Ford is preparing for a temporary production halt of its electric F-150 Lightning, set to pause from November 15, 2024, to January 6, 2025, according to a report by CBS News.
This break will affect the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, where Lightning pickups are manufactured, resulting in furloughs for 730 hourly employees during this period. Additionally, Reuters noted that Ford’s U.S. plants are scheduled for a one-week holiday break in December.
The F-150 Lightning, which debuted in 2022, has yet to reach the high demand levels Ford anticipated, despite recent price reductions.
In an effort to boost interest, Ford lowered the base price of the 2025 model by $7215 compared to 2024. Now, the entry-level Pro model starts at $49,875, down from $57,090, while the XLT, Flash, and Lariat trims saw cuts of $2000, $5500, and $2500, respectively.
Despite these price adjustments, demand for the Lightning remains below expectations, especially compared to the broader success of the traditional F-series lineup—Ford sold over 550,000 F-series trucks through September 2024.
While the F-150 Lightning has seen an increase in year-over-year sales, with 22,807 units sold through Q3 2024 compared to 12,260 in the same period in 2023, it remains a small player in the EV market. Ford has not yet responded for confirmation of the production pause, but further updates are expected.
