$NKLA
Nikola Corp Stock $nkla

$nkla Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000173128922000016 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
Revenue	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change		-100.0%	-100.0%
Cost Of Revenue	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change		-100.0%	-100.0%
Gross Profit	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change		-100.0%	-100.0%
Gross Profit Margin
Selling, General & Admin	$71.55M	$400.6M	$64.90M
YoY Change	10.24%	119.22%	1159.27%
% of Gross Profit
Research & Development	$91.17M	$293.0M	$67.52M
YoY Change	35.02%	57.82%	196.39%
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$2.272M	$8.200M	$1.590M
YoY Change	42.89%	36.67%
% of Gross Profit
Operating Expenses	$162.7M	$693.5M	$146.8M
YoY Change	10.81%	81.19%	425.65%
Operating Profit	-$162.7M	-$693.5M	-$146.8M
YoY Change	10.81%	81.2%	425.74%
Interest Expense	-$262.0K	-$481.0K	-$53.00K
YoY Change	394.34%	-338.12%	-114.17%
% of Operating Profit
Other Income/Expense, Net	$4.072M	$4.102M	-$597.0K
YoY Change	-782.08%	-584.87%	-146.71%
Pretax Income	-$158.9M	-$686.9M	-$147.5M
YoY Change	7.74%	85.01%	461.26%
Income Tax	$0.00	$4.000K	-$1.030M
% Of Pretax Income
Net Earnings	-$159.4M	-$690.4M	-$147.1M
YoY Change	8.38%	86.17%	459.75%
Net Earnings / Revenue
Basic Earnings Per Share		-$1.73
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$391.2K	-$1.74	-$368.5K
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	404.4M shares	398.7M shares	384.1M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		398.8M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$497.2M	$497.2M	$840.9M
YoY Change	-40.87%	-40.87%	105012.5%
Cash & Equivalents	$497.2M	$497.2M	$840.9M
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets	$15.89M	$15.89M	$51.60M
YoY Change	-69.2%	-69.2%
Inventory	$11.60M	$11.60M	$0.00
Prepaid Expenses	$5.116M
Receivables	$0.00		$0.00
Other Receivables			$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$524.7M	$524.7M	$896.9M
YoY Change	-41.5%	-41.21%	886.91%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$244.4M	$244.4M	$71.40M
YoY Change	242.26%	242.26%	33.76%
Goodwill	$5.238M		$5.238M
YoY Change	0.0%		0.0%
Intangibles	$97.18M		$50.05M
YoY Change	94.17%		-19.94%
Long-Term Investments	$61.78M	$61.78M	$8.420M
YoY Change	633.71%	635.45%
Other Assets	$3.896M	$25.00M	$0.00
YoY Change		197.62%	-100.0%
Total Long-Term Assets	$465.1M	$465.1M	$156.8M
YoY Change	196.62%	188.52%	13.17%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$524.7M	$524.7M	$896.9M
Total Long-Term Assets	$465.1M	$465.1M	$156.8M
Total Assets	$989.8M	$989.8M	$1.054B
YoY Change	-6.06%	-6.06%	359.27%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$86.98M	$86.98M	$29.40M
YoY Change	195.86%	195.86%	29300.0%
Accrued Expenses	$95.75M	$95.75M	$17.70M
YoY Change	440.96%	440.96%	8750.0%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$140.0K	$140.0K	$4.100M
YoY Change	-96.59%	-97.31%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$180.6M	$182.9M	$52.27M
YoY Change	245.51%	249.66%	216.08%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$25.05M	$25.05M	$0.00
YoY Change		78.91%	-100.0%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$84.03M	$88.32M	$0.00
YoY Change		1109.82%	-100.0%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$84.03M	$113.4M	$0.00
YoY Change		432.23%	-100.0%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$180.6M	$182.9M	$52.27M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$84.03M	$113.4M	$0.00
Total Liabilities	$296.2M	$296.2M	$73.57M
YoY Change	302.66%	302.51%	116.89%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	-$1.251B		-$560.2M
YoY Change	123.25%		197.21%
Common Stock	$41.00K		$39.00K
YoY Change	5.13%		44.44%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$693.6M	$693.6M	$980.1M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$989.8M	$989.8M	$1.054B
YoY Change	-6.06%	-6.06%	359.27%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$159.4M	-$690.4M	-$147.1M
YoY Change	8.38%	86.17%	459.75%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$2.272M	$8.200M	$1.590M
YoY Change	42.89%	36.67%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$111.8M	-$307.2M	-$65.93M
YoY Change	69.55%	104.04%	19878.79%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$65.59M	-$179.3M	-$7.140M
YoY Change	818.61%	703.18%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$3.412M	-$28.21M	-$8.800M
YoY Change	-61.23%	219.86%	-4290.48%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$69.00M	-$207.5M	-$15.94M
YoY Change	332.88%	566.26%	-7690.48%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net	$1.500M	$163.8M	$1.500M
YoY Change	0.0%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	116.0M	$187.6M	8.680M
YoY Change	1236.88%	-80.07%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-111.8M	-$307.2M	-65.93M
Cash From Investing Activities	-69.00M	-$207.5M	-15.94M
Cash From Financing Activities	116.0M	$187.6M	8.680M
Net Change In Cash	-64.75M	-$327.0M	-73.19M
YoY Change	-11.54%	-143.06%	60891.67%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$111.8M	-$307.2M	-$65.93M
Capital Expenditures	-$65.59M	-$179.3M	-$7.140M
Free Cash Flow	-$46.20M	-$127.9M	-$58.79M
YoY Change	-21.42%	-0.26%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2021	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2021-12-31
CY2021	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001731289
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2021
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2021	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2018	us-gaap	Accounting Standards Update Extensible List AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#AccountingStandardsUpdate201807Member
CY2019	us-gaap	Accounting Standards Update Extensible List AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
CY2021	us-gaap	Number Of Reporting Units NumberOfReportingUnits	1	reportingUnit
CY2021	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	1	segment
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherAssetsNoncurrent
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherAssetsNoncurrent
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://nikolamotor.com/20211231#AccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P0Y
CY2021	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2021	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://nikolamotor.com/20211231#AccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherLiabilitiesCurrent
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
CY2021	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2021	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2021	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-04321
CY2021	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	Nikola Corporation
CY2021	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2021	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	82-4151153
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	4141 E Broadway Road
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	85040
