Ford is considering scrapping the electric version of its F-150 pickup — once billed as the future of American trucks — after racking up billions in losses and watching demand collapse.
Executives are in active talks about axing the money-losing F-150 Lightning altogether, sources told the Wall Street Journal, in what could become the first major casualty of America’s faltering electric vehicle revolution.
The Lightning, launched with fanfare in 2021 and hailed by CEO Jim Farley as a ‘smartphone that can tow,’ was supposed to mark a new era for Ford. President Joe Biden even took one for a spin, calling it ‘quick as hell.’
But the hype faded fast. Mainstream truck buyers balked at the steep price tag — starting closer to $50,000 instead of the promised $40,000 — and worried about the trucks’ limited range, especially when towing or driving in cold weather.
In October, Ford sold just 1,500 Lightnings nationwide — the fewest of any F-Series model — compared with 66,000 gas-powered trucks. The company has lost around $13 billion on electric vehicles since 2023.
‘The demand is just not there,’ said Adam Kraushaar, owner of Lester Glenn Auto Group in New Jersey. ‘We don’t order a lot of them because we don’t sell them.’
Ford has already paused Lightning production amid an aluminum shortage and is now weighing whether to keep the Michigan plant idle permanently as it pivots to smaller, cheaper EVs.
Officials said production would resume ‘at the right time,’ but insiders say that time may never come.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning was billed as a breakthrough electric version of America’s best-selling truck — but sales have stalled dramatically
Ford CEO Jim Farley once hailed the F-150 Lightning as a ‘smartphone that can tow,’ but now faces the possibility of scrapping it altogether
Gas-powered models like the Ford Bronco and traditional F-Series trucks remain strong sellers even as the company’s EV ambitions fade
A Ford technician works on a 2025 Expedition at the company’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, as the automaker faces mounting pressure over its struggling electric lineup
The company’s retreat would follow a growing list of EV cutbacks across Detroit.
Stellantis has canceled plans for an electric Ram pickup, while GM has halted production of some of its electric trucks and vans after steep losses. Even Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck has seen sales nosedive.
GM last month idled its Detroit factory that builds electric pickups and took a $1.6 billion charge to cover losses. Ford’s move could now mark the beginning of the end for big, battery-powered trucks once seen as the industry’s crown jewel.
When the Lightning debuted, Farley promised a pickup as fast as a sports car and capable of powering a home for days.
Ford even built capacity to produce 150,000 a year. But buyers have moved on — lured by smaller, affordable EVs dominating markets in China and Europe.
‘The volumes are not hitting where people would have expected when they made these investments,’ said Lenny LaRocca of consulting firm KPMG.
For now, the F-150 Lightning sits at a crossroads: the vehicle once touted as the symbol of America’s electric future may soon become its first high-profile failure.
Daily Mail has contacted Ford for comment.
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