Ford stops F-150 Lightning production amid weak EV demand

Ford has paused production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck, since its electric vehicle unit has continued to post losses and U.S. demand for electric trucks is still quite limited.

For reference, the F-150 Lightning was introduced as an electric version of Ford’s best-selling pickup. While initial interest was pretty high, sales have slowed since. Electric pickups generally cost more than gasoline-powered equivalents and face way more hurdles, like charging availability and range. This can be disruptive for buyers who use trucks for towing or long-distance driving.

Ford’s electric vehicle business has reported multibillion-dollar losses over the past year. The company has responded by cutting costs, reducing planned production volumes, and delaying some future electric vehicle programs. Ford executives have said EV adoption is progressing more slowly than expected. As part of its revised strategy, Ford has increased its focus on hybrid vehicles. The automaker has said hybrids continue to see steady demand, which means that profitability is relatively more predictable in the near term compared with fully electric models.

On the other hand, policy changes have also affected the EV market. Reduced federal support for electric vehicles under President Donald Trump has weakened consumer incentives that previously helped offset higher purchase prices. Automakers have said uncertainty around long-term policy support has complicated planning and pricing decisions.

Ford said the production pause does not mean that they are exiting the EV space entirely. The company will still keep developing future EV platforms while reassessing production levels and launch schedules.