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 Avenue Journal Ford executives are contemplating axing F-150 Lightning resulting from sluggish gross sales and heavy losses.
Manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning has been paused indefinitely since mid-October after a fireplace at an aluminium manufacturing facility in upstate New York.
Not like different full-size utes, the F-150’s physique is constructed from aluminium, and with one among Ford’s key suppliers now offline till effectively into 2026, it has prioritised manufacturing of the F-150’s massively worthwhile petrol and hybrid fashions. Along with halting Lightning manufacturing, it’s transferring these staff to crops making petrol and hybrid F-150 pickups.
In October Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief working officer, instructed the media: “Every time we’re prepared, we’ll crank [production of the F-150 Lightning] again up”. But it surely’s attainable this may occasionally 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 numerous 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 greater 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 offered a complete of 663,933 F-Sequence vans within the States via 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 vans, all of that are affected by equally sluggish 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 automobile on this structure is a Ranger-sized ute that’s scheduled to go on sale within the US in 2027. Pricing for this automobile, probably named Ranchero, will begin from US$30,000 (A$46,300).
Whereas Ford’s Australian showrooms inventory F-150s which might be regionally transformed to right-hand drive, the corporate doesn’t formally provide the Lightning Down Below. Queensland-based outfit AusEV has taken up the slack, regionally remanufacturing and promoting the Lightning.
