock as the dividend for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Shares that may be issued as dividends pursuant to the Series B Preferred Stock to permit the resale of such shares by the Selling Stockholders from time to time on or after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders. However, we may receive proceeds from the cash exercise of the Warrants included in this Prospectus, which, if exercised in cash at the current exercise prices with respect to 10,744,326 Shares, would result in gross proceeds to us of approximately $17.2 million. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the Shares, except that, if the shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the Selling Stockholders will be responsible for any underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions.

The Selling Stockholders may resell all or a portion of the Shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. The shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the resale, at varying prices determined at the time of resale, or at negotiated prices. These resales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions, on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of resale:

If the Selling Stockholders effects such transactions by reselling shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may resell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with resales of the shares or otherwise, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also resell shares of our common stock short and deliver the Shares to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The Selling Stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of our common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may resell such shares.

The Selling Stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and resell such Shares from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or other applicable provisions of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of our common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the Shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of our common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of our common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the Selling Stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.

The Selling Stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the resale of their Shares, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with a proposed resale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders. If we are notified by the Selling Stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the resale of the Shares, if required, we will file a supplement to this prospectus. If the Selling Stockholders use this prospectus for any resale of the Shares, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

There can be no assurance that the Selling Stockholders will resell any or all of the Shares registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The Selling Stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the Shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Shares. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the Shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Shares.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the Shares pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that the Selling Stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any.

Once sold under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock being offered hereby has been passed upon for us by Fleming PLLC, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The audited consolidated financial statements, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Workhorse Group Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, have been audited by Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the resale of the common stock the Selling Stockholders are offering under this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered by the Stockholder under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements and other information, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Workhorse Group Inc. The SEC’s Internet site can be found at www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at www.workhorse.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information and reports we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to another document. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, except to the extent information in those documents is different from the information contained in this prospectus supplement, and all future documents filed with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the portions thereof deemed to be furnished to the SEC pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12) until we terminate the offering of these securities:

To the extent that any statement in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with any statement that is incorporated by reference and that was made on or before the date of this prospectus supplement, the statement in this prospectus supplement shall supersede such incorporated statement. The incorporated statement shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus supplement as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of each contract or document filed as an exhibit to our various filings made with the SEC.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

Workhorse Group Inc.
100 Commerce Drive
Loveland, Ohio 45140
Attn: Paul Gaitan, Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: 513-360-4704

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the common stock being registered. The Selling Stockholders will not bear any portion of such expenses. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.

Under Nevada law, a corporation shall indemnify a director or officer against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him, to the extent the director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding. A corporation may indemnify a director or officer who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. Excepted from that immunity are:

Our bylaws include an indemnification provision under which we have the power to indemnify our directors, officers and former officers and directors (including heirs and personal representatives) against all costs, charges and expenses actually and reasonably incurred, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment to which the director or officer is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of Workhorse Group Inc. or any of our subsidiaries.

Our bylaws also provide that our directors may cause us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of a person who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of Workhorse Group Inc. or any of our subsidiaries (including heirs and personal representatives) against a liability incurred by him or her as our director, officer, employee or agent.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Loveland, State of Ohio, on August 9, 2019.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

NOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Duane Hughes and Paul Gaitan , and each of them, as his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (i) act on, sign, and file with the SEC any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, (iii) act on and file any supplement to any prospectus included in this Registration Statement or any such amendment or any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and (iv) take any and all actions which may be necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving, ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any of his substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated have signed this registration statement:

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