Ford has temporarily halted shipments of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, while also starting deliveries of its gas-powered 2024 F-150 models. The reason for the pause in shipments of the F-150 Lightning has not been disclosed by Ford, but the company is still producing the electric pickup at its Rouge Electric Vehicle (EV) Center. It is unclear when deliveries of the F-150 Lightning will resume.
At the same time, Ford has begun delivering its gas-powered F-150 units for the 2024 model year. The company’s inventory levels have been increasing since production began in December, prompting the start of shipments. Ford stated that it expects to ramp up shipments in the coming weeks as it completes thorough launch quality checks.
Ford has not provided any details about the reason behind the stop-sale order for the F-150 Lightning, and a company spokesperson declined to comment on whether the gas versions of the truck were facing quality holds. However, Ford did mention that it experienced a “supplier parts concern” with both the gas and electric versions of the F-150 in late January, which slowed down production.
Despite originally planning to start shipping the new model year pickups in early 2024, Ford has been facing delays, resulting in a buildup of F-150 units in holding lots over the past few months. One commercial customer reported that the delivery date for a shipment of nearly 100 trucks had been delayed by up to eight weeks.
Last month, Ford announced its decision to reduce its F-150 Lightning production forecast for this year in order to prioritize gas vehicle output. This led to the transfer of some workers from the Rouge facility in Dearborn, Michigan, to the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.
In response to inquiries about when F-150 Lightning production would increase to its previous level, a Ford spokesperson stated that the company would continue to match production with demand.
The pause in F-150 Lightning shipments comes shortly after Ford introduced several incentives for the electric pickup, including discounts of up to $15,000 on certain configurations. Ford also achieved its best-ever quarter for EV sales in 2023, driven by the success of the F-150 Lightning, the E-Transit van, and the Mustang Mach-E.
This recent development from Ford highlights the challenges the company is facing in balancing production and meeting demand for both its gas and electric vehicles. As Ford navigates these issues, it remains to be seen when deliveries of the F-150 Lightning will resume and how the company will address any quality concerns.