Ford has stopped shipments of the 2024 F-150 Lightning, but not because there isn’t demand for the electric truck. The automaker said it stopped deliveries on February 9 to conduct quality inspections, but production is still rolling at the automaker’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.
The Blue Oval hasn’t elaborated on when it expects to restart shipments. Reports stated that an earlier pause in January was due to a concern with supplier parts, which halted both gas and electric F-150 models. Despite the delays, a Ford rep told The Detroit News that the automaker plans to significantly increase shipments in the coming weeks. That said, one fleet customer told Automotive News that its order from last year had been delayed by eight weeks.
F-150 Lightning demand has been a moving target for Ford, which pulled back on production numbers last year due to softer-than-expected numbers. The automaker also halted an investment in new battery manufacturing facilities and has cut prices on the Mustang Mach-E.
Those same challenges have led General Motors to reconsider its position on hybrids, with the company saying it would introduce new plug-in hybrid models in the coming months. Even the government is having second thoughts, considering slowing its push to electrify the U.S. car market as it becomes clear that people can’t afford them and fewer than expected actually want one.
[Image: Ford]
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