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Ford reduces F-150 Lightning production to boost gas vehicle output
Jan
Ford is shifting its manufacturing technique towards two fuel autos, with the automaker this week reiterating plans to scale back manufacturing of its F-150 Lightning electrical pickup.
Final month, Ford initially announced its plans to cut F-150 Lightning production by around half. In a press release shared on Friday, Ford has introduced that 1,400 employees shall be impacted by the choice, set to enter impact on April 1.
In keeping with the discharge, round 700 of the employees on the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, where the F-150 Lightning is produced, are actually being transferred to the Michigan Meeting Plant to help the manufacturing of the gas-powered Bronco and Bronco Raptor, and the upcoming Ranger and Ranger Raptor.
The remaining shall be provided positions on the Rouge Advanced in Dearborn or different Southeast Michigan Ford amenities, or they are going to be given the choice to make use of the Particular Retirement Incentive Program included within the UAW-Ford contract.
The automaker additionally says that a number of dozen employees at element factories that presently help F-150 Lightning manufacturing may very well be impacted by the information, largely relying on what number of workers apply for the retirement program. If that seems to be the case, Ford says it might place impacted employees in Southeast Michigan amenities.
Ford may even rent 900 web new hires on the Michigan Meeting Plant, including a 3rd shift of as many as 1,600 employees to spice up manufacturing to seven days every week, up from the present degree of 5 days every week.
The automaker additionally says that it’s forecasting continued electrical automobile (EV) gross sales progress this yr, although much less so than it beforehand anticipated, even because it prepares to launch its subsequent era of EVs. As well as, Ford says it has the capability to scale fuel and hybrid F-150 models, as a part of hopes to search out the correct stability of powertrain configurations to satisfy shopper demand.
“We’re making the most of our manufacturing flexibility to supply clients selections whereas balancing our progress and profitability,” mentioned Jim Farley, Ford CEO and President. “Prospects love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup. We see a brilliant future for electrical autos for particular customers, particularly with our upcoming digitally superior EVs and entry to Tesla’s charging community starting this quarter.”
On the time of writing, Ford has not responded to Teslarati’s request for touch upon when it expects to deliver F-150 Lightning manufacturing again as much as present ranges.
The information comes after Ford finished 2023 with its best-ever quarter for EVs whereas touchdown best-selling autos in two separate electrical segments. Regardless of this, a report final month illuminated the truth that only around half of Ford dealers have signed up to participate in its “Model e” EV sales program, as considerations surrounding EV demand have been aired by a number of automakers in current months.
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