Ford has started production of the F-150 Lightning pickup truck as part of its efforts to electrify its best-selling model in the U.S market. Americans have a seemingly insatiable appetite for Ford's F-series pickups, and the F-150 is the crown jewel in the company's lineup. The gas-powered version is currently in its 14th-generation, having been initially launched in 1948. As for the electric version, it was unveiled in May 2021 before Ford announced more information on its range last month.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly mainstream, with most automakers releasing either all-new electric cars or adding electric versions of popular models to their lineups. While most of the early passenger EVs were hatchbacks and sedans, companies are now also introducing all-electric sports cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. While multiple electric pickup trucks have already been announced, the F-150 Lightning will be the first mainstream, full-size electric pickup in the U.S. market.
Ford's F-150 Lightning pickup trucks have started rolling out of the company's production line in Dearborn, Michigan. Initial response to the vehicle suggests that it has been a resounding success, with Ford claiming that it has already received more than 200,000 reservations. Thanks to the overwhelming response, the company has doubled its production capacity. It is now planning to build 150,000 units of the F-150 Lightning in 2023. In a press release on Tuesday, Ford said that the truck is not only bringing new customers to the company but also "converting many of them to first-time truck or electric vehicle buyers." Meanwhile, even as the F-150 Lightning is getting all the press this week, Ram teased its upcoming 1500 electric pickup truck yesterday on Twitter, seemingly to throw shade at Ford's big launch today.
More Competition For Tesla's Cybertruck
While EVs remain relatively a niche segment of the automotive market in most parts of the world, many automakers are fixing to go all-electric by the end of this decade or at least offer electric options in all segments of the market. The electric pickup truck segment is also heating up with the announcement of a slew of new models that include the Chevy Silverado EV, the Hummer EV, the RAM 1500 EV, and the Rivian R1T EV, among others. Then there's the enigma that is Tesla's Cybertruck, which was unveiled back in 2019 but remains MIA nearly three years after its announcement.
Production of the Cybertruck has been delayed multiple times, but Musk recently confirmed that it would finally go on sale next year. While that is good news for potential buyers and investors, the belated entry into the market will mean that it will not get the first-mover advantage. Instead, it will be playing catch-up with a slew of competitors, many of them with more experience in the automotive market and much bigger distribution and service networks. Either way, with the electric pickup market shaping up the way it is, Tesla and its fans would be hoping that the company won't be slipping up any further. If the company wants to compete on even terms with the Ford F-150 Lightning and other pickup trucks entering the market, there will have to be no further delays in the Cybertruck launch.
Source: Ford, Ram Trucks/Twitter