While increasing jobs at the Bronco and Ranger factories, Ford reduces production of the F-150 Lightning EV

Ford Motor announced on Friday that it would be raising the production of its Ranger pickup and Bronco SUV while reducing that of its all-electric F-150 Lightning.

Ford said the production changes are intended to match production with customer demand. They mark the latest cuts or delays to production of EVs amid slower-than-expected customer demand.

The news that Ford will cut scheduled production of the pickup in half this year was leaked and other media sites a month ago. This represents a dramatic reversal for the company, which had doubled factory capacity for the electric vehicle in 2023.

About 1,400 workers will be impacted when the automaker reduces Lightning manufacturing at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan from two to one production shift. The cut goes into effect on April 1.

Over 24,000 F-150 Lightning pickups were sold last year, a 55% increase in sales. Car sales, however, have not increased as swiftly as they did in the past. Ford stated that it anticipates «further growth» in the car’s sales in 2024, but presumably not to the same extent as the 150,000 production rate it took into consideration when it upgraded the facility the previous year.

Sales of the Ranger and Bronco decreased by 43.3% and 9.7%, respectively, in the previous year. A six-week UAW labor strike had a significant negative impact on the vehicle manufacturing facility.