MULN Mullen Automotive Inc

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of total expenses in the reporting periods. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, cash flow projections and discount rate for calculation of goodwill impairment, fair value and impairment of long-lived assets, including intangible assets, inventory valuation, and fair value of financial instruments. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

We operate within an industry that is subject to rapid technological change, intense competition, and significant government regulation. It is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including competitive, financial, developmental, operational, technological, required knowledge of industry governmental regulations, and other risks associated with an emerging business. The Company is dependent on its suppliers, including single-source suppliers. It depends on the ability of these suppliers to deliver the necessary components of our products in a timely manner at prices, quality levels, and volumes acceptable to us. Any one or combination of these or other risks could have a substantial impact on our future operations and prospects for commercial success.

Restricted Cash

Cash obtained from customer deposits is held by the Company and is restricted from use to fund operations.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable consist of receivables from our customers for the sale of vehicles. The Company provides an allowance against accounts receivable for any expected credit losses. No allowance was recorded by the Company as of  December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024.

Inventory

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and consist of raw materials, work in progress, and finished goods. The net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Cost of inventories is determined using the standard cost method, which approximates actual cost on a first-in first-out basis. Cost includes direct materials, direct labor, and a proportionate share of manufacturing overhead costs based on normal capacity. Regular reviews are performed to identify and account for variances between the standard costs and actual costs. The Company regularly reviews its inventory for excess quantities and obsolescence. This analysis takes into account factors such as demand forecasts, product life cycles, product development plans, and current market conditions. The Company records inventory write-downs for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions about current and future demand forecasts. If inventory on-hand is in excess of future demand forecast, the excess amounts are written-off. Once inventory is written down to a net realizable value, a new, lower-cost basis is established, and the inventory is not subsequently written up if market conditions improve. All such inventory write-downs are included as a component of cost of revenues in the period in which the write-down occurs. The Company records inventory write-downs for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions about current and future demand forecasts. If inventory on-hand is in excess of future demand forecast, the excess amounts are written-off. 

Property, Plant, and Equipment, net

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated economic useful lives of the assets. Repairs and maintenance expenditures that do not extend the useful lives of related assets are expensed as incurred.

Estimated Useful Lives

Expenditures for major improvements are capitalized, while minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs, which do not extend the asset lives, are charged to operations as incurred. Upon sale or disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Company management continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying balances of its property, plant, and equipment may not be recoverable in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment.” When such events or changes in circumstances are present, we assess the recoverability of long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the total of the future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of those assets, we recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.

Income Taxes

The Company and its less than 100% owned subsidiaries are filing separate tax returns, and we calculate the provision for income taxes by using a "separate" return method. Section 174 capitalization and R&D credits are calculated using consolidated tax return rules and allocated among its members. The Company’s income tax provision consists of an estimate for U.S. federal and state income taxes based on enacted rates, as adjusted for allowable credits, deductions, uncertain tax positions, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities, and changes in the tax law.

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. We record deferred income taxes using enacted tax laws and rates for the years in which the taxes are expected to be paid. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We maintain a full valuation allowance against the value of our U.S. and state net deferred tax assets because the recoverability of the tax assets does not meet the “more likely than not” requirement as of  December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024

Uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are accounted for using the “more likely than not” threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement. There are transactions that occur during the ordinary course of business for which the ultimate tax determination may be uncertain. As of  December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, there were no material changes to either the nature or the amounts of the uncertain tax positions.

Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets consist of acquired and developed intellectual property. In accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Others,” goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives (including in-process research and development assets acquired in a business combination) are not subject to amortization but are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Intangible assets with determinate lives are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Amortizable intangible assets generally are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods up to 120 months. The costs to periodically renew our intangible assets are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company periodically evaluates long-lived assets (intangible assets, right-of-use assets and property, plant, and equipment) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment may have occurred. If such events or changes in circumstances arise, the Company compares the carrying amount of the long-lived assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived assets. If the estimated aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the long-lived assets, an impairment charge, calculated as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets, is recorded. The fair value of the long-lived assets is determined based on the estimated discounted cash flows expected to be generated from the long-lived asset unless another method provides a more reliable estimate. If an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying amount of a long-lived asset is recognized as a new cost basis of the impaired asset. Impairment loss is not reversed even if fair value exceeds carrying amount in subsequent periods.

