The Ford F-150 Lightning electrical pickup truck could find yourself as a flash within the pan somewhat than the corporate’s subsequent Mannequin T, because it was as soon as billed.
Sources have instructed The Wall Road Journal Ford executives are contemplating axing F-150 Lightning on account of gradual gross sales and heavy losses.
Manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning has been paused indefinitely since mid-October after a hearth at an aluminium manufacturing unit in upstate New York.
Not like different full-size utes, the F-150’s physique is comprised of aluminium, and with one among Ford’s key suppliers now offline till properly into 2026, it has prioritised manufacturing of the F-150’s vastly worthwhile petrol and hybrid fashions. Along with halting Lightning manufacturing, it’s shifting these workers to vegetation making petrol and hybrid F-150 pickups.
In October Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief working officer, instructed the media: “Each time we’re prepared, we’ll crank [production of the F-150 Lightning] again up”. Nevertheless it’s potential this will by no means occur.
A US federal authorities tax rebate of as much as US$7500 (A$11,500) for electrical autos ended on September 30, which introduced ahead plenty of EV purchases.
Whereas some producers have reduce costs fairly dramatically within the aftermath, and a few US states nonetheless provide their very own EV tax rebates, it’s broadly anticipated that EV gross sales will proceed to fall, particularly on the larger of the market.
That is the house the F-150 Lightning occupies, because the vary is priced from US$54,780 (A$84,500), a considerable leap from the bottom petrol F-150, which has a sticker worth of US$37,450 (A$57,700).
Based on Ford Authority, the Blue Oval has a bought a complete of 663,933 F-Sequence vehicles within the States by means of to the top of October, with the F-150 Lightning accounting for simply 24,577 or 3.7 per cent of that determine.
Rival GM is reportedly contemplating the futures of its Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC Hummer EV pickup vehicles, all of that are affected by equally gradual gross sales.
After a number of delays, Ram cancelled growth of its all-electric 1500 REV pickup truck, preferring to pay attention its engineering sources on the upcoming EREV (extended-range EV) model of the 1500.
In August this yr, Ford introduced the Common EV Platform. The primary car on this structure is a Ranger-sized ute that’s scheduled to go on sale within the US in 2027. Pricing for this car, probably named Ranchero, will begin from US$30,000 (A$46,300).
Whereas Ford’s Australian showrooms inventory F-150s which can be regionally transformed to right-hand drive, the corporate doesn’t formally provide the Lightning Down Underneath. Queensland-based outfit AusEV has taken up the slack, regionally remanufacturing and promoting the Lightning.