CY2021	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Phoenix
CY2021	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	AZ
CY2021	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	(480)
CY2021	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	666-1038
CY2021	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share
CY2021	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	NKLA
CY2021	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2021	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
CY2021	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2021	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2021	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2021	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2021	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	false
CY2021	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2021Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	4500000000	USD
CY2022Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	413810784	shares
CY2021	dei	Auditor Firm AuditorFirmId	42
CY2021	dei	Auditor Name AuditorName	Ernst & Young LLP
CY2021	dei	Auditor Location AuditorLocation	Phoenix, Arizona
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	244377000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	71401000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	61778000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	8420000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	5238000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	3896000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	0	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-686854000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-371255000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-88505000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	4000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1026000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	151000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Equity Method Investments Noncontrolling Interest Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeEquityMethodInvestmentsNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax	-686858000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Equity Method Investments Noncontrolling Interest Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeEquityMethodInvestmentsNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax	-370229000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Equity Method Investments Noncontrolling Interest Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeEquityMethodInvestmentsNoncontrollingInterestNetOfTax	-88656000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-3580000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-637000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-370866000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-88656000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	13407000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	16816000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-384273000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-105472000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.73
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.15
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.40
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.74
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.18
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.40
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	398655081	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	335325271	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	262528769	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	398784392	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	335831033	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	262528769	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-370866000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-88656000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-437000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	239000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-690875000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-370627000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-88656000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	186240000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Stock Issuance Costs PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts	4700	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	60305000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Issued For Services StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices	58000000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Stock Issued During Period Value Warrants Exercised Net StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueWarrantsExercisedNet	6116000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	31356000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	1000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Share Based Compensation Stock Options Requisite Service Period Recognition AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition	4858000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-88656000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Outstanding TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Carrying Amount Attributable To Parent TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	195508000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Stock Issuance Costs PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts	8403000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	56250000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Issued For Services StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices	91999000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Shares Issued During Period Value Recapitalization SharesIssuedDuringPeriodValueRecapitalization	594522000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	9863000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Share Based Compensation Stock Options Requisite Service Period Recognition AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition	137991000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Stock Issued During Period Value Warrants Exercised Net StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueWarrantsExercisedNet	265463000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-370866000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	239000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Outstanding TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Carrying Amount Attributable To Parent TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	980141000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	4572000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Other StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueOther	5564000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	