Ford cutting F-150 Lightning truck production on weak demand
By Paul Homewood
h/t Dave Ward
From The New York Post:
Ford Motor said Friday it would reduce production of its F-150 Lightning pickup truck, as demand for electric vehicles softens.
The No. 2 US automaker said it would cut production at its Michigan Rouge Electric Vehicle Center to one shift starting April 1. In October, the automaker said it would temporarily cut one of three shifts at the Michigan plant that builds the electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck.
The announcement is the latest sign of slowing demand for EV trucks. General Motors in October postponed the opening of a $4 billion electric truck plant in Michigan for a year.
Ford told suppliers in December that it planned to produce about 1,600 F-150 Lightning EV trucks per week starting in January, roughly half of the 3,200 it previously had planned.
Ford sold 24,165 F-150 Lightning trucks last year in the United States, up 55% over 2022, out of about 750,000 total F-150 US sales. Ford shares rose less than 1% Friday.
The Dearborn automaker said Friday it would add a third crew and create nearly 900 jobs at its Michigan assembly plant to increase production of gas-powered Bronco SUVs and Ranger pickups.
The production cut comes at a time when Detroit automakers are protesting that the Biden Administration is going too far with proposals to use emissions rules that would result in 67% of all new vehicles in 2032 being EVs. On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency submitted its proposal to finalize vehicle requirements to the White House for review.
The Republican-led House in December voted to bar the EPA from moving forward with the planned vehicle emissions regulations, drawing a veto threat from the White House.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/business/ford-cutting-f-150-lightning-truck-production-on-weak-demand/
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
P
Paul, I wonder if consolidating news items once a day might work better, would save so many emails.
Why do people buy an electric truck?
To save the planet of course.
Duh
The only electrical device that can save the planet is the electric chair!
“Every Watt is useful, every Watt is good,
Every Watt can be used, to fry some worthless hood!
Thieving City bankster, or over claimed MP,
Put them back, on the right track,
With electricity! “
The 150 EV had very little initial competition. Then came Rivian with a better product and now we have the Tesla CyberTruck. Both far better than the Ford. Longer range and less $. Plus Ford just increased the retail price of the 150, no surprise then that demand has plumetted.
So the rednecks don’t want Scalextric pickups…
Whod’a thunk it!
I drove from Birmingham NEC to East Yorkshire this afternoon. When we set off we were getting phone notifications of an incident blocking the M1. More details coming in described a vehicle fire. Hmmm, I wonder what kind of vehicle? The incident was close to Woodhall Services so it had been cleared by the time we got there, so I may never know.
Now for the truth
I worked in Ford product development in Dearborn Michigan for 27years and keep track of the company
Ford is not cutting Lightening production
They produce what they can sell to dealers
They are cancelling the original PLAN to double production in 2024, versus 2023, because sales have been poor
In fact, the current sales trend suggests they will have to eventually cut 2024 production in half, versus 2023, to match production and demand based on current sales trends. That would be 1/4 of the original plan for 2024
The Mustang EV is selling well, but the Lightening truc is not.
The worst possible ose for batteries is a heavy vehicle that may be used to carry a heavy load (trucks).
US BEV sales were up over +50% in 2023 versus 2022
Ford EV sales up only about +20% in 2023
Ford sold three EV models in 2023
Two were trucks
Big mistake
24,165 Lightnings, sold in 2023
160,000 original 2024 production plan
80,000 new 2024 production plan
Actual 2024 sales unlikely to reach 80,000
Percentages provide no information without the number on which they are based.
Apparently, Ford Motor Company lacked the desire to go broke????
Rumour is that Polestar is on the verge of bankruptcy. If true then their cars will become worthless with no spares and in these overly hi-tech days, no software backup or updates.