Ford is considering scrapping the production electric F-150 Lightning
American car giant Ford is reportedly considering scrapping the F-150 Lightning electric pickup, or ute as it’s known in Australia.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Ford Motor executives are in “active discussions” about scrapping the F-150 Lightning, citing “people familiar with the matter.” It comes just a month after the company announced it was suspending production. The unnamed sources had nothing to say about these discussions other than that no final decision has been made.
If true, the death of the Ford F-150 Lightning could spell trouble for electric pickups or cars in the United States.
Ford introduced the F-150 Lightning in May 2021 and delivered the first model a year later. It was never officially released in Australia, although some specialist importers brought in some models, mostly for industrial and mining clients.
At launch, the F-150 Lightning boasted a range of 370 kilometers in the base level and up to 480 kilometers in the case of extended range. The technically demanding Flash model with an extended-range battery and a range of up to 515 kilometers was launched in late 2023.
But despite huge interest and anticipation at launch and in the first few years of its life, the F-150 Lightning failed to deliver on the promise of a “smartphone that tows 10,000 pounds” — a claim made by Ford CEO Jim Farley at the car’s launch.
Despite promises that the car would sell for around $40,000, actual prices were closer to $50,000 for the base model and up to $90,000 for higher-end models.
Demand was therefore lackluster and the car subsequently cost Ford billions from 2023. The future is even less rosy, with sales already well below expectations set to suffer as government subsidies for electric cars are withdrawn.
The writing may have been on the wall last month when Ford announced it was suspending production of the F-150 Lightning.
Ford, which was announced in late October, initially blamed the decision on a fire at an aluminum supplier’s plant, but backed that explanation with a competitive increase in production of its gas and hybrid F-150 models, citing “strong customer demand” and claiming the models “are more profitable for Ford and use less aluminum.”
If Ford does indeed scrap the F-150 Lightning, it will likely take solace from the news across the U.S. industry. Executives at crosstown rival General Motors (GM) are reportedly discussing ending production of its own electric trucks, according to other unnamed people familiar with the matter.
Another well-known rival, Stellantis, announced in September that it was canceling its own plans for an electric pickup truck, citing a slowdown in “demand for full battery electric trucks” in North America due to the development of the RAM 1500 Axe.
Meanwhile, Tesla has seen sales of its Cybertruck pickup slump in 2025.
According to Cox Automotive data released last month, Tesla sold just 5,400 Cybertrucks in the third quarter, down 62.6 percent from the same period a year earlier, bringing the total number of vehicles sold so far to just 16,000 in 2025 — well short of the 250,000 a year CEO Elon Musk once said was possible.
Similarly, EV truck maker Rivian announced late last month that it would have to lay off more than 600 employees. Rivian is experiencing waning demand in its home market and expects that to only get worse following the end of US tax breaks, which took $7,500 off the price.
Joshua S. Hill is a journalist from Melbourne who has been writing about climate change, cleantech and electric vehicles for over 15 years. Since 2012, he has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven. His preferred mode of transportation is his feet.