Approximately half of Ford Motor’s planned production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning truck is scheduled to occur next year. This represents a dramatic reversal for the carmaker, which in 2023 greatly expanded manufacturing capacity for the electric vehicle.
A person familiar with the decision said that the current production plans call for an average volume of about 1,600 F-150 Lightnings per week at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre in Dearborn, Michigan, beginning in January. According to the automaker’s most recent plans, an average of 3,200 of the cars would be produced each week.
Ford stated on Monday that it would “continue to match production with customer demand.”
Recently, Ford executives said that the carmaker will match output to demand while delaying or cancelling $12 billion in planned investments in electric vehicles.
The initial information on the F-150 Lightning production reductions was found in a planning memo to suppliers that Automotive News was able to get. According to the magazine, the document justified the changes with reference to “changing market demand.”
Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has lagged behind expectations due to high pricing and financing rates. While reevaluating their production and product strategies for the upcoming years, automakers are trying to reduce the cost of creating all-electric vehicles.
Earlier this year, Ford invested six weeks to expand the F-150 Lightning’s production capacity at its Michigan plant. This increased output was anticipated to reach 150,000 all-electric vehicles, tripling the initial intended quantity.
The F-150 Lightning has seen a steady rise in sales in 2023, reaching a record-breaking monthly sales total of about 4,400 in November. Only 20,365 of the trucks have been sold by the company as of November, a 54% increase over the same month last year.
