F-150 Lightning production paused indefinitely

IT’S NOT easy being green, especially if you’re one of the Big Three auto manufactures in the United States right now…

Case in point, Ford’s much-maligned F-150 Lightning, whose production has been ‘indefinitely paused’ this week following lower-than-expected demand and issues related to parts and materials sourcing.

A Ford spokesperson told Automotive News that production of the F-150 Lightning will be paused from 15 November.

“We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability,” said a Ford Motor Company spokesperson.

The news follows an announcement made earlier this year that the company would halve the production targets of the F-150 Lightning, slashing over 60 per cent of the jobs at its Rogue Electric Vehicle Centre in Dearborn, Michigan.

In early 2024, a stop-ship order for an undisclosed quality issue halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning for more than nine weeks.

The Rogue Electric Vehicle Centre employs around 730 people with affected workers offered employment at the nearby (Ford) Dearborn Truck Plant.

Sales of the Ford F-150 Lightning total 22,807 units year-to-date, though more than 100 days’ supply of unsold models is understood to remain in dealer stock. Ford is also sitting on 130 days of Mustang Mach-E stock and 128 days of E-Transit van stock, according to Cox Automotive.

Ford president Jim Farley said the company would delay around $US12 billion ($A18.5b) in EV spending and has delayed the production timeline for its next-generation electric pick-up.

The company has reduced EV costs by $US1 billion ($A1.54b) so far this year and has trimmed production capacity by 35 per cent.

Ford said it expects to lose about $US5 billion ($A7.7b) from its Model e EV business unit this year alone.