Ford to Discontinue Fully-Electric F-150 Lightning in Favor of Extended Range Electric Version
Ford has announced that it will be ending production of the fully-electric F-150 Lightning as part of a larger restructuring of its electric vehicle plans. The company will instead offer an “extended range electric vehicle” version of the truck, which includes a gas generator to recharge the battery pack and provide power for over 700 miles.
The exact release date and pricing for the new F-150 Lightning has not been disclosed by Ford.
This shift in strategy will come at a significant cost to Ford, with the company taking a $19.5 billion hit to reshape its EV business. The charges, including an $8.5 billion writedown of EV assets, will mostly be recorded in the fourth quarter, with $5.5 billion in cash to be charged through 2027.
As a result of this shakeup, Ford’s next-generation all-electric truck, internally known as “T3,” has been scrapped. The company has also abandoned plans for a next-generation commercial van, while the current E-Transit model will continue.
Ford stated, “Ford no longer plans to produce select larger electric vehicles where the business case has eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs, and regulatory changes.”
Despite these changes, Ford confirmed that it is still on track to release a mid-sized all-electric pickup truck in 2027. This new vehicle will be powered by a platform developed by former Tesla executives Doug Field and Alan Clarke and will feature cheaper lithium iron phosphate batteries produced in Michigan.
Andrew Frick, Ford’s president, explained, “Rather than spending billions more on large EVs that now have no path to profitability, we are allocating that money into higher-returning areas, more trucks and van hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, affordable EVs, and entirely new opportunities like energy storage.”
Ford introduced the F-150 Lightning in 2021 as part of its push into electric vehicles. However, the truck struggled in the market, with sales falling short of expectations. The company sold around 7,000 Lightnings per quarter, reaching a peak of nearly 11,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Since the launch of the F-150 Lightning, the electric vehicle market has faced challenges, including a price war initiated by Tesla and policy changes impacting EV sales. Despite these obstacles, Ford remains committed to its electric vehicle goals and plans to continue innovating in the EV space.
