Ford received 44,500 reservations for the F-150 Lighting within the first 48 hours that its reservation books opened up. Before the end of July, Ford stated that roughly 120,000 consumers had reserved a model. Clearly, Ford has received a lot of interest in its upcoming electric pickup truck. In response to the interest that Ford has received, Automotive News reports that the automaker will increase its production target ahead of the pickup’s 2022 launch. Unfortunately, the increase in production doesn’t mean that more Lightning models will be on the road in 2022.
The outlet claims that Ford will spend an additional $850 million to increase the F-150 Lightning’s production target. Ford is now looking to produce more than 80,000 units of the F-150 Lightning in 2024, which is roughly double the brand’s original target of approximately 40,000 units. The report cites unnamed sources who stated that Ford officials were “pleasantly surprised by the demand for the Lightning.”
Auto News claims that Ford’s ramp-up in production includes building roughly 15,000 Lightning models next year after the truck’s launch in spring. That will be followed by building 55,000 units in 2023. After coming out with the second-gen model in 2025, Ford plans to hit an annual target of building roughly 160,000 Lightning models.
Ford, like many other automakers, is looking to move toward an electrified-heavy lineup. Unlike others, Ford is electrifying its most iconic models. First came the Mustang Mach-E crossover, which was followed by the F-150 Lightning. The Lightning will be one of the first electric pickup trucks on the market next year and will compete against the Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer EV, and Tesla Cybertruck.
All F-150 Lightning models will come with two electric motors and all-wheel drive. The Standard-Range battery is rated to make 426 horsepower, while the Extended Range battery will produce 563 hp. The truck will be able to tow up to 10,000 pounds and haul up to 2,000 pounds. Ford claims the truck will have a range of up to 300 miles. Fast charging capability will allow the Lightning to go from 15% to 80% charge in 44 minutes. The F-150 Lightning can serve as a backup generator, allowing a fully charged truck to supply enough electricity to power a house for up to three days.
While the Lightning’s specs are impressive, it may be hard to find a cheap one. The truck will start at $39,974 before destination or the available $7,500 federal tax credit. Higher trim levels, though, can top out above $90,000. While the Cybertruck and Hummer EV are niche vehicles, the Lightning is being marketed as an electric truck for the masses. Deliveries of the Lightning will begin in spring 2022.
Ford F-150 Lightning Exceeds 130,000 Reservations
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Ford Boosting F-150 Lightning Production Again
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Gets 44,500 Reservations As First-Year Production Is Limited
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pricing Starts At $39,974, Gets Up To 300 Mile Range
