Ford Doubles F-150 Lightning Production Capacity

Ford Increases F-150 Lightning Production Capacity

Ford Motor Company announced on Tuesday a significant expansion of its production capabilities for the highly anticipated F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Capacity is slated to nearly double, reaching 150,000 vehicles annually by mid-2023.

Responding to High Demand

This decision was made directly in response to overwhelming customer interest. The F-150 Lightning, with a starting price of $39,974 before incentives and excluding destination charges, will be manufactured at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center located in Dearborn, Michigan.

The automaker has already secured approximately 200,000 reservations for the new electric truck. These reservations represent refundable deposits placed by potential buyers. A crucial assessment of genuine demand will commence later this week as Ford begins inviting the initial group of reservation holders to formally place their orders.

Order Process and Supplier Collaboration

Reservations will be fulfilled in stages. Customers can anticipate receiving notifications, either via email or through their Ford.com accounts, regarding their opportunity to order in the coming weeks and months.

To support the increased vehicle output, Ford is actively collaborating with its key suppliers. Furthermore, internal manufacturing facilities, including the Rawsonville Components Plant and the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center, are being optimized to enhance the production of essential electric vehicle components.

These components include critical elements such as battery cells, battery trays, and complete electric drive systems.

Image Credits: Ford

Final Pre-Production and Delivery Timeline

Development of the F-150 Lightning is progressing as planned. The vehicle has now entered its final phase of pre-production. This stage involves rigorous testing of production-level trucks under real-world driving conditions.

Deliveries to retail customers and commercial clients purchasing the F-150 Lightning Pro are projected to begin this spring.

Broader Electric Vehicle Expansion

This announcement follows a previous statement from CEO Jim Farley regarding plans to increase production of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. The goal is to triple the current Mach-E production capacity by 2023.

Ford initially stated in November its intention to achieve a global electric vehicle production capacity of 600,000 units by 2023. This target encompasses the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit commercial van.

Reaching the 600,000-unit mark would represent a doubling of the company’s previously projected electric vehicle output over the next two years.

Significant Investment in EV Technology

Ford is committing substantial financial resources to its electric vehicle initiatives. More than $30 billion will be invested in electric vehicles through 2025.

This investment includes a $11.4 billion allocation for the construction of new battery plants in partnership with SK Innovation. These facilities, located in Tennessee and Kentucky, will manufacture lithium-ion batteries to power future generations of Ford and Lincoln vehicles.