The electric vehicle manufacturer that once aimed to be the first to offer an electric pickup truck solely to commercial customers is now uncertain whether it will resume production following a second recall to address supply chain and parts quality issues while facing continued financial stress.

Edward Hightower, CEO of Ohio-based Lordstown Motors (NASDAQ:RIDE), told analysts Monday during the company’s call to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 earnings results that the company is seeking another partner in addition to Taiwanese-based FoxConn Technology Group, an international contract manufacturer.

At issue is the creation of a network of suppliers manufacturing the myriad electrical and mechanical parts not only for the current pickup truck, the Endurance, but also for new vehicles that Foxconn and Lordstown are now beginning to design.

Lordstown announced its first recall and decision to shut down its assembly line on Feb. 23 over an issue in an electrical system component that the company determined could lead to a loss of power while driving. (See Lordstown Motors Recalls Endurance Electric Truck.)

Hightower said the company issued the second recall after a parts supplier said a component in the truck’s brake assembly did not meet specifications. It is now involved in a lengthy root-cause analysis with its suppliers to prevent future problems.

“Our team has also worked closely with our supplier network to root-cause the other post-launch quality issues and develop and implement corrective actions, which have included part quality corrections, part design modifications, retrofits and software updates,” he explained.

And he underscored the importance of finding another partner to make improvements to the Endurance and begin mass production of the vehicle.

“While we continue to pursue partnership opportunities, should we not identify a partner in the coming months, we may decide to pause commercial production of the Endurance until a partner is identified,” he said.

Foxconn has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Lordstown, initially agreeing to buy the 25-year-old sprawling former General Motors assembly plant from it in November 2021 for $230 million. A year later, Foxconn invested another $170 million, purchasing about 19% of the company’s shares and gaining two seats on its board of directors. (See Lordstown Motors Gives 2 Board Seats to Foxconn.)

The joint venture did not begin to produce the Endurance until late 2022. So far it has only built 48 trucks and sold only three in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Lordstown ended 2022 with $221.7 million in cash and short-term investments, about $57 million (34%) higher than expected, the company said in a release accompanying the results.

“We expect to end the first quarter of 2023 with $150 [million] to $170 million in cash and short-term investments, excluding any additional Foxconn funding, other equity sales or contingent liabilities.”