Ford Slashes F-150 Lightning, Increases Bronco, Ranger Production

• General Motors isn't alone in its weariness of the short-term EV future, as Ford announces another shift slashed at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.

• Instead of manufacturing Ford F-150 Lightnings, executives in Dearborn are focusing on hybrid and ICE F-150 production, as well as Bronco and Ranger output.

• With an all-new Ranger recently released and Bronco sales up year-over-year, Ford thinks a focus on ICE SUVs and trucks will keep its first-quarter numbers trending positively.

Automakers are starting to sound like a broken record as of late. From delayed production to revised investments, automakers are re-evaluating their short-term plans for electric vehicles. And Ford is joining the mix, as it announces plans to slow production of its electric pickup truck, the Ford F-150 Lightning.

This is not the first time Ford has altered production quotas for the Lightning. Just this summer, Ford said it would triple its annual production rate in response to falling raw material costs. However, as electric vehicles sit on dealership lots, Ford is following manufacturers like General Motors in truncating production plans.

Starting April 1, F-150 Lightning production will be down to one shift at Ford's Michigan Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. This follows the trimming of an additional shift last October, down from three shifts over the summer. By the numbers, that's about 1600 F-150 Lightnings per week, down from Ford's previous claim of 3200 units per week.

Curiously, F-150 Lightning sales in 2023 reflected a year-over-year increase of 55% over 2022. That's about 24,165 F-150 Lightnings sold in 2023, though that only represents 3.2% of the 750,789 F-Series trucks sold overall. Even if battery material costs continue decreasing, Ford can make more money by building more ICE trucks instead.