The Ford F-150 Lightning debuted to strong demand and long wait times, but the truck has since seen a slowdown. The Blue Oval has seen lower-than-expected demand for the electric pickup, leading it to halt production through the end of the year.
Ford said it would shutter production for seven weeks starting at the end of the day on November 15. It has already informed suppliers of the decision and said, “We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability.”
This is the second Lightning-related production pause this year. At the beginning of 2024, The Blue Oval slashed output by half, cutting around two-thirds of its workforce at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. Following that, the truck saw a stop-ship order while Ford worked to remedy an undisclosed quality issue.
Despite those challenges, Ford has actually seen an increase in Lightning sales this year, with a jump of 86 percent through September. That said, the Tesla Cybertruck overtook it as the best-selling electric truck in America, and new electric trucks are hitting the market from legacy automakers that offer better range and newer tech.
Ford has backtracked a bit on its EV plans but said it still feels confident its approach is the best among its rivals. Earlier this year, the Blue Oval announced that it would slow EV output to focus on hybrids and plug-in hybrids, which delayed its next planned electric truck model indefinitely.
[Images: Ford]
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