Ford Motor Company has resumed production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck after a six week shutdown to expand and retool its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. The goal was to triple manufacturing capacity as sales of the electric truck accelerated.
Production of the F-150 Lightning has resumed and is expected to hit a targeted capacity of 150,000 units by this fall. Layout and tooling improvements at the plant help boost efficiency. Sales figures and consumer feedback have detailed which models of the Lightning are most sought after by consumers, allowing Ford to better align production to demand.
Lowered prices have increased online interest in the truck as well.
“We are all looking forward to getting these F-150 Lightning trucks into the hands of our customers – from the U.S. to Norway. This milestone is the result of a lot of hard work and collaboration.” –Debbie Manzano, director of manufacturing, Ford
To support the increased capacity, battery pack production at Ford’s Rawsonville, Michigan and Van Dyke, Michigan plants has also been increased.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.