(Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. shares rose to a more than six-month high after it took a $2 billion equity stake in startup Nikola Corp. and agreed to manufacture a new electric-pickup model.
In a bid to diversify the Detroit-based automaker’s alternate-fuel vehicle strategy, GM will contribute technology and manufacturing in exchange for an 11% stake in Nikola and board seat, according to a statement Tuesday. GM is not committing any cash to the deal.
The partnership gives Nikola -- which has yet to generate any meaningful revenue -- an immediate boost of legitimacy and the industrial might of an established player while also benefiting GM. The largest U.S. automaker expects to receive more than $4 billion in perks from the deal. In addition to the equity value of the shares, it will be paid to manufacture Nikola’s pickup, supply batteries and begin commercializing fuel-cell technology for the semi-truck industry.
Shares of both companies jumped on the surprise announcement, with GM rising to the highest level since before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. GM rose 8% to close at $32.38 -- the highest close since February 24. Nikola surged 41%, while electric-car market leader Tesla Inc. fell 21% for its steepest one-day drop ever.
Read more: Tesla Falls Most Ever After GM’s Nikola Stake, S&P Snub
”We’ve seen these pops before” in GM’s stock, said David Whiston, an analyst at Morningstar Inc. “Hopefully it will last. GM clearly isn’t getting enough credit for its EV program.”
By increasing its exposure to alternate-fuel vehicles, GM deepens its presence in an area that has captured the imagination of investors who have piled into stocks of EV startups like Nikola. The two companies expect production of the truck, called the Badger, to begin by late 2022. Nikola plans to debut the vehicle, which it only has shown images of so far, in early December.
Test Case
The new truck could compete against GM’s own electrification plans for future models such as a promised Hummer pickup that goes on sales late next year. But GM may view the Badger as a test case of demand for battery-powered vehicles in the commercial-truck market. And the decision to collaborate with Nikola illustrates GM’s efforts to spread its bets -- and not get left behind.
The deal follows Ford Motor Co.’s investment last year in Rivian Automotive Inc., an EV startup backed by Amazon.com Inc. GM had a tentative agreement with Rivian that collapsed, allowing its crosstown rival to swoop in. Since then, GM has been pressured by investors to consider spinning out its EV operations into a new entity.
“GM lost out on Rivian” to Ford, said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst with car-shopping researcher Autotrader. “Nikola is kind of a substitute. Maybe this sets up GM to spin off its electric-vehicle business as some on Wall Street have been suggesting they do to unlock value.”
In addition, GM gets to keep 80% of the electric-vehicle regulatory credits from sales of the Badger pickup and has right of first refusal on the other 20%. That will help the automaker meet emissions regulations as it focuses on profitable gas-powered sport utility vehicles and trucks. GM also will be Nikola’s exclusive battery provider in every market except Europe, said a company spokesman.
What Bloomberg Intelligence Says:
“General Motors’ $2 billion stake in EV and hydrogen semi-truck maker Nikola -- a $13 billion market-cap company with no revenue or sellable vehicles thus far -- is a hedge against the headline risk of not volume-selling competitive alternative-drivetrain vehicles. Nikola isn’t more advanced than GM but the partnership will boost brand perception for the legacy automaker.”
-- Kevin Tynan, senior autos analystClick here for the research
GM does risk fostering a new rival in the way that early investments in Tesla by Daimler AG and Toyota Motor Corp. helped that electric-car company grow into a fierce competitor. But GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra sees lots of room for growth in the budding market for EVs and noted GM gets access through Nikola to the Class 7 and 8 freight-truck business.
“We see huge growth opportunities for both of us,” Barra said on a call with reporters. “We view that there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for different customers and products. When you look at opportunity to partner with Nikola on Class 7 and 8, that’s a wide-open opportunity for us.”
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