19139000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Elimination Of Put Right AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEliminationOfPutRight	5532000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	163788000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Share Based Compensation Stock Options Requisite Service Period Recognition AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsRequisiteServicePeriodRecognition	205711000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-690438000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-437000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Outstanding TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Carrying Amount Attributable To Parent TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	693572000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-370866000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-88656000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	8231000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	6008000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	2323000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	205711000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	137991000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	4858000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	3339000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Non Cash In Kind Services NonCashInKindServices	46271000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Non Cash In Kind Services NonCashInKindServices	45729000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Non Cash In Kind Services NonCashInKindServices	8000000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Gain Loss On Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption GainLossOnFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Gain Loss On Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption GainLossOnFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	-1324000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Gain Loss On Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption GainLossOnFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	14415000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-3580000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-637000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	-3051000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	-13448000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Issuance Of Stock For Commitment Shares IssuanceOfStockForCommitmentShares	5564000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Issuance Of Stock For Commitment Shares IssuanceOfStockForCommitmentShares	0	USD
CY2019	nkla	Issuance Of Stock For Commitment Shares IssuanceOfStockForCommitmentShares	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	4927000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-1626000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	1063000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-151000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	17412000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Expense IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense	10967000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Expense IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense	928000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Expense IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense	606000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	96144000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	29668000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-9366000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-4721000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	1216000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Operating Lease Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeaseLiability	-50000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Operating Lease Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Operating Lease Liability IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	48647000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	-670000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-307154000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-150533000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-80627000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquireOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment	179269000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquireOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment	22324000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquireOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment	21100000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture	25000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture	8817000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Interest In Joint Venture PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Settlement Of First Price Differential SettlementOfFirstPriceDifferential	3412000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Settlement Of First Price Differential SettlementOfFirstPriceDifferential	0	USD
CY2019	nkla	Settlement Of First Price Differential SettlementOfFirstPriceDifferential	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	200000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Capital Improvements PaymentsForCapitalImprovements	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Capital Improvements PaymentsForCapitalImprovements	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Capital Improvements PaymentsForCapitalImprovements	18202000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-207481000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-31141000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-39302000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	2160000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemableConvertiblePreferredStock	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemableConvertiblePreferredStock	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemableConvertiblePreferredStock	31356000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	50349000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	65000000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Proceeds From Recapitalization Transaction ProceedsFromRecapitalizationTransaction	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Proceeds From Recapitalization Transaction ProceedsFromRecapitalizationTransaction	616726000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Proceeds From Recapitalization Transaction ProceedsFromRecapitalizationTransaction	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	4785000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	9650000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	1000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	264548000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	163788000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Proceeds From Finance Lease ProceedsFromFinanceLease	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Proceeds From Finance Lease ProceedsFromFinanceLease	889000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Proceeds From Finance Lease ProceedsFromFinanceLease	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	863000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	1042000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Period Of Derivative Action PeriodOfDerivativeAction	P30D
