Lightning - Is It Dead or Just On Life Support?

[nvabill]

Anybody think the Wall Street Journal is correct in saying that Lightning production will end effectively killing the truck off?

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[RickMachE]

US News and World Report just ranked it the #1 EV pickup...

Discussed in depth on the Lightning forum. No, it's not dead, it will be made again when aluminum plant is at full capacity (they just had a 2nd fire...).

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Neither. There’s a very serious U.S. produced aluminum shortage in general and it got worse after a fire at the factory in upper state New York that was supplying Ford, and there’s a boatload of aluminum in F-150s.

Now Ford could go buy a bunch more aluminum from a reliable neighbor that can make it cheaper due to their over abundance of cheap electricity, say Canada. Or go overseas to buy it elsewhere. But there’s this little matter of tariffs.

 

[Jimrpa]

But, the Ford Universal Truck (or whatever) and TTT are waiting in the wings. I can’t imagine Ford allowing the F-150 Lightning to continue along side those, given the poor EV market

 

[nvabill]

US News and World Report just ranked it the #1 EV pickup...

Discussed in depth on the Lightning forum. No, it's not dead, it will be made again when aluminum plant is at full capacity (they just had a 2nd fire...).

Yeah, that makes sense, didn't realize that there was a second fire in the aluminum plant.

 

[nvabill]

But, the Ford Universal Truck (or whatever) and TTT are waiting in the wings. I can’t imagine Ford allowing the F-150 Lightning to continue along side those, given the poor EV market

Makes sense also, could end Lightning and bring those in.

 

[nvabill]

Neither. There’s a very serious U.S. produced aluminum shortage in general and it got worse after a fire at the factory in upper state New York that was supplying Ford, and there’s a boatload of aluminum in F-150s.

Now Ford could go buy a bunch more aluminum from a reliable neighbor that can make it cheaper due to their over abundance of cheap electricity, say Canada. Or go overseas to buy it elsewhere. But there’s this little matter of tariffs.

But, has it slowed production on ICE F-150's, if not, why not?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

But, the Ford Universal Truck (or whatever) and TTT are waiting in the wings. I can’t imagine Ford allowing the F-150 Lightning to continue along side those, given the poor EV market

The second generation Lightning production was pushed back to 2028. That doesn’t mean a 2028 model year though.

The 3 T’s project is a midsized truck. And likely a very stripped down one given the starting price.

American’s like full sized everything, including trucks.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

But, has it slowed production on ICE F-150's, if not, why not?

They sell more ice F150s, that’s why not.

in 2024 Ford sold 765,000+ F-Series. That same year they sold 33,500 Lightnings.

 

[nvabill]

They sell more ice F150s, that’s why not.

in 2024 Ford sold 765,000+ F-Series. That same year they sold 33,500 Lightnings.

My point being that Ford has chosen to send what aluminum they have to ICE F-150's because that's where the demand is.

 

[Space_Pony]

The second generation Lightning production was pushed back to 2028. That doesn’t mean a 2027 model year though.

The 3 T’s project is a midsized truck. And likely a very stripped down one given the starting price.

American’s like full sized everything, including trucks.

You mean like a Freightliner, Peterbilt or maybe a Kenworth. There's always something bigger.

 

[Billyk24]

But, the Ford Universal Truck (or whatever) and TTT are waiting in the wings. I can’t imagine Ford allowing the F-150 Lightning to continue along side those, given the poor EV market

Did I read on the past the "TTT" is dead. The skunk works project for the new EV cross over/compact truck is replacing such with more modern details and specifications.

 

[Jimrpa]

They sell more ice F150s, that’s why not.

in 2024 Ford sold 765,000+ F-Series. That same year they sold 33,500 Lightnings.

And remember that the margin on the ICE 150 is likely higher than the Lightning.

 

[Jimrpa]

Did I read on the past the "TTT" is dead. The skunk works project for the new EV cross over/compact truck is replacing such with more modern details and specifications.

I haven’t seen anything that TTTis “dead”? Perhaps they merged TTT and the Universal thing somehow?

 

[RickMachE]

My point being that Ford has chosen to send what aluminum they have to ICE F-150's because that's where the demand is.

This was beaten to death on the Lightning forum.

Facts:

- The Lightning uses more aluminum than any other Ford truck.
- The Lightning has lower production than any other Ford truck.
- Production on other Ford trucks was lowered because of the aluminum shortage. It made no sense to cut Lightning production, versus turning off production (and working through inventory) and diverting aluminum (and workers) to the other trucks, especially given that it's all in the same general area, i.e. they don't have to move people.
- 2026 production had yet to begin anyway.

So saying "that's where the demand is" as compared to the best selling truck in America (I know it's neck and neck with GM) is silly. It's like saying the demand is there for real milk and not for almond milk, because real milk sells many times more. Yes, that's a fact.

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