In fact, Ford recently introduced a new AI-based feature called Ford Pro Trailer Hitch Assist that can automatically back up and align the Lightning’s hitch ball to a trailer.ĭespite a production hurdle earlier this year, Ford aims to triple the number of electric trucks it builds to 150,000 by the end of the year.Īfter returning to full production in March, Ford said it was reopening its order book for the next wave of F-50 Lightning reservation holders. On the company’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Jim Farley said, “Almost all the full-size pickup truck EV customers were new to Ford” as buyers look for functional, zero-emission alternatives. According to recently gathered data, over 50% of Lightning buyers are coming from a non-truck brand. Perhaps, most importantly, Ford isn’t the only one to realize this. And that’s with over 100 years of experience. Ford calls the Lightning its “smartest, most innovative truck” yet. We are not aware of any incidences of this issue in the field." Motor Authority reported earlier today that F-150 Lightning pickups already at dealerships will be delivered to customers and are not affected by the order.Since its release in May 2021, the F-150 Lightning has become an instant fan favorite, gathering over 200,000 reservations by the end of that year. A Ford spokesperson told Car and Driver that the truck is under a "Stop Build and In-Transit Stop Ship" and explained, "As part of our pre-delivery quality inspections, a vehicle displayed a potential battery issue and we are holding vehicles while we investigate. The Lightning is built at Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, where production started in late April 2022. No date has been given for resumption of production. The automaker said today that it has detected a potential problem with the EV's battery and has shut down both production of the trucks and shipping of those already built but not yet delivered to dealers. The statement did not explain what the battery issue was, however.įord's F-150 Lightning pickup truck has proved wildly popular in its first year of production, but customers already standing by to get one may have to wait a little longer. "We are not aware of any incidents of this issue in the field and do not believe F-150 Lightnings already in customers' hands are affected by this issue," the Ford statement said. We will continue holding already-produced vehicles while we work through engineering and process updates. By the end of next week, we expect to conclude our investigation and apply what we learn to the truck's battery production process this could take a few weeks. We believe we have identified the root cause of this issue. "During a standard Lightning pre-delivery quality inspection, one vehicle displayed a battery issue. The automaker is now saying production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center will be suspended "through at least the end of next week," which will be February 24 or later. UPDATE 2/15/23: Ford issued a fresh statement on Wednesday afternoon stating that it has figured out what the problem is with the F-150 Lightning's battery. As REVC ramps up production, we will continue holding already produced vehicles while we work through engineering and parts updates." C/D inquired about the nature of the problem with the original battery, and Ford responded, "We aren't providing additional details at this time." The additional 11-day delay, it said, is to allow "time for SK On's battery cells to be built into battery arrays and packs and be delivered to the Lightning production line." Ford's spokesperson went on to say: "In the weeks ahead, we will continue to apply our learnings and work with SK On's team to ensure we continue delivering high-quality battery packs-down to the battery cells. UPDATE 3/2/23: In a statement today, Ford said it will restart production of the extremely popular F-150 Lightning electric pickup on March 13. There is no timeline for when production of the highly popular EV will resume, Ford said on Tuesday.The automaker is currently investigating a potential problem with the battery, although it said there have been no accidents or injuries associated with it in customer use.Ford has shut down production and shipping of the F-150 Lightning electric truck, citing a battery issue.
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