Contingencies and Commitments

The Company follows ASC 440 and ASC 450 to account for contingencies and commitments, respectively. Certain conditions, as a result of past events, may exist as of the balance sheet date, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, then the estimated liability is accrued in the Company’s financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible or is probable but cannot be reasonably estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Legal costs associated with such loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenue includes revenue from the sale of electric vehicles and is accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The Company applies a five-step analysis to: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation. Payments for electric vehicle sales are generally received at or shortly after delivery. Sales tax, if any, is excluded from the measurement of the transaction price. The revenue from the sale of electric vehicles is recognized when control of the vehicle is transferred to the customer. In general, the control is transferred at the point of delivery to the customer, signifying the fulfillment of our primary performance obligation under ASC 606. A contract with one of our dealers includes return provision, allowing unsold vehicles to be returned after one year; and contracts with two of our dealers include a return provision, allowing unsold vehicles to be returned upon contract termination. Since the Company does not have sufficient relevant statistics of returns yet, we defer revenue recognition until the vehicles have been sold by such dealer (when the dealer has a right of return exists) or until there is sufficient evidence to justify a reasonable estimate for the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. Relevant vehicles transferred to the dealer are presented as “Finished goods delivered to dealer for distribution” in the consolidated balance sheets at initial cost, less any expected costs to recover those products (including potential decreases in the value to the entity of returned products). At the end of each reporting period, the Company updates the measurement of these assets and refund liabilities.

Cost of Revenues

The costs of goods sold primarily include vehicle components and parts, labor costs, amortized tooling costs, and other relevant costs associated with the production of these vehicles. Other inventory costs and expenses primarily include write downs of inventory to net realizable value, provisions for estimated warranty expenses, and other similar costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses include expenses not related to production, such as salaries and employee benefits, professional fees, rent, repairs and maintenance, utilities and office expenses, depreciation and amortization, advertising, marketing and other selling expenses, settlements and penalties, taxes, and licenses, etc. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in G&A expenses, other than trade show expenses which are deferred until occurrence of the future event in accordance with ASC 720‑35, “Other Expenses – Advertising Cost.” Advertising costs for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were approximately $0.4 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development expenses are primarily comprised of external fees and internal costs for engineering, homologation, prototyping costs and other expenses related to preparation to mass-production of electric vehicles such as Mullen Three EV, Mullen One EV cargo van, Bollinger B4 Truck, etc. These include expenses related to the design, development, testing, and improvement of our electric vehicles and corresponding technologies. Per ASC 730, "Research and Development," the Company recognizes all research and development costs in the statement of operations as they occur. Assets with alternative future uses are capitalized and depreciated over their useful lives, with the depreciation expense reported under research and development costs.

Share-Based Compensation

The share-based awards issued by the Company are accounted for in accordance with ASC Subtopic 718-10, “Compensation – Share Compensation,” which requires fair value measurement on the grant date and recognition of compensation expense for all shares of common stock of the Company issued to employees, non-employees, and directors. The grant date is the date at which a grantor and a grantee reach a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions of a share-based payment award, and is the date that a grantee begins to benefit from, or be adversely affected by, subsequent changes in the price of the grantor's equity shares (e.g. the date when the Board of Directors has authorized share-based compensation to be issued from reserves approved by shareholders). Generally, the fair value of awards is estimated based on the market price of the shares of common stock of the Company the day immediately preceding the grant date. The fair value of non-marketable share-based awards (granted to employees before the Company became public) was estimated based on an independent valuation. The Company recognizes forfeitures of awards in the periods they occur.

The overwhelming part of share-based awards to employees per employment contracts and a certain part of contracts with non-employees (consultants) are classified as equity with costs and additional paid-in capital recognized ratably over the service period. A significant part of the Company’s share-based awards to consultants is liability-classified: mainly if the number of shares the consultant is entitled to depends on a certain monetary value fixed in the contract. An accrued part of liability, in this case, is revalued each period based on an earned portion of the grant and changes in the market price of the shares of common stock of the Company until a sufficient number of shares is issued.

The Company has also adopted incentive plans that entitle the Chief Executive Officer to share-based awards generally calculated as 1-3% of then outstanding number of shares of common stock, issuable upon achievement of specific financial and operational targets (milestones). This share-based compensation is accrued over the service term when it is probable that the milestone will be achieved. The liability to issue stock (presented within non-current liabilities if the achievement is expected later than 12 months after the balance sheet date) is revalued on every balance sheet date based on the length of the service period, the current market price of the common stock and the number of shares of common stock outstanding – until the shares have been issued, or until fulfilling the milestone requirements becomes unlikely.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to interest rate, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including notes payable and warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. The Company applies significant judgment to identify and evaluate complex terms and conditions in its contracts and agreements to determine whether embedded derivatives exist. Embedded derivatives must be separately measured from the host contract if all the requirements for bifurcation are met. The assessment of the conditions surrounding the bifurcation of embedded derivatives depends on the nature of the host contract. Bifurcated embedded derivatives are recognized at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in the statement of operations each period. Bifurcated embedded derivatives are classified with the related host contract on the Company’s balance sheet.

