Ford reducing F-150 Lightning production

Ford announced today that it’s reducing the production of its electric pickup truck F-150 Lightning. The company said the move will allow it to achieve an “optimal balance of production, sales growth, and profitability”.

Ford mentioned that the demand for the F-150 Lightning is a best-selling electric truck with sales up 55% in 2023 and further growth forecast for 2024.

“We are taking advantage of our manufacturing flexibility to offer customers choices while balancing our growth and profitability. Customers love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley.

This production reshuffle will affect 1,400 employees with Rogue Vehicle Center transitioning to one shift starting April 1, 2024. Among these, 700 will be transferred to Michigan Assembly Plant and the others will be placed in roles at the Rogue Complex or other facilities in Southeast Michigan.

Some of these employees from F-150 Lightning production component plants could get impacted and could get placements within Southeast Michigan.

Ford F-150 Lightning

Expansion:

Alongside this rollback, the automaker also announced to creation of nearly 900 new jobs as part of a new third crew at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne to cope with the growing demand of Bronco and Bronco Raptor and Range and Ranger Raptor.

The new addition of employees includes 700 of those transferred from Rogue Electric Vehicle Center. The company revealed that it is preparing for the launch of the new Ranger and Ranger Raptor this year and preparing production for seven days a week including three crews working in two shifts.

(source – Ford)