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The Ford F-150 Lightning electrical pickup truck could find yourself as a flash within the pan reasonably than the corporate’s subsequent Mannequin T, because it was as soon as billed.
Sources have advised The Wall Road Journal Ford executives are reportedly contemplating axing F-150 Lightning attributable to gradual 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 unit in upstate New York.
Not like different full-size utes, the F-150’s physique is made out of aluminium, and with one in all Ford’s key suppliers now offline till nicely into 2026, it has prioritised manufacturing of the F-150’s vastly worthwhile petrol and hybrid fashions. Along with halting Lightning manufacturing, it’s transferring these staff to vegetation making petrol and hybrid F-150 pickups.
In October Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief working officer, advised the media, “Each time we’re prepared, we’ll crank [production of the F-150 Lightning] again up”. However, it’s doable, this may increasingly by no means occur.
A US federal authorities tax rebate of as much as US$7500 (A$11,500) for electrical automobiles ended on September 30, which introduced ahead a variety of EV purchases.
Whereas some producer have minimize costs fairly dramatically within the aftermath, and a few states nonetheless provide their very own EV tax rebates, it’s extensively anticipated that EV gross sales will fall, particularly on the increased of the market.
That is the area the F-150 Lightning occupies, because the vary is priced from US$54,780 (A$84,500), a considerable soar from the bottom petrol F-150, which has a sticker value of US$37,450 (A$57,700).
In accordance with Ford Authority, the Blue Oval has a bought a complete of 663,933 F-Collection vans within the States by way 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 vans, all of that are affected by equally gradual gross sales.
After a number of delays, Ram cancelled improvement of its all-electric 1500 REV pickup truck, preferring to pay attention its engineering assets on the upcoming EREV (prolonged vary EV) model of the 1500.
In August this 12 months, 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, presumably named Ranchero, will begin from US$30,000 (A$46,300).
Whereas Ford’s Australian showrooms inventory F-150s which are domestically transformed to right-hand drive, the corporate doesn’t formally provide the Lightning Down Beneath. Queensland-based outfit AusEV has taken up the slack, domestically remanufacturing and promoting the Lightning.
MORE: Discover the Ford F-150 showroom
