Lightning production to end?

[blwnsmoke]

Didn't see this posted surprisingly.

 

Ford to End Production of Failed F-150 Lightning https://share.google/RMKQKLTeMuqvB6zNh

 

Ford will stop making its electric vehicle (EV) flagship, the F-150 Lightning. The New York Times reports this could be attributed to both the fire and flagging sales. In the first three quarters of the year, Lightning unit sales were up only 1% to 23,034. The extent to which Ford is entirely a gasoline-powered car company shows up in overall F-Series sales, which rose 12.7% to 620,580.

Ford’s management shows wisdom in shutting down Lightning production. The electric pickup never sold well, suggesting its launch was a terrible mistake. Additionally, the U.S. EV market is dying and will not bounce back soon. The $7,500 EV tax credit expired at the end of the third quarter. People who wanted an EV rushed to buy one before the deadline.

Yahoo

Edited October 28, 2025 by blwnsmoke

[fuzzymoomoo]

No. No. No. No.

 

I saw that a few days ago and knew someone would post it. That article is one of the worst written pieces of clickbait I’ve ever seen. For one, the headline shows a CLEAR bias which should raise all kinds of red flags. Second, Ford has said from the start it’s a temporary pause to get through the aluminum shortage situation. The guy that wrote that should never be allowed to have anything of his to be published by any reputable publication ever again. 

[blwnsmoke]

6 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

No. No. No. No.

 

I saw that a few days ago and knew someone would post it. That article is one of the worst written pieces of clickbait I’ve ever seen. For one, the headline shows a CLEAR bias which should raise all kinds of red flags. Second, Ford has said from the start it’s a temporary pause to get through the aluminum shortage situation. The guy that wrote that should never be allowed to have anything of his to be published by any reputable publication ever again. 

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

I was shocked to read that and purposely put question mark in the title because I just couldn't believe they would kill it.

[Sherminator98]

The Author is just an asshole

 

https://247wallst.com/cars-and-drivers/2025/10/27/ford-gets-a-correction-to-our-f-150-lightning-story/

 

Quote

Here is their correction:

 

F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric pickup truck in the U.S. – despite new competition from CyberTruck, Chevy, GMC, Hummer and Rivian – and delivered record sales in Q3. Right now, we’re focused on producing F-150 ICE and Hybrid as we recover from the fire at Novelis. We have good inventories of the F-150 Lightning and will bring Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) back up at the right time, but don’t have an exact date at this time.

Here is our response:

 

Ford’s comment about the Lightning is a claim that it is good to be a 5 feet, 3 inches tall person in a room of people who are 5 feet tall.

For a start, the production information comes from The New York Times: “The company also said it has stopped making an electric version of its popular F-150 pickup.” That is in the headline about Ford’s earnings. In the body of their story: “Because of the fire and slowing sales of electric vehicles, the company has stopped making the F-150 Lightning electric pickup.”

Ford always stuns us when it talks about being first in the segment. The company took the brand of the top-selling vehicle in the past five decades and launched an electric version. Then it congratulated itself for selling only 85 of these a day through the first three quarters of this year. Thus, Ford took one of the greatest brands in auto history and turned it into a multibillion-dollar debacle.

Executive Chair Bill Ford told the Detroit News that the Lightning was the most important product of his career. He added, “Anytime you have a radical change to your most  successful product, you really are betting the company.” I have not heard him say Ford lost that bet.

 

[rmc523]

20 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

The Author is just an asshole

 

https://247wallst.com/cars-and-drivers/2025/10/27/ford-gets-a-correction-to-our-f-150-lightning-story/

 

 

 

Sounds like he has an ax to grind.  I'm not even going to click any of the links.

 

Articles like these are why nobody wants to believe the news anymore.

[Sherminator98]

9 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

Articles like these are why nobody wants to believe the news anymore.

 

Exactly-everyone is sharing an opinion and not information. 

[akirby]

9 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

The AI that wrote that

FTFY

[T-dubz]

43 minutes ago, akirby said:

FTFY

I was about to say the same thing. This is lazy ai slop

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

The Author is just an asshole

 

https://247wallst.com/cars-and-drivers/2025/10/27/ford-gets-a-correction-to-our-f-150-lightning-story/

 

 

Did a lightning owner steal his wife or something? What is this journalism lol?

[twintornados]

5 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

Did a lightning owner steal his wife or something? What is this journalism lol?

 

That would be shocking.....

 

 

Please tip your waitress. 

 

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Exactly-everyone is sharing an opinion and not information. 

