Ford slashes production of F-150 Lightning pickup, stymieing EV push

Ford announced it is slashing the production of its electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning.

This is due to “changing market demand,” according to a report citing a memo from the automaker, and it is another sign that Ford might be stymieing its push for more electric vehicles.

SHADOW OF DOUBT: HOW 2020 ELECTION CHALLENGES IN ARIZONA AND GEORGIA ENDED

The auto giant planned to produce roughly 3,200 F-150s per week in 2024, but that number has shrunk to 1,600, the report noted.

Still, Ford promises to “continue to match production with customer demand,” a spokesperson said.

Slashing in the production of the F-150 Lightning comes after the announcement of Tesla’s Cybertruck and expectations for a record year of growth in the EV market.

However, the high price and reliability concerns that have accompanied electric vehicles have seen many would-be customers become wary of battery-powered transportation.

The F-150 Lighting is Ford’s flagship EV and has a starting price of $50,000.

It also serves as the primary competitor to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, which Ford CEO Jim Farley has decried as transportation for “Silicon Valley people,” the report noted.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“I make trucks for real people who do real work, and that’s a different kind of truck,” Farley said.

Along with the slash to the F-150 Lighting production, Ford pulled $12 billion in investments for manufacturing electric vehicles and paused operations at a Kentucky battery plant, according to the report.