Rumor Mill: 2021 Ford F-150 Production Pushed Back, Again

While Ford plans to start limited production at its North American assembly plants on May 18th, returning workers won’t see a next-generation F-150 slide pass their stations for a number of months.

The redesigned full-sizer was to be one of the Blue Oval’s big 2020 reveals, joining the still-unseen Bronco in the spotlight, but the coronavirus pandemic made short work of product timelines. Already delayed once, the 2021 F-150 has reportedly moved further into the future.

According to the f150gen14 forum, Ford’s latest Fleet Distribution News Bulletin revealed a new production schedule for the country’s best-selling vehicle. The updated document apparently shows the new truck hitting the production line at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant on October 12th — two weeks after the previously reported Sept. 28 start date. That revised date was originally pegged for Aug. 17.

Kansas City F-150 production won’t kick off until Nov. 9, the document reads; another two-week delay. The plant had originally scheduled Job One for September 14th, later pushing that date back to Oct. 26.

As for order books, those reportedly won’t open until July 15th, a month over the previously reported date. In late April, it was reported that the 2021 F-150’s order books wouldn’t open on May 11th, after all — and history now bears this out.

Spotted months ago wearing an evolutionary face and body, the 14th-generation F-150’s reveal remains in limbo, with public events forbidden in the age of COVID-19. The automaker will surely go online for the Bronco’s debut, though the F-150’s place in the production pipeline makes its reveal locale an open question. Will there be auto shows in New York and Los Angeles late this summer and fall? Who feels like betting?

While the basic Gen-14 F-150’s isn’t expected to see drastic architectural changes, unlike its aluminum body-debuting successor, the same can’t be said of its powertrains. Ford plans to release hybrid and all-electric variants, though you’ll have to wait a bit to get your hands on (at least) the gas-free model.

[Image: Ford]