Ford F-150 Lightning Production to Increase This Fall, With Focus on XLT Variant
Ford has announced that it will increase production of the F-150 Lightning this fall, with a focus on the XLT variant. The XLT variant is aimed at retail consumers and starts at $64,474. The company wants to reduce customer wait times and is allocating a significant portion of the production increase to build new XLT variants. As a result, customers who order a new F-150 Lightning XLT today can expect delivery as early as September.
The F-150 Lightning has been a huge success, resulting in long wait times and absurd markups. In fact, a quick search found multiple trucks being listed for $10-20k over sticker. Markups and long waits are a sure-fire way to annoy customers, so Ford has been working to increase production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. The company says they’re on track to triple F-150 Lightning production by the end of this year, giving them an annual capacity of approximately 150,000 units.
Ford Model e Chief Customer Officer Marin Gjaja said, “Customer interest for XLT has considerably outstripped supply since the F-150 Lightning launch and we’ve worked with our suppliers to help address that. We heard loud and clear from our customers that they want their truck deliveries as close as possible to their orders. As we scale production, we are making this possible.”
The F-150 Lightning XLT has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces 462 hp (345 kW / 468 PS) and 775 lb-ft (1,050 Nm) of torque. The motors are powered by a 98 kWh battery pack, which gives the truck an EPA-estimated range of 240 miles (386 km). Customers can also get the truck with a 131 kWh extended-range battery, which increases the range to 320 miles (515 km). The output also climbs to 580 hp (433 kW / 588 PS), but pricing jumps to $78,874.
Ford Hikes F-150 Lightning Prices Again, Now Starts At Nearly $60,000
In related news, Ford has hiked the prices of the F-150 Lightning again. The truck now starts at nearly $60,000, up from the previous starting price of $39,974. The price increase is due to the addition of new features, including a larger battery pack and more advanced driver assistance systems.
The F-150 Lightning is Ford’s first all-electric pickup truck and has been highly anticipated by consumers. The truck has received rave reviews for its performance, range, and features. However, the high demand for the truck has resulted in long wait times and markups.
Ford has been working to increase production of the F-150 Lightning to meet demand. The company recently announced that it will triple production of the truck by the end of this year. The increased production will allow Ford to reduce wait times for customers and make the truck more widely available.
Conclusion
The Ford F-150 Lightning has been a huge success since its launch, with high demand resulting in long wait times and markups. However, Ford is working to increase production of the truck to meet demand and reduce wait times for customers. The company is focusing on the XLT variant, which is aimed at retail consumers and starts at $64,474. Customers who order a new F-150 Lightning XLT today can expect delivery as early as September. With its impressive performance, range, and features, the F-150 Lightning is sure to continue to be a popular choice among consumers.