Ford Ramps Up F-150 Lightning Production With a Third Shift at Rouge

by Chris Teague

December 14th, 2022 1:30 PM

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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8 of 26 comments

Dukeisduke on Dec 14, 2022

They have an indent along the top of the windshield, just like Kia. Hmmmm...

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Luke42 on Dec 14, 2022

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!

1 Reply
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- Jeff S on Dec 14, 2022
  
  There is nothing wrong with quiet we all could use some of that. That would be a big plus for me along with less maintenance. Now just get more infrastructure, less expensive and longer range batteries, and more competition. I can wait.
  
  Like
- Lou_BC on Dec 14, 2022
  
  "smooth and quiet" Unlike one of their biggest detractors up thread ;)
  
  Like
- EBFlex on Dec 15, 2022
  
  ""smooth and quiet" Unlike one of their biggest detractors up thread ;)"
  Rent free.
  
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- Luke42 on Dec 15, 2022
  
  The Infrastructure is just fine for my EV.
  I mostly charge at home. As someone with electric service at my house, the infrastructure was already there. The Tesla Supercharger network works great on on roadtrips too.
  We'd be in trouble if everybody switch to EVs today. But, at the rate EVs are selling now, though, the infrastructure is keeping up with the installed base just fine. Remember that cars last for decades, and are owned by multiple people - so the installed base of ICE vehicles would take 20 years to replace, even if 100% of new vehicles were electric going forward. I've been watching the electric grid closely (both in realtime and via their whitepapers), and they're adapting pretty well and generating more kWh with less carbon emissions than they used to. The infrastructure is doing fine.
  At least here in Illinois, anyway.
  
  2
AbrinaJohnson on Dec 15, 2022

hy

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Cprescott on Dec 15, 2022

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.

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