I just wish we could get back to the days when people were better at having more nuanced, balanced opinions on things. As far as I'm concerned, EVs are a really solid choice for people who want a short distance commuter for owners who want something with significantly lower ownership costs. But they aren't great currently if you want to do a lot of road trips or heavy towing. 

 

They're great for some use cases, and not so great for some others. It's pretty straight forward imo. Yet it seems the team that guy is part of is just anti-ev all the way, and then you had people, including people who used to comment on this site, who believed EVs were the answer to everything and Ford was gonna go out of business if they didn't adopt a fully electric line up in 5 years. 

 

As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. 

[danglin]

3 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I just wish we could get back to the days when people were better at having more nuanced, balanced opinions on things. As far as I'm concerned, EVs are a really solid choice for people who want a short distance commuter for owners who want something with significantly lower ownership costs. But they aren't great currently if you want to do a lot of road trips or heavy towing. 

 

They're great for some use cases, and not so great for some others. It's pretty straight forward imo. Yet it seems the team that guy is part of is just anti-ev all the way, and then you had people, including people who used to comment on this site, who believed EVs were the answer to everything and Ford was gonna go out of business if they didn't adopt a fully electric line up in 5 years. 

 

As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. 

 

I think what really caused such a divide was that in the not to distant past, EV's were being forced onto society when this technology is not ready to be a viable replacement for ICE. 

[sullynd]

7 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

As far as I'm concerned, EVs are a really solid choice for people who want a short distance commuter for owners who want something with significantly lower ownership costs. But they aren't great currently if you want to do a lot of road trips or heavy towing. 

 

They're great for some use cases, and not so great for some others. It's pretty straight forward imo. 

I’ve got 52,000 miles on my 22 Lightning. I have two ICE I could drive instead (15 Edge and 23 Maverick) and we choose the Lightning every time*. It’s sooo much better for roadtrips that it is laughable when people assume otherwise. 

*The only time we didn’t is the one time we had to tow over 150 miles. Less than that and we tow with the Lightning. It’s a towing beast. 

[sullynd]

3 hours ago, danglin said:

 

I think what really caused such a divide was that in the not to distant past, EV's were being forced onto society when this technology is not ready to be a viable replacement for ICE. 

The EV1 was a long time ago. 

[Sherminator98]

9 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I just wish we could get back to the days when people were better at having more nuanced, balanced opinions on things. As far as I'm concerned, EVs are a really solid choice for people who want a short distance commuter for owners who want something with significantly lower ownership costs. But they aren't great currently if you want to do a lot of road trips or heavy towing. 

 

what it boils down to is many people dislike change and hate having to change their habits. EVs require both. I find people are very resistant to change, unless they see a huge, clear advantage in doing so and EVs don't do that for large part of the population. If people where more willing to try something different, I think there would be less resistance to them. 

[wildosvt]

20 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

No. No. No. No.

 

I saw that a few days ago and knew someone would post it. That article is one of the worst written pieces of clickbait I’ve ever seen. For one, the headline shows a CLEAR bias which should raise all kinds of red flags. Second, Ford has said from the start it’s a temporary pause to get through the aluminum shortage situation. The guy that wrote that should never be allowed to have anything of his to be published by any reputable publication ever again. 

 

C Crew going back in to DTP.. RevC and new hires to fill it.

[DeluxeStang]

3 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

what it boils down to is many people dislike change and hate having to change their habits. EVs require both. I find people are very resistant to change, unless they see a huge, clear advantage in doing so and EVs don't do that for large part of the population. If people where more willing to try something different, I think there would be less resistance to them. 

I agree, fear of change and the unknown is a real concern with a lot of people. Which is why I'd like to see more education efforts made by these brands. I believe if more consumers were educated on the realities of daily EV ownership, EVs wouldn't be seen as this big scary boogeyman. They aren't perfect for everyone, but there are a lot of people out there where EV use cycles would be really ideal, but they're just too nervous to try them out.

 

My folks are a perfect example of this. They drive almost entirely short distances, no more than a few miles at a time 95% of the time, almost entirely stop and go lower speed driving, only a few thousand miles a year, and like many couples in their 60s, they own a home where they could charge. 

 

I feel like ev ownership would suit them very well, especially as they get older and just want a low hassle, very reliable vehicle. But it's hard to convince them because they've fallen for the misinformation. My father in particular who believes if he buys an EV the battery pack will fail and he'll be hit with this 30 grand repair bill. I try to explain that EVs, especially as battery tech evolves, are often extremely reliable, especially from brands like Ford, but he won't hear it. 

 

More needs to be done to counter disinformation without making people feel like EVs are being forced down their throats. 

