Ford cuts F-150 Lightning EV manufacturing, provides to Bronco, Ranger plant

DETROIT – Ford Motor is rising manufacturing of its Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup, whereas chopping manufacturing of its all-electric F-150 Lightning, the automaker mentioned Friday.

Ford mentioned the manufacturing modifications are supposed to match manufacturing with buyer demand. They mark the newest cuts or delays to manufacturing of EVs amid slower-than-expected buyer demand.

“We’re benefiting from our manufacturing flexibility to supply prospects decisions whereas balancing our development and profitability. Prospects love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a release. “We see a vivid future for electrical autos for particular customers, particularly with our upcoming digitally superior EVs and entry to Tesla’s charging community starting this quarter.”

The introduced lower to F-150 Lightning manufacturing comes a month after CNBC and different media shops reported Ford would slash deliberate manufacturing of the pickup roughly in half this yr, marking a significant reversal after the automaker considerably elevated plant capability for the electrical automobile in 2023.

The automaker will likely be lowering manufacturing of the Lightning at its Rouge Electrical Car Middle in Michigan to at least one manufacturing shift from two, impacting roughly 1,400 staff. The discount takes impact April 1.

Ford declined to specify how the eradicated manufacturing shift will influence output of the autos.

Ford mentioned roughly half of the affected staff will switch to close by vegetation, together with the Michigan Meeting Plant that produces the Bronco and Ranger. Others are anticipated to take part in a “Particular Retirement Incentive Program” agreed to within the 2023 Ford-United Auto Employees contract, the corporate mentioned.

The Michigan Meeting Plant will add a 3rd shift this summer time to extend manufacturing of the Bronco and Ranger, in accordance with Ford. The corporate plans so as to add 900 jobs at that plant.

Gross sales of the F-150 Lightning had been up 55% final yr to greater than 24,000 pickups. Nevertheless, autos haven’t been promoting as shortly they had been beforehand. Ford mentioned it expects “additional development” in gross sales for the automobile in 2024, however reportedly not as a lot as the 150,000 production rate it accounted for when it up-fitted the plant final yr.

Gross sales of the Bronco and Ranger had been each down 9.7% and 43.3% final yr, respectively. The plant that produces the autos was closely impacted by a six-week UAW labor strike.