Ford is temporarily suspending production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup in mid-November due to an influx of newly launched competitors in the market, which has significantly impacted demand for the vehicle. The Ford corporation will temporarily suspend production of electric vehicles at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre in Michigan for approximately two months.
Ford is temporarily halting production at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre due to slower-than-anticipated demand for the company’s all-electric F-150 pickup truck.
The pause came shortly after Ford had minimised its workforce at the plant by a third earlier that year. No job cuts had been planned, as employees were either reassigned or offered early retirement options.
By April, approximately 700 of the facility’s 2,100 workers had relocated to the Michigan Manufacturing Plant, while another 700 employees were offered a retirement package or given the opportunity to join the remaining staff to help build the Bronco and Ranger in MI.
A Ford spokesperson, Martin Gunsberg, verified in an interview last year that initially, the company operated with three teams working two shifts, but by April, this was reduced to a single team working a single shift.
Ford’s Dearborn-based manufacturing facility is preparing to suspend production at its Rouge Electric Vehicle (EV) plant for several weeks.
Ford to Temporarily Halt Production of F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup at Michigan Plant
A Ford spokesperson said in an email that the company continues to manage production for a balance between sales growth and profitability.
The pause in operations will commence following the conclusion of the standard workday on November 15th. Despite the plant’s limited operating hours to weekdays only, November 15 and 16 would not have fallen within its manufacturing schedule.
Enoch has officially confirmed that the primary downtime will commence on November 18th, with production set to resume on January 6th, 2025. The production schedules at all US Ford plants will be paused during their holiday break, commencing December 23rd.
Ford faces a fresh challenge after being outpaced by its Detroit-based rival General Motors in U.S. electric vehicle sales for the latest quarter.
In the third quarter, General Motors outpaced Ford by selling 32,095 electric vehicles, compared to Ford’s 23,509 purchases of these eco-friendly modes of transportation. General Motors has surged ahead of Ford in the US market over the past nine months, with a significant 70,450 electric vehicles (EVs) sold, compared to Ford’s 67,689.
As Ford’s all-electric pickup truck prepares to face off against increasingly stiff competition from Tesla’s Cybertruck, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, and the GMC Sierra EV, the stakes have never been higher.
According to reports, Tesla’s Cybertruck took the third spot as the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in the United States for the third quarter, with a total of 16,692 units sold. Compared to what?
As the newly launched Chevy Silverado EV LT and GMC’s Sierra EV hit the market, it’ll be intriguing to observe where their standings settle next year.
Ford introduces its “Energy Promise,” offering EV buyers a complimentary Stage 2 residential charger installation at no additional cost, ensuring a seamless setup experience. The corporation has introduced a novel initiative aimed at educating existing customers about the tangible benefits of owning an electric vehicle (EV), including the convenience of arriving at their destination with a fully charged battery every morning?
Electrek’s Take
Although Ford surpassed Q3 earnings and EPS expectations just this week, its Model e electric vehicle subsidiary nevertheless posted a staggering $1.2 billion quarterly loss.
Ford’s electric vehicle (EV) division has incurred a staggering loss of $3.7 billion through the first nine months of this year, underscoring the significant financial challenges it faces in its transition to sustainable energy. The corporation reported an 11% decline in volume, citing “aggressive market dynamics.” This reduction, combined with “industry-wide pricing pressures,” resulted in a 33% year-over-year drop in revenue to $1.2 billion.
Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, reported that the company has implemented “robust measures” to ensure success in emerging areas, including next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) and software developments.
At the corporate’s earnings announcement, Farley revealed that its forthcoming mid-size electric pickup, slated for release in the second half of 2027, will adopt the cost structure of Chinese OEMs manufacturing in Mexico – a strategy seemingly aimed at countering BYD’s Shark PHEV, a rival to Ford’s Ranger.
Ford will begin manufacturing lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries at its Michigan facility in 2026, a move that is expected to help the company reduce costs.
Ford’s California-based “skunkworks” team has exceeded expectations by successfully developing a new low-cost platform, sparking speculation that they are positioning themselves for a potential takeover or increased autonomy within the corporation.
