With Ford launching production of its F-150 Lightning, can the tipping point for all-electric vehicles appear on the horizon?
- Ford says it is on track to deliver more than 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026, equal to about one-third of the company’s global volume, on the way to 50% by 2030.
- Ford says the F-150 Lightning will be the only full-size electric pickup available with a starting price under $40,000. The all-electric Rivian R1T pickup starts at $67,500.
- The production pace at the new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center is set at an annual run rate of 150,000 units in 2023.
With the Ford Mustang Mach-E well established in the marketplace as Dearborn’s sporty all-electric model, the automaker, as promised, rolls out the first production F-150 Lightning EV, a vehicle leading the charge for all-electric pickups.
The industry will be watching this launch very closely because, in the coming months and years, General Motors will follow with its Silverado EV, then Toyota, Tesla, and Ram with their all-electric trucks.
If demand is strong enough for full-size EV pickups—whether for commercial or personal uses—the tipping point of an automotive market leaning toward EVs will be visible on the horizon.
Today at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, where the automaker has invested $950 million and created 750 jobs to usher in the age of electrification, the first production F-150 Lightning will roll off the assembly line. The plant will ship F-150 Lightnings to customers across the US.
Electric motor assembly at Ford’s Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center in Michigan.
Ford
Ford says it is on track to deliver more than 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026, equal to about one-third of the company’s global volume, on the way to 50% by 2030. The automaker says the F-150 Lightning will be the only full-size electric pickup available with a starting price under $40,000. The all-electric Rivian R1T pickup starts at $67,500.
“Today we celebrate the Model T moment for the 21st Century at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “The stunning anticipation for F-150 Lightning is a credit to the work of our Ford engineers and designers, and the UAW team members who are building these trucks with pride.”
Ford describes F-150 Lightning demand as “soaring,” with 200,000 reservations in hand. Those reservation holders who don’t receive invitations to convert for the 2022 model year will have an opportunity to order a future model-year vehicle.
Ford has set its production pace at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center at an annual run rate of 150,000 units in 2023. The automaker says it has created 1700 jobs for this launch, spread among five Ford plants in Michigan, including Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center in Sterling Heights (for assembling electric motors and electric transaxles) and Rawsonville Components Plant (for battery assembly).
Ford says the F-150 Lightning can get an EPA-estimated 320 miles of range and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in the mid-4-second range with the extended-range battery, making it the fastest F-150 ever.
Customers have access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which Ford claims is the largest public charging network offered by automotive manufacturers in North America. Extended-range customers will receive an 80-amp Connected Charge Station Pro for free (through installation partner Sunrun), and can get a full charge overnight on AC power with dual on-board chargers.
Ford plans to use 100% local, renewable electricity in all of its manufacturing operations by 2035, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Batteries embedded within frame rails of F-150 Lightning as it moves down the line in Dearborn.
Ford
Keyword: First Ford F-150 Lightning Rolls Off Dearborn Assembly Line