Ford Lightning seen at the New York International Auto Show on April 16, 2025.
Daniel DeVries | CNBC
Detroit — ford motor According to reports, the company is considering ending production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck as EV losses increase and the market environment becomes more challenging.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the talks on Thursday, adding that talks are ongoing and nothing has been finalized. A person familiar with Ford’s product strategy confirmed to CNBC that the company is evaluating future EVs amid losses and changing market conditions.
“What I can tell you is that the F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric pickup truck in the United States, with record sales in the third quarter, despite new competition from the Cybertruck, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer and Rivian. Right now, as we recover from the Novelis fire, we are focused on F-150 ICE and hybrid production,” a Ford spokesperson said in an emailed statement Thursday, declining to comment on the talks.
Ford previously confirmed it had suspended production of the Lightning following supply chain disruptions related to a fire at the aluminum plant of Novelis, a major supplier of pickup trucks.
When asked by the media last month about the possibility of ending production of the Lightning, Ford President Kumar Galhotra said the company’s main priority was gasoline-powered models. He said the company could resume production of the F-150 Lightning at any time if it wanted, but he did not specify when.
The F-150 Lightning, which Ford once said was as important to the company as founder Henry Ford’s Model T, never met internal or external expectations. The pickup initially had more than 200,000 non-binding reservations, but no sales were made.
Through October of this year, sales of the F-150 Lightning were just 24,577 units, about the same as the same period last year. Ford has sold less than 100,000 F-150 Lightning models since it went on sale in the U.S. in 2022.
The Lightning is produced in a facility connected to the large F-150 production plant in metro Detroit.
Ford’s EV business, including the Lightning, has been losing billions of dollars annually in recent years.
The U.S. EV market is facing daunting regulatory changes this year under the Trump administration, including the end of up to $7,500 in consumer credits for EV purchases.
Discussions at Ford reportedly follow crosstown rival Stellantis Decided to end all-electric Ram 1500 pickup and its production plans general motors Significantly scale back plans for electric trucks.
