DEARBORN, MI—Ford plans to triple the production capacity of its electric F-150 Lightning vehicle after a six-week retooling and expansion project at the Michigan plant.
The company said Tuesday, August 1st, price adjustment has led to a threefold increase in traffic to its website and a sixfold increase in orders, warranting a surge in assembly activity.
Idled for six weeks for expansion and retooling, Ford said it expects to meet the increase in demand from production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich. With the overhaul, manufacturing capacity tripled, and Ford expects production to reach 150,000 units later this year.
The upgrade means Ford will be able to triple the production capacity of its F-150 electric truck. Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
An F-150 Lightning caught fire near a Dearborn plant during a pre-delivery quality inspection in February, damaging two nearby vehicles. Ford had suspended production and shipment of the pickups until a joint review with South Korean battery manufacturing SK On was completed.
The F-150 Lightning was the North American Truck of the Year in December. About 18,000 of the trucks were sold last year. Ford's focus on electric pickups is in line with the company's ambitious plan to electrify all its makes. The company has vowed to spend more than $50 billion across the globe to do so.