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	24632000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	4134000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	4100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	4134000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	644000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	187598000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	941120000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	35805000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-327037000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	759446000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-84124000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	849278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	89832000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	173956000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	522241000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	849278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	89832000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	797000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	884000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	96000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Interest Received InterestReceived	512000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Interest Received InterestReceived	703000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Interest Received InterestReceived	1437000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	2000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	27510000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	6751000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	1094000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Noncash Acquisition Property Acquired Through Build To Suit Lease NoncashAcquisitionPropertyAcquiredThroughBuildToSuitLease	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Noncash Acquisition Property Acquired Through Build To Suit Lease NoncashAcquisitionPropertyAcquiredThroughBuildToSuitLease	0	USD
CY2019	nkla	Noncash Acquisition Property Acquired Through Build To Suit Lease NoncashAcquisitionPropertyAcquiredThroughBuildToSuitLease	3243000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	50000000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Stock Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction StockIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	0	USD
CY2021Q1	nkla	Period Of Derivative Action PeriodOfDerivativeAction	P30D
CY2020	nkla	Stock Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction StockIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	0	USD
CY2019	nkla	Stock Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction StockIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	4695000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Noncash Prepaid In Kind Services NoncashPrepaidInKindServices	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Noncash Prepaid In Kind Services NoncashPrepaidInKindServices	46271000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Noncash Prepaid In Kind Services NoncashPrepaidInKindServices	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Debt Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction DebtIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction DebtIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	285000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction DebtIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed1	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed1	21919000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed1	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Settlement Of Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption SettlementOfFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Settlement Of Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption SettlementOfFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	1324000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Settlement Of Financial Instruments Subject To Mandatory Redemption SettlementOfFinancialInstrumentsSubjectToMandatoryRedemption	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Stock Option Proceeds Receivable StockOptionProceedsReceivable	0	USD
CY2020	nkla	Stock Option Proceeds Receivable StockOptionProceedsReceivable	213000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Stock Option Proceeds Receivable StockOptionProceedsReceivable	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	646000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued1 StockIssued1	5564000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued1 StockIssued1	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued1 StockIssued1	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	32376000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finitelived Intangible Assets Acquired1 FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	47181000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finitelived Intangible Assets Acquired1 FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finitelived Intangible Assets Acquired1 FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.0001
CY2021	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, as well as reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Th</span><span style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">e Company's most significant estimates and judgments involve valuation of the Company's stock-based compensation, including the fair value of common stock and market-based restricted stock units, the valuations of warrant liabilities, derivative liabilities, the Put Right, Price Differential and redeemable convertible preferred stock tranche liability, estimates related to the Company's lease assumptions, contingent liabilities, including litigation reserves, and inventory valuation.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.</span>
CY2021	nkla	Number Of Business Components NumberOfBusinessComponents	2	reportingUnit
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	4365000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents. The Company's cash is placed with high-credit-quality financial institutions and issuers, and at times exceeds federally insured limits. The Company limits its concentration of risk in cash equivalents by diversifying its investments among a variety of industries and issuers. The Company has not experienced any credit loss relating to its cash equivalents.
