Ford Ramps Up F-150 Lightning Production With a Third Shift at Rouge
Ford announced the long-awaited F-150 Lightning electric pickup and immediately had a “line around the block,” so to speak, with people jumping at the chance to own one. Demand has grown to the point that Ford’s looking to add a third shift at its Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant cope.
Automotive News reported that The Blue Oval is adding 250 jobs to its historic Rouge facility. The extra human power will help Ford achieve its goal of building 150,000 Lightning trucks by fall 2023. We don’t know how many reservations it currently holds for the truck, but in late 2021, the automaker noted 160,000 people in line. Some of those have been delivered, but people continue ordering the truck.
Ford believes upcoming changes to EV tax credits and incentives will drive more demand for its electric vehicles, which currently include the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit, and F-150 Lightning in the United States. New requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act call for final assembly in North America, making domestic automakers particularly well positioned to take advantage.
Ford is increasing its domestic battery and EV production capacities with new facilities in Georgia and Tennessee. Blue Oval City and Blue OvalSK are two projects that will create thousands of jobs and enable the automaker to keep pace with demand and avoid shortages caused by international supply chain issues.
[Image: Ford]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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They have an indent along the top of the windshield, just like Kia. Hmmmm...
I've driven the F150 Lightning and I loved it.
Butz then again, I've loved every EV I've ever driven.
They're so smooth and quiet!
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If you don't have a home charger there will never be an economic case that supports the contention you'll save money with an EV. It makes for nice feelings, but unless you are going to keep your vehicle for over a decade, you aren't going to save jack - and by that time your batteries will make your eyes water with their replacement costs.