[twintornados]

I am looking forward to the CE1 small truck when it debuts....it just may be the EV I will buy. Retired now and some times, my Maverick hybrid will sit for a day or two before I go out and about and when I do, it is usually a short trip.

[Sherminator98]

9 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I agree, fear of change and the unknown is a real concern with a lot of people. Which is why I'd like to see more education efforts made by these brands. I believe if more consumers were educated on the realities of daily EV ownership, EVs wouldn't be seen as this big scary boogeyman. They aren't perfect for everyone, but there are a lot of people out there where EV use cycles would be really ideal, but they're just too nervous to try them out.

 

My folks are a perfect example of this. They drive almost entirely short distances, no more than a few miles at a time 95% of the time, almost entirely stop and go lower speed driving, only a few thousand miles a year, and like many couples in their 60s, they own a home where they could charge. 

 

I feel like ev ownership would suit them very well, especially as they get older and just want a low hassle, very reliable vehicle. But it's hard to convince them because they've fallen for the misinformation. My father in particular who believes if he buys an EV the battery pack will fail and he'll be hit with this 30 grand repair bill. I try to explain that EVs, especially as battery tech evolves, are often extremely reliable, especially from brands like Ford, but he won't hear it. 

 

More needs to be done to counter disinformation without making people feel like EVs are being forced down their throats. 

 

 

Good point but older people are even a harder sell. The other issue is people already hate dealing with dealerships (already a trust issue there and they have their own motives for not wanting to sell them)

[Rick73]

9 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I agree, fear of change and the unknown is a real concern with a lot of people. Which is why I'd like to see more education efforts made by these brands. I believe if more consumers were educated on the realities of daily EV ownership, EVs wouldn't be seen as this big scary boogeyman. They aren't perfect for everyone, but there are a lot of people out there where EV use cycles would be really ideal, but they're just too nervous to try them out.

 

My folks are a perfect example of this. They drive almost entirely short distances, no more than a few miles at a time 95% of the time, almost entirely stop and go lower speed driving, only a few thousand miles a year, and like many couples in their 60s, they own a home where they could charge. 

 

I feel like ev ownership would suit them very well, especially as they get older and just want a low hassle, very reliable vehicle. But it's hard to convince them because they've fallen for the misinformation. My father in particular who believes if he buys an EV the battery pack will fail and he'll be hit with this 30 grand repair bill. I try to explain that EVs, especially as battery tech evolves, are often extremely reliable, especially from brands like Ford, but he won't hear it. 

 

More needs to be done to counter disinformation without making people feel like EVs are being forced down their throats. 

You have a smart father.  It’s largely a subjective decision and he’s making the one that makes him feel most comfortable for whatever reason whether others agree or not.  Questioning ideas goes both ways, it’s not just about resisting change.

 

Playing Devil’s Advocate let’s say a person only drives a few thousand miles a year as you’ve stated.  The cost savings on energy by using electricity versus gasoline doesn’t add up to much because of low annual mileage.  Tesla got a lot of people to buy or lease their cars partly based on energy savings that did not fully materialize.

 

Also, electric cars are more expensive initially so why spend more than you have to if your ICEV has been meeting all your needs?  Add higher BEV depreciation and decision to go electric gets even more expensive.

 

Electric cars often have higher insurance rates.  I know my son’s Tesla does.  It’s significant.

 

Lastly, and most important to me, the issue of battery health.  If batteries are indeed so durable and reliable, why then do auto manufacturers only warranty that they will have 70% capacity after only 8 years or 120,000 miles?  They meet required minimum but what keeps them from offering more to improve sales?  Seriously, I’ve owned many ICE vehicles with greater mileage than that and they still had the same driving range as when new.  It’s not that people don’t want change, it’s more that people don’t want to risk or accept an inferior experience that may cost them more in the long run.  Manufactures can easily mitigate concerns by extending warranty if failure rates are indeed so low as claimed.

 

Just stating that there’s a lot to consider and buyers are not all the same; not only on how they use their vehicles but also having different financial resources and inherent adversity to taking risks of all kinds.

[pictor]

2 hours ago, twintornados said:

I am looking forward to the CE1 small truck when it debuts....it just may be the EV I will buy. Retired now and some times, my Maverick hybrid will sit for a day or two before I go out and about and when I do, it is usually a short trip.