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	497200000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	840900000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	497241000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	840913000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	85688000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	25000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	4000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	4144000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	522241000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	849278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	89832000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	4284000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	4189000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	7335000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding Term WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingTerm	P3Y5M1D
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	2500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding Term WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingTerm	P4Y5M1D
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Indefinitelived Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Long Lived Assets Held For Use ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Long Lived Assets Held For Use ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	700000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Investment Company Realized And Unrealized Gain Loss On Investment And Foreign Currency InvestmentCompanyRealizedAndUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestmentAndForeignCurrency	1400000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Investment Company Realized And Unrealized Gain Loss On Investment And Foreign Currency InvestmentCompanyRealizedAndUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestmentAndForeignCurrency	-800000	USD
CY2020Q2	nkla	Conversion Of Stock Shares Issued Conversion Rate ConversionOfStockSharesIssuedConversionRate	1.901
CY2020Q2	nkla	Common Stock And Preferred Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockAndPreferredStockSharesAuthorized	750000000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	600000000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.0001
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	150000000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.0001
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Private Placement ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPrivatePlacement	525000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Assumed Debt RepaymentsOfAssumedDebt	422000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Proceeds From Recapitalization Transaction ProceedsFromRecapitalizationTransaction	616726000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Issuance Costs Incurred During Noncash Or Partial Noncash Transaction DebtIssuanceCostsIncurredDuringNoncashOrPartialNoncashTransaction	285000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Cash Recapitalization Net CashRecapitalizationNet	594522000	USD
CY2020Q2	nkla	Shares Issued During Period Shares Recapitalization SharesIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRecapitalization	72272942	shares
CY2020Q2	nkla	Common Stock Shares Outstanding Prior To Conversion CommonStockSharesOutstandingPriorToConversion	288631536	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	360904478	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	151831441	shares
CY2020Q2	nkla	Conversion Of Stock Shares Issued Conversion Rate ConversionOfStockSharesIssuedConversionRate	1.901
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials And Supplies Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsAndSuppliesNetOfReserves	7344000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	4253000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	11597000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Supplies Supplies	2443000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Supplies Supplies	511000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested In Period Fair Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1	4300000	USD
CY2021Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	8100000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Nontrade Receivables Current NontradeReceivablesCurrent	2717000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Nontrade Receivables Current NontradeReceivablesCurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Prepaid Expense Current OtherPrepaidExpenseCurrent	10731000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Prepaid Expense Current OtherPrepaidExpenseCurrent	4857000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	15891000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	5368000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Grants Receivable GrantsReceivable	2400000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Grants Receivable Current GrantsReceivableCurrent	1200000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Grants Receivable Noncurrent GrantsReceivableNoncurrent	1200000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	646000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	34775000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	260884000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Before Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetBeforeAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	79816000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	16507000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	8415000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	244377000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment And Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset After Accumulated Depreciation And Amortization PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	71401000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	8200000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	2300000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Settlement Cost AccruedSettlementCost	50000000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Settlement Cost AccruedSettlementCost	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Purchase Of Intangible Asset AccruedPurchaseOfIntangibleAsset	11344000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Purchase Of Intangible Asset AccruedPurchaseOfIntangibleAsset	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Goods Received Not Yet Invoiced GoodsReceivedNotYetInvoiced	8253000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Goods Received Not Yet Invoiced GoodsReceivedNotYetInvoiced	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Legal Liabilities Current AccruedLegalLiabilitiesCurrent	5664000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Legal Liabilities Current AccruedLegalLiabilitiesCurrent	8845000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	4189000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	2521000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	1105000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Purchases Of Property And Equipment Current AccruedPurchasesOfPropertyAndEquipmentCurrent	2817000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Purchases Of Property And Equipment Current AccruedPurchasesOfPropertyAndEquipmentCurrent	2533000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Outsourced Engineering Services Current AccruedOutsourcedEngineeringServicesCurrent	1134000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Outsourced Engineering Services Current AccruedOutsourcedEngineeringServicesCurrent	2514000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	7565000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	2742000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Accrued Liabilities And Other Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherLiabilitiesCurrent	93487000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Accrued Liabilities And Other Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherLiabilitiesCurrent	17739000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Finance Lease Term Of Contract1 LesseeFinanceLeaseTermOfContract1	P11Y9M
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Finance Lease Option To Purchase LesseeFinanceLeaseOptionToPurchase	25100000	USD
CY2021Q3	nkla	Finance Lease Liability Remeasurement Adjustment FinanceLeaseLiabilityRemeasurementAdjustment	10500000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Lessee Finance Liability Derecognized LesseeFinanceLiabilityDerecognized	24700000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	130000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	4857000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Operating Lease Variable Lease Cost OperatingLeaseVariableLeaseCost	26000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Operating Lease Variable Lease Cost OperatingLeaseVariableLeaseCost	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Operating Lease Cost Including Variable Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCostIncludingVariableLeaseCost	156000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Operating Lease Cost Including Variable Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCostIncludingVariableLeaseCost	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	1155000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	19000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	2758000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	3312000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	789000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	782000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Finance Lease Variable Lease Cost FinanceLeaseVariableLeaseCost	738000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Finance Lease Variable Lease Cost FinanceLeaseVariableLeaseCost	744000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Finance