Ford Discontinues F-150 Lightning Production

Ford Motor Co. announced Monday that it is discontinuing production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck, marking a significant retreat from its ambitious electrification strategy amid substantial financial losses and slower-than-expected consumer demand for battery-powered vehicles.

The Detroit-based automaker reported a projected $19.5 billion charge related to its electric vehicle operations, with most of the impact expected in the fourth quarter. This includes $8.5 billion from canceled future models and $6 billion from a terminated battery supply deal. Ford has incurred $13 billion in EV-related losses since 2023. In response, the company is redirecting investments toward hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles that incorporate gasoline engines, and more affordable gasoline-powered trucks and vans.

The F-150 Lightning, introduced in 2021 as an electric version of Ford's best-selling vehicle, failed to meet production expectations. Sales peaked at nearly 11,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2024 but averaged around 7,000 per quarter over the past two years, far below the capacity of its assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford will replace the model with an...