Ford's F-150 Lightning pickup could be virtually impossible to find in stock for years. According to a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section buried on its website, Ford "does not forecast any dealer stock orders to be on the lot until later model years," adding that reservation-holders will get first dibs on the EV truck.
Ford's statement is displayed under the question "Will dealers have an F-150 Lightning on their lot so I can test drive one prior to ordering?" The automaker cites "high demand" as the primary reason. For most buyers, that may not be surprising since Ford stopped taking F-150 Lightning orders prior to tomorrow's launch.
At this point, what constitutes "later model years" is up to interpretation. Now that the company is no longer taking new retail orders, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg told us via email that "order banks for future model years will open in the summer." Dealers are quoting as much as a 10-month wait for new EV orders.
If you're hoping to buy an F-150 Lightning from a dealer's inventory, finding one could be extremely difficult. In some cases, the best chance could be to locate a dealer with a canceled F-150 Lightning order or a truck that a customer refused to take delivery of for one reason or another. But the odds will likely be very slim.
For now, those looking to buy the highly-anticipated EV may want to place a reservation as soon as they can for the 2023 F-150 Lightning. Doing so could save your place in line ahead of the date when F-150 Lightning orders open this summer. Even then, scoring one without a significant markup could be close to impossible.
Unlike its other trucks, F-150 Lightning invoice pricing makes it harder for dealers to offer discounts. With production challenges, a policy of not letting dealers advertise under MSRP, and not offering the EV tax credit to lessees, getting a good deal on one may remain fundamentally difficult for the foreseeable future.