In a recent development, Ford has temporarily ceased shipments of its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickups since February 9, holding them for thorough quality inspections. Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg, while not specifying the nature of the quality concern, mentioned that such pauses are a routine part of the manufacturing process during the shift into a new model year. The automaker has recently initiated shipments of the new 2024 model year F-150 gasoline-powered and hybrid trucks.
Initially reported by Automotive News, the shipment pause underscores Ford’s commitment to ensuring the highest quality standards for its electric vehicles. Bergg clarified that Ford dealers currently have F-150 Lightning trucks in their inventory, allowing customers to find trucks for purchase until shipments resume.
While Ford sells significantly more gasoline- and hybrid-powered F-150s than the all-electric Lightning, the F-series full-size pickups remain America’s best-selling vehicles for over 40 years. Last year, Ford sold 750,000 F-series trucks, with approximately 24,000 being Lightning models.
This shipment pause echoes a similar incident a year ago when Ford temporarily halted Lightning production due to a potential battery issue. Production resumed after a few weeks.
The F-150 Lightning is one of Ford’s two all-electric offerings in the US, alongside the Mustang Mach-E. Despite the temporary shipping pause, customers can explore Ford dealerships for available F-150 Lightning trucks, ensuring a seamless buying experience until regular shipments resume.
Ford’s commitment to electric vehicle engineering is evident, with CEO Jim Farley recently revealing a dedicated team of engineers focused on future electric vehicle innovations. Stay tuned for updates as Ford addresses and resolves the quality checks, ensuring a reliable and high-quality electric truck for customers.
