Ford Officially Begins Production Of The F-150 Lightning Pickup

Ford officially launched production of the all-new, F-150 Lightning electric pickup this week – a hallmark moment in America’s transition to electric vehicles. Trucks are now being manufactured for customers across the U.S., and true to its namesake, the Lightning is the fastest-accelerating F-150 to date. 

“Today, we celebrate the Model T moment for the 21st Century at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center,” said Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford. “The Rouge is where Ford perfected the moving assembly line, making it a fitting backdrop as we make history again. 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.”

There has been substantial demand for the F-150 Lightning, with over 200,000 customer reservations. To help meet this demand, Ford is currently expanding the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center to increase production, with a planned annual run rate of 150,000 in 2023. The company’s investment in Michigan for the F-150 Lightning alone now stands at over $1 billion, having recently created 1,700 jobs dispersed among five Ford plants in the state.

“America’s real transition to electric vehicles starts now,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “F-150 Lightning is just the beginning of our ambitions for growth and leadership in digital, electric vehicles. We continue to expand our EV manufacturing footprint across the U.S., including the start of site preparation at BlueOval City, which will enable us to meet the ever-increasing customer demand for our exciting EV line-up.”

The F-150 Lightning is attracting new customers to Ford, with a starting price less than $40,000 before available tax credits. The company is on schedule to deliver more than 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026. This is equal to roughly one-third of the company’s global volume, and Ford plans to increase that figure to 50% by 2030.

“For UAW Ford members, the launch of the Lightning F-150 is an example that when electric vehicle expansion is done right, it can create good-paying union jobs and opportunities,” said UAW President Ray Curry. “Today’s launch demonstrates that we can create a win-win for UAW families and communities as we build EV products for decades to come.”