Ford to Cut Production of All-Electric F-150 Lightning Pickup

Ford Motor will cut planned production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup roughly in half next year, marking a major reversal after the automaker significantly increased plant capacity for the electric vehicle in 2023.

New Production Plans

The new production plans call for average volume of around 1,600 F-150 Lightnings a week at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, starting in January. This is a significant decrease from the automaker’s previous plan to produce roughly 3,200 vehicles per week.

Matching Production with Demand

“We’ll continue to match production with customer demand,” said a Ford spokeswoman. This decision reflects the company’s commitment to adjusting production based on market demand.

Reasons for Production Cuts

The production cuts for the F-150 Lightning were driven by changing market demand, according to a planning memo obtained by Automotive News. The memo highlighted the need to align production with current market conditions.

Slow EV Demand

EV demand has been slower than expected, with high prices and interest rates affecting consumer interest. Automakers are now focusing on cutting costs and reevaluating their production and product plans for the future.

Previous Capacity Increase

Ford had previously invested six weeks to increase the capacity of the F-150 Lightning at its Michigan plant. The plant was expected to produce 150,000 of the all-electric trucks, three times its initial planned output.

Sales Performance

Sales of the F-150 Lightning have steadily increased in 2023, with a monthly record of approximately 4,400 units sold in November. However, the company has only sold 20,365 trucks this year through November, up 54% from the previous year.

As Ford adjusts its production plans for the F-150 Lightning, the company remains committed to meeting customer demand and optimizing its operations in the evolving electric vehicle market.