Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.Commercial customers with the need for more power and range can choose the Extended Range battery option, which raises output to 563 HP (torque remains the same, at 775 lb-ft) and increases the driving range to an EPA-estimated 300 miles.
More: Ford CEO Jim Farley gave us big clue automaker's stock was going to surgeĬontact Phoebe Wall Howard: 31 or. More: Ford reveals radical plan to restructure automaker into three business units More: Ford's plan to funnel money from gas vehicles to fund electric, tech Lightning will do the same for a new era in EV adoption."
"Model T mass production changed transportation forever. “Ford F-150 Lightning is the most significant introduction by the automaker in 124 years," Toprak said.
Jesse Toprak, chief analyst at Autonomy, an electric vehicle subscription company, told the Free Press that this moment is transformative for the whole industry. It's best that we understand it, we embrace it and take hold (of) it." 'Most significant' She told the Free Press after the event: "We're going to be building this vehicle right here, made in America. Laura Dickerson, UAW Region 1A director, spoke to the crowd between Ford and Farley and praised factory workers who are meeting the demand to ramp up production. Interest is going to mushroom."įord executives thanked factory workers repeatedly during the event, in person and in highlighting their efforts in the short film. So the initial demand is very high and we think that's going to continue once people drive the product. You see with the orders for the Lightning. "I don't think people really understand how quickly it will transition. Ricke represents more than 30,000 active and retired members at various sites including the historic Ford Rouge Complex. "It's a new beginning," Bernie Ricke, UAW Local 600 president since 2009, told the Free Press after the event. More: F-150 Lightning reservations are so huge Ford had to stop taking them Farley told reporters that order banks wouldn't likely reopen for at least a year, though he noted that the factory is expanding capacity as quickly as possible. More: Ford CEO says automaker needs 'totally different talent' to meet goals. More: Bill Ford's controversial viewpoint has changed Detroit automaker More: Ford F-150 to partner with PG&E, provide electricity during storms, wildfires "This is not our only truck," he told reporters. He said the company is planning "an all new truck" in addition to the Lightning that will come out of its Tennessee plant but declined to provide details. "We plan to challenge Tesla to become the top EV manufacturer in the world," Farley said.Īfter the event, Farley told reporters that workers have built an estimated 2,000 Lightning full-size pickups within the past week and a half or so, more than twice what competitor Rivian built during 2021, as Benzinga reported March 10.įord is working "tirelessly" to lock down battery supplies and needed minerals to prevent ongoing supply chain disruption, Farley said. He alluded to the delay of the Cybertruck, which was introduced in 2019 by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and has been pushed back to 2023 now, according to Car and Driver. He emphasized, "Today is as much about who we are as where we're going."īy the end of next year, Farley said Ford would be making 600,000 electric vehicles annually. While highlighting the truck's technology, Farley said, "It's like a smartphone that can tow 10,000 pounds." He paused and added, "Hell, you tell me how many beers you can fit in that frunk during a tailgate." "It can even charge other EVs for your friends who own Teslas." Beer and technology "How about ripping 20,000 sheets of plywood on a single charge?" Farley said. It has a total of 11 plug-in outlets in the cab, the frunk - the front of the truck where the engine would go in gas-powered vehicles - and the truck bed, he noted.