Ford F-150 Lightning to Face 7-Week Production Halt
Following a 26-percent drop in net income during the third quarter of 2024, Ford has lowered its full-year earnings projection and now must adjust production to better align with demand.
U.S. publication Automotive News reported on Thursday that F-150 Lightning output at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center near Detroit will be halted from November 16 to January 5, inclusively.
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Demand for the electric pickup remains lower than expected, particularly in the U.S. Ford previously cut production in half at the beginning of the year, eliminating two shifts in the process and maintaining only one.
Not long after, an undisclosed quality issue forced the automaker to stop shipments to dealers for more than nine weeks, though production continued during that time.
According to the latest stats, U.S. sales of the F-150 Lightning were up 86 percent after nine months in 2024, but that didn’t stop the new Tesla Cybertruck from stealing the best-selling EV pickup crown.
Sales on this side of the border are not available since Ford Canada does not break down the numbers for each F-Series line (F-150, F-150 Lightning, Super Duty).
Over the past few months, the Blue Oval has considerably revised and scaled back its EV plans, looking to offer “the right mix of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles based on demand today,” it said. Among other things, the Oakville plant in Ontario that was supposed to build new electric SUVs from 2027 will finally make more profitable, ICE-powered Super Duty trucks starting in 2026.