A freestanding instrument that is a derivative is evaluated by the Company to determine if it qualifies for an exception to derivative accounting. The Company determines whether the equity-linked feature is indexed to the Company's common stock and whether the settlement provision in the contract is consistent with a fixed-for-fixed equity instrument. To qualify for classification in stockholder's equity, the Company evaluates whether the contract requires physical settlement, net share settlement, or a combination thereof and, when the Company has a choice of net cash settlement or settlement in the Company's shares, additional criteria are evaluated to determine whether equity classification is appropriate. Refer to Notes 7 and 8 for additional information regarding the accounting for the convertible notes and warrants.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC 825-10 defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance. ASC 825-10 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC 825-10 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is disclosed and is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash balances in several financial institutions that are insured by either the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Association up to certain federal limitations, generally $250,000. At times, our cash balance may exceed these federal limitations. However, we have not experienced any losses in such accounts, and management believes we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on these accounts due to the high credit rating of relevant financial institutions. The amounts in excess of insured limits as of December 31, 2024 and  September 30, 2024 are $2.2 million and $10.0 million, respectively.

Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has implemented all applicable accounting pronouncements that are in effect. The following pronouncements were adopted recently:

ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20), and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The amendments in ASU 2020-06 simplify the complexity associated with applying GAAP for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. More specifically, the amendments focus on the guidance for convertible instruments and derivative scope exceptions for contracts in an entity’s own equity. 

The Company applied ASU 2020-06 on a modified retrospective basis to financial instruments outstanding as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption (i.e. on October 1, 2024). There has been no effect of the change on retained earnings or other components of equity in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the first period of adoption.

The following are accounting pronouncements that have been issued but are not yet effective for the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements:

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07—Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. It requires all annual disclosures currently required by ASC 280 to be included in interim periods. It requires disclosure of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and applicable additional measures of segment profit or loss used by the CODM when allocating resources and assessing business performance. All public entities will be required to report segment information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company expects to enhance segment reporting disclosures based on new requirements.

In  December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." ASU No. 2023-09, which enhances the transparency, effectiveness, and comparability of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information related to income tax rate reconciliations and the jurisdictions in which income taxes are paid. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to enhance income tax disclosures based on new requirements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2024-03 "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40)" which requires that at each interim and annual reporting period an entity:

1. Disclose the amounts of (a) purchases of inventory, (b) employee compensation, (c) depreciation, (d) intangible asset amortization, and (e) depreciation, depletion, and amortization included in each relevant expense caption. A relevant expense caption is an expense caption presented on the face of the income statement within continuing operations that contains any of the listed expense categories.

2. Include certain amounts that are already required to be disclosed under current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the same disclosure as the other disaggregation requirements.

3. Disclosure of a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively.

4. Disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, an entity’s definition of selling expenses.

These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027: either (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this Update or (2) retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company expects to enhance disclosures of expenses based on new requirements.

In November 2024, the FASB also issued Accounting Standards Update 2024-04 "Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) “Induced Conversions of Convertible Debt Instruments” to clarify the requirements for determining whether certain settlements of convertible debt instruments should be accounted for as an induced conversion. Under the amendments, to account for a settlement of a convertible debt instrument as an induced conversion, an inducement offer is required to provide the debt holder with, at a minimum, the consideration (in form and amount) issuable under the conversion privileges provided in the terms of the instrument. An entity should assess whether this criterion is satisfied as of the date the inducement offer is accepted by the holder. If, when applying this criterion, the convertible debt instrument had been exchanged or modified (without being deemed substantially different) within the one-year period leading up to the offer acceptance date, an entity should compare the terms provided in the inducement offer with the terms that existed one year before the offer acceptance date. The amendments in this Update also clarify that the induced conversion guidance applies to a convertible debt instrument that is not currently convertible as long as it had a substantive conversion feature as of both its issuance date and the date the inducement offer is accepted. The amendments are effective for all entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. The Company is examining the impact this pronouncement may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

Other accounting pronouncements issued but not yet effective are not believed by management to be relevant or to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future consolidated financial statements.