Ford has issued a statement revealing its decision to reduce production of the F-150 Lightning to one shift, effective April 1. This adjustment aligns with the company’s strategy to match production levels with market demands. In contrast, Ford is taking a different approach for the Bronco and Ranger models by adding a third production crew to meet heightened demand.
The company’s official statement underscores Ford’s anticipation of continued growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales for 2024, albeit at a less substantial rate than initially projected. An update on January 19, 2024, confirms the changes to Ford’s production plans, highlighting the scaling back of F-150 Lightning production to a single shift from April 1. Simultaneously, Ford plans to enhance production capacity for the Bronco and Ranger by introducing a third crew at the Michigan Assembly truck plant in Wayne, Michigan.
Amidst a recent slowdown in the growth rate of electric vehicle adoption, many automakers, including Ford, are recalibrating their strategies, with a general trend of reduced investment in EVs. Ford’s decision to decrease production of the F-150 Lightning next year is based on an internal planning memo.
This memo indicates that suppliers should expect an average volume of approximately 1600 Lightnings per week at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, starting in January. This figure represents a reduction from the previous target of 3200 units per week, with an ultimate annual goal of 150,000 units, as Ford aims to align production with changing market demand.
Ford implemented a temporary idling of one of the three shifts at the Lightning plant in October, affecting around 700 workers. This move followed the addition of a third shift to the Lightning production line.
Despite the adjusted production levels, Ford has achieved notable sales of the F-150 Lightning in the current year, selling 20,365 electric trucks through November, a 54 percent increase compared to the previous year. In November alone, the company reached its highest monthly sales, selling 4393 electric trucks. However, these figures, when contextualized within Ford’s broader sales numbers, reveal that the automaker sold 190,477 total trucks in the third quarter of 2023.
This story, originally published on December 12, 2023, highlights Ford’s ongoing efforts to navigate the evolving landscape of electric vehicle production. Jack Fitzgerald, the author, expresses his passion for cars rooted in his addiction to Formula 1 and details his journey from a detailer to an auto writer, aiming to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
