Valley Congressman Tim Ryan appears to be a believer in Lordstown Motors and the major tech company that announced plans to have other electric vehicles built in the former GM Assembly Plant in Lordstown.

Ryan spoke to members of the news media after Wednesday's visit to Lordstown Motors and meeting with its CEO Dan Ninivaggi, senior company staff, and workers.

After taking a test drive of LMC’s electric vehicle, Ryan called it an “exciting product”.

Ryan said he also discussed last week’s announcement that Taiwan-based Foxconn has reached an agreement in principle with Lordstown Motors to buy space in the former GM plant, part of which is now occupied being prepared to manufacture LMC’s all-electric Endurance pickup truck.

The congressman said Foxconn wants to build electric vehicles and wants to make Lordstown the hub of that effort in North America.

Although Ryan says he believes a lot of jobs could be created, he doesn’t believe that number will match the height of jobs that were once employed by GM here – which at its height reached 13,000 employees.

However, Ryan did say he believes there could be a ripple effect benefiting other local businesses and schools.

Asked about past economic projects that never became a reality such as the 1983 announcement from a British company of plans for a blimp plant in Youngstown, Ryan emphasized Foxconn’s success in innovation and financial wherewithal.

“You have to set aside some of the past pain and hurt and misleading proposals that came around.” Said Ryan. “You have to distinguish those from what is staring you in the face here. Lordstown motors has a great product.”

Ryan said it would be smart to partner and be supportive of the effort in Lordstown.

Lordstown Motors has been trying to regain investor confidence since a scathing report earlier this year questioning the company’s claims of 100,000 pre-orders for the Endurance pickup truck, as well as investor lawsuits and investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney.

Since then, Lordstown Motors has a new CEO and the recently announced proposed deal with Foxconn.