Actually in the the same boat from October to April, The Maverick or Model 3 get used once or twice week. Come April to October they are  used  to travel from Boston the our place in Maine nearly weekly.  A small E truck with 3500 towing capacity and 350 mile range( not towing) would be the sweet spot for me.  I tow the boat twice a year from, From Boston to Maine in the spring and then back again in the fall. The Model 3 makes it to the parking lot on the main land where we park the car while on the island and back to Boston on  a single charge. I really would like to replace the the two vehicles with single vehicle.  on the the other hand puirtting 5000 miles per year should result in long life.

[Rick73]

On 10/28/2025 at 7:05 AM, Sherminator98 said:

The Author is just an asshole

Perhaps, but there’s also some truth in their response.  Lighting sales are best but only because other BEV pickups are even worse.  And if Lightning inventories are good without manufacturing does that not mean sales are likely very weak?  Obviously could also mean an opportunity to reduce Lightning inventories, and or improve profitability since ICE and HEV F-150 are profitable.  Who knows what is actually true.

 

What’s concerning is that last sentence leaves timing open ended, and also that plant will be back up at some point but it doesn’t say specifically with Lightning.  Was omission intentional?  I get your opinion of the guy but Ford’s correction could have stated that Lightning production would come back, but it didn’t, leaving door open to speculation.

 

Quote

We have good inventories of the F-150 Lightning and will bring Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) back up at the right time, but don’t have an exact date at this time.

 

[rmc523]

21 minutes ago, Rick73 said:

Perhaps, but there’s also some truth in their response.  Lighting sales are best but only because other BEV pickups are even worse.  And if Lightning inventories are good without manufacturing does that not mean sales are likely very weak?  Obviously could also mean an opportunity to reduce Lightning inventories, and or improve profitability since ICE and HEV F-150 are profitable.  Who knows what is actually true.

 

What’s concerning is that last sentence leaves timing open ended, and also that plant will be back up at some point but it doesn’t say specifically with Lightning.  Was omission intentional?  I get your opinion of the guy but Ford’s correction could have stated that Lightning production would come back, but it didn’t, leaving door open to speculation.

 

 

 

or....it's because they don't know when the aluminum plant will be back at enough capacity to make up for regular F-series production, which they're prioritizing over Lightning given the vast disparity of sales....

 

doesn't have to be a conspiracy.

[akirby]

26 minutes ago, Rick73 said:

Perhaps, but there’s also some truth in their response.  Lighting sales are best but only because other BEV pickups are even worse.  And if Lightning inventories are good without manufacturing does that not mean sales are likely very weak?  Obviously could also mean an opportunity to reduce Lightning inventories, and or improve profitability since ICE and HEV F-150 are profitable.  Who knows what is actually true.

 

What’s concerning is that last sentence leaves timing open ended, and also that plant will be back up at some point but it doesn’t say specifically with Lightning.  Was omission intentional?  I get your opinion of the guy but Ford’s correction could have stated that Lightning production would come back, but it didn’t, leaving door open to speculation.

 

 

Good grief.  Ford’s statement was perfectly clear and the author chose to misinterpret it, then did it again after Ford’s clarification.   At best it’s piss poor journalism.

 

And just because the EV truck market segment is small doesn’t mean Lightning isn’t a great product.  Two neighbors have them and could not be happier.  It’s everything that’s great about F150 just with an EV powertrain.  If they were able to sell them for $40k sales would probably double.

[Rick73]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

Good grief.  Ford’s statement was perfectly clear and the author chose to misinterpret it, then did it again after Ford’s clarification.   At best it’s piss poor journalism.

 

I respectfully disagree on clarity.  I believe the statement was purposely worded to be vague.  Doesn’t mean the guy isn’t a jerk, but that’s a different issue.  I try to remain objective as much as possible and leave emotions out of decisions and reasoning.

 

1 hour ago, akirby said:

 

And just because the EV truck market segment is small doesn’t mean Lightning isn’t a great product.  Two neighbors have them and could not be happier.  It’s everything that’s great about F150 just with an EV powertrain.  If they were able to sell them for $40k sales would probably double.

Thats changing the subject.  I didn’t say or even imply Lightning isn’t great, but facts speak for themselves.  Sales are way lower than originally expected and likely lower after tax credits ended.  And I agree that Lightning would be a great value at $40k but doubt that’s profitable and thus not sustainable.  I would not blame Ford and other manufacturers if they stopped building vehicles that people don’t want to pay enough to make them profitable.  If Ford ended Lightning it may be a good thing in advance of new lower-cost mid-size BEV truck.  That could help with future demand and also reduce internal competition.  Not saying Ford has ended Lightning, just that it would not surprise me if they did.  Having said that, I think Ford will likely keep building them as long as they can claim top sales even if they lose money on most of them.  We should know a lot more in a few days when October data is out.