Lease Cost Including Variable Lease Cost FinanceLeaseCostIncludingVariableLeaseCost	4285000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Finance Lease Cost Including Variable Lease Cost FinanceLeaseCostIncludingVariableLeaseCost	4838000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	5596000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1000000.0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	570000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	31463000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	2681000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Current FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetCurrent	3251000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Finance Lease And Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Current FinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetCurrent	31463000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	140000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	1070000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	475000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	408000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	13956000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	2263000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Financing And Operating Lease Liability FinancingAndOperatingLeaseLiability	3286000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Financing And Operating Lease Liability FinancingAndOperatingLeaseLiability	15026000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P3Y10M28D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P9Y6M
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P4Y9M21D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0469
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0500
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0400
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	789000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	72000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	646000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	2788000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	162000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	577000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Year One LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseYearOne	739000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	163000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	625000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Year Two LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseYearTwo	788000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	154000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	643000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Year Three LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseYearThree	797000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	69000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	617000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Year Four LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseYearFour	686000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	51000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	562000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Year Five LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseYearFive	613000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease After Year Five LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	599000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	3024000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Total Lease Payments LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseTotalLeasePayments	3623000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	51000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	200000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	286000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Lessee Operating And Finance Lease Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingAndFinanceLeaseUndiscountedExcessAmount	337000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	548000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	2738000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Financing And Operating Lease Liability FinancingAndOperatingLeaseLiability	3286000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	140000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	475000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Financing And Operating Lease Liability Current FinancingAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	615000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	408000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	2263000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Financing And Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent FinancingAndOperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	2671000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	97181000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	97181000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	100000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	13428000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	13428000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	61778000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	8420000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	16800000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	16800000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	13400000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	1070000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5170000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	408000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	13956000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	25047000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	13956000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	0	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	0	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Letters Of Credit Outstanding Amount LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount	25000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Common Stock And Preferred Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockAndPreferredStockSharesAuthorized	750000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	600000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	150000000	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues	22877806	shares
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CY2021	us-gaap	Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	-3100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Fair Value Adjustment Of Warrants FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants	-13400000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	7300000	USD
CY2021Q2	nkla	Issuance Of Stock For Commitment Shares IssuanceOfStockForCommitmentShares	2600000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized	42802865	shares
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CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y9M25D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	454668000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	0	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	3472267	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	1.32
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	60797	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	2.95
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	28996160	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	1.28
CY2021	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P6Y10M13D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	249205000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	1.25
CY2021	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P6Y10M6D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	246048000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	6.92
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	0.75
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	3472267	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	8716423	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1266	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	51800000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	132700000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested In Period Fair Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1	27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	205711000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-14052000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-4649000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	22825000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-7652000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	556000	USD
CY2021	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Excess Executive Compensation Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExcessExecutiveCompensationAmount	2009000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Excess Executive Compensation Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExcessExecutiveCompensationAmount	1834000	USD
CY2020Q3	nkla	Number Of Class Action Lawsuits NumberOfClassActionLawsuits	6	lawsuit
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CY2021	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Warrant Revaluation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWarrantRevaluation	-641000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Warrant Revaluation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWarrantRevaluation	-2824000	USD
CY2019	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Warrant Revaluation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWarrantRevaluation	0	USD
CY2021	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Securities And Exchange Commission Settlement Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationSecuritiesAndExchangeCommissionSettlementAmount	26250000	USD
