Ford has announced a reduction in production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck due to lower-than-expected demand.
The automaker plans to relocate about half of these workers to its Michigan Assembly Plant, where a third crew will be assembled to meet the demand for the Bronco, Bronco Raptor, and the new Ranger and Ranger Raptor. Ford is also actively recruiting an additional 900 workers to support this shift.
The remaining F-150 Lightning workers affected by the production change will either assume different roles within the Rouge plant or be transferred to other Ford facilities in the region, unless they choose to accept a retirement incentive offer.
While Ford hasn't disclosed the exact reduction percentage in F-150 Lightning production, the shift from two shifts to one indicates a roughly 50% decrease, in line with recent reports. CNBC reported that Ford aimed to decrease production from approximately 3,200 units per week to 1,600.
Ford had previously invested in retooling the Rouge facility in 2023, intending to have an annual F-150 Lightning capacity of up to 150,000 units. However, demand hasn't kept pace with these projections. Although F-150 Lightning sales increased by 55% last year, they have not matched earlier sales rates.
Ford anticipates global growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales for the year, albeit at a slower rate than initially anticipated. In light of this and Ford's plans for next-generation EVs, the company has decided to scale back production of the F-150 Lightning for the foreseeable future.
“We are taking advantage of our manufacturing flexibility to offer customers choices while balancing our growth and profitability. Customers love the F-150 Lightning, America's best-selling EV pickup,” Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said. “We see a bright future for electric vehicles for specific consumers, especially with our upcoming digitally advanced EVs and access to Tesla's charging network beginning this quarter."
This reduction isn't limited to the F-150 Lightning; in November, Ford also reduced production of the Mustang Mach-E.
Source: Ford