CY2020	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Securities And Exchange Commission Settlement Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationSecuritiesAndExchangeCommissionSettlementAmount	0	USD
CY2019	nkla	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Securities And Exchange Commission Settlement Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationSecuritiesAndExchangeCommissionSettlementAmount	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	408000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	915000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	128617000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	114303000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	27830000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	4000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1026000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	151000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	33837000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	21279000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	245014000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	132471000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Deferred Tax Asset Start Up Costs Capitalized DeferredTaxAssetStartUpCostsCapitalized	1454000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Deferred Tax Asset Start Up Costs Capitalized DeferredTaxAssetStartUpCostsCapitalized	1490000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	12645000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	8260000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Deferred Tax Asset Finance Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetFinanceLeaseLiability	680000	USD
CY2020Q4	nkla	Deferred Tax Asset Finance Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetFinanceLeaseLiability	3718000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	4069000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseOther	802000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseOther	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	294432000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	171287000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	291222000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	162496000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	3210000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	8791000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	2116000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	1020000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	666000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	7786000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	439000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	-7000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	3221000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	8799000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	11000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	8000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	291200000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	162500000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Tax Credit Carryforward Amount TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount	29500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Tax Credit Carryforward Amount TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount	19100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	7392000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	432000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	140000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	4269000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	5622000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	292000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1338000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	11661000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	7392000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	432000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	11700000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	7400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	400000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Penalties And Interest Accrued IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Penalties And Interest Accrued IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Penalties And Interest Expense IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Penalties And Interest Expense IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Penalties And Interest Expense IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-125000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nkla	Loss Contingency Number Of Installment Payments LossContingencyNumberOfInstallmentPayments	5	business_unit
CY2021Q4	nkla	Loss Contingency Installment Payment Period LossContingencyInstallmentPaymentPeriod	P2Y
CY2020Q3	nkla	Number Of Derivative Actions NumberOfDerivativeActions	2	derivativeAction
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Obligation PurchaseObligation	504715000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Obligation Due In Next Twelve Months PurchaseObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths	35424000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Obligation Due In Second And Third Year PurchaseObligationDueInSecondAndThirdYear	469291000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Obligation Due In Fourth And Fifth Year PurchaseObligationDueInFourthAndFifthYear	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Obligation Due After Fifth Year PurchaseObligationDueAfterFifthYear	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation ContractualObligation	650092000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due In Next Twelve Months ContractualObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths	96768000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due In Second And Third Year ContractualObligationDueInSecondAndThirdYear	553324000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due In Fourth And Fifth Year ContractualObligationDueInFourthAndFifthYear	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due After Fifth Year ContractualObligationDueAfterFifthYear	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-370866000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-88656000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	13407000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Premium PreferredStockRedemptionPremium	16816000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-690438000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-384273000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-105472000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	-3051000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	-13448000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Dilutive Securities DilutiveSecurities	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	-693489000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	-397721000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	-105472000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	398655081	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	335325271	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	262528769	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	129311	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	505762	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	0	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	398784392	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	335831033	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	262528769	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.73
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.15
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.40
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.74
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.18
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.40
CY2021	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	54492544	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	50873467	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	40012825	shares

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001731289-22-000016-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001731289-22-000016-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001731289-22-000016.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001731289-22-000016-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit211subsidiariesofni.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit231consentofindepen.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit31110-k2021.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit31210-k2021.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit32110-k2021.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit32210-k2021.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
loanagreementbyandbetween4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
nikola-ex104x2020stockince.htm	Edgar Link	pending
nikolasalesandserviceagree.htm	Edgar Link	pending
nkla-20211231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
nkla-20211231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
nkla-20211231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
nkla-20211231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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nkla-20211231_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
nkla-20211231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
nkla-20211231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$NKLA
Nikola Corp Stock $nkla

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000173128922000016 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$NKLA Nikola Corp Stock $nkla

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000173128922000016 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$NKLA
Nikola Corp Stock $nkla