Ford built the F-150 Lightning for three years, delivering approximately 63,000 trucks across three model years despite planning production capacity for 150,000 units annually. Originally promised at $40,000, the vehicles ultimately sold for $70,000, creating a pricing gap that fundamentally undermined the business case.
Production ended December 2025 after Ford’s Model e division accumulated $3.6 billion in losses through September. CEO Jim Farley addressed the reality directly: “These really expensive $70,000 electric trucks, as much as I love the product, they didn’t make sense.”
The replacement arrives as an EREV, Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, Ford’s terminology for a plug-in hybrid combining larger battery capacity with a gas generator to extend total range beyond 700 miles. The all-electric F-150 experiment concludes. What comes next depends on whether Ford successfully applies expensive lessons learned about electric truck economics.
The next-generation F-150 Lightning keeps the nameplate but abandons pure electric. The drivetrain stays electric, motors drive the wheels,but a gas-powered generator recharges the battery during operation. Total range exceeds 700 miles compared to the outgoing Lightning’s 320-mile maximum EPA rating.
Ford claims sub-five-second acceleration and towing capability it describes as “tows like a locomotive.” Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital, and design officer, stated the EREV operates in all-electric mode 90 percent of the time while eliminating range anxiety during long-distance towing.
That last part mattered. The Lightning EV’s most criticized limitation was towing range collapse. Hook 8,000 pounds to the hitch, and the 320-mile range dropped to 150 miles or less depending on terrain and speed. The gas generator solves that problem by recharging the battery under load.
Manufacturing shifts to Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant. Ford hasn’t specified launch timing or pricing. Those details matter significantly given what happened with the original Lightning’s pricing trajectory.
Ford lost money on every Lightning sold. The 2025 model started around $55,000, jumping $15,000 from the $40,000 originally promised when reservations opened in 2021. Even at the higher price, profitability remained out of reach.
Sales never matched early enthusiasm. Over 200,000 reservations by the end of 2021 suggested massive demand. Production reality delivered different numbers:
- 2022: 15,617 units sold (partial year, production started April)
- 2023: 24,165 units sold
- 2024: Approximately 23,000 units sold
- 2025: 23,034 units through Q3 before production ended
Ford planned annual production capacity of 150,000 units by mid-2023, yet the factory consistently ran at half capacity. The company halved production targets in 2024, reducing from approximately 3,200 weekly units to 1,600, though even diminished output exceeded actual demand.
The federal $7,500 EV tax credit elimination accelerated the decline. Lightning sales dropped 60.8 percent following credit expiration. Quality issues plagued early production runs. Towing range fell dramatically under load, deterring traditional F-150 customers accustomed to proven durability and genuine capability.
Farley summarized it without sentiment: “The very high-end EVs, the $50,000, $70,000, $80,000 vehicles, they just weren’t selling.”
The F-150 Lightning Timeline: 2019 to 2025
January 2019: Ford announces plans to produce a fully electric light pickup at the Detroit Auto Show.
July 2019: Ford demonstrates prototype capabilities by towing 1.25 million pounds on rails, generating significant media coverage and establishing the Lightning as a serious engineering effort.
September 2020: Ford announces construction of the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center at its historic Rouge complex in Dearborn, committing billions to electric truck production.
May 19, 2021: Ford reveals the F-150 Lightning during a live presentation. Initial pricing announced at $40,000 for base model. Reservations open immediately.
June 2021: Reservations exceed 100,000 within three weeks of unveiling, suggesting substantial consumer interest.
December 2021: Total reservations surpass 200,000, appearing to validate Ford’s electric truck strategy.
April 26, 2022: Production begins at Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. First customer delivery occurs May 26, 2022. Base pricing has climbed to approximately $55,000.
2023: F-150 Lightning wins Motor Trend Truck of the Year. Kelley Blue Book names it top electric truck. Awards accumulate while sales total 24,165 units, well below the 150,000 annual capacity target.
January 2024: Ford announces production cuts, halving weekly output due to lower demand. The gap between capacity and sales becomes undeniable.
2024: Sales remain flat around 23,000 units. Federal EV tax credit expiration causes 60.8 percent sales decline. Ford’s Model e division posts multi-billion-dollar losses. The business case deteriorates further.
October 2025: Reports surface indicating Ford will pause Lightning production for an extended period, signaling the program’s imminent conclusion.
December 2025: Ford officially ends F-150 Lightning production. Company announces next-generation EREV replacement with 700+ mile range. Ford takes $19.5 billion charge on EV assets.
What This Means for Electric Trucks
The Lightning represented Ford’s flagship EV effort, backed by the bestselling vehicle nameplate in America. The implications extend beyond one product line.
Rivian, the pure-EV startup, burns through billions quarterly while selling premium electric trucks at similar price points. GM’s electric Silverado and Sierra face comparable pricing and profitability challenges. Tesla’s Cybertruck, after years of delays, launched at prices well above initial promises. The pattern repeats across manufacturers.
The EREV approach acknowledges market reality: truck buyers demand range and towing capability that current battery technology cannot deliver at profitable price points. Adding a gas generator addresses the range limitation while preserving electric drivetrain benefits for daily driving. Since most truck owners rarely tow maximum capacity, the generator remains idle during typical use, activating only when extended range becomes necessary.
This represents a fundamental compromise, neither pure EV nor traditional hybrid. Extended-range electric vehicles function as battery-electric transportation for commuting and daily errands while relying on fossil fuel generation for capabilities that define truck ownership: towing boats, hauling equipment, covering distances in remote areas lacking charging infrastructure.
Whether consumers accept this compromise at pricing Ford has yet to disclose remains the critical question. The technology makes fundamental sense, though the business case must prove itself after the Lightning’s expensive lessons about electric truck profitability.
The Verdict
The F-150 Lightning entered production carrying massive expectations: over 200,000 reservations, industry awards, and the backing of America’s dominant truck manufacturer. Three years later, it exited having sold fewer than 63,000 units while accumulating billions in losses for Ford’s EV division.
The engineering delivered as promised. Acceleration impressed, technology functioned reliably, and the driving experience satisfied owners. The business case collapsed regardless. Production costs remained prohibitively high, pricing exceeded market tolerance, and towing range limitations alienated core F-150 buyers who prioritize genuine capability over compromised specifications. Profitability never materialized despite years of manufacturing optimization attempts.
The EREV replacement addresses the range limitation directly through 700-mile total range that solves the towing problem while providing generator backup for remote areas lacking charging infrastructure. The fundamental question shifts from capability to economics: can Ford manufacture this vehicle at prices consumers will accept and costs that generate profit?
The 700-mile range solves the capability equation, yet the financial spreadsheet presents separate challenges. Ford absorbed expensive lessons about battery costs, manufacturing complexity, and market resistance to $70,000 electric trucks. The EREV’s success depends entirely on applying those lessons effectively to achieve what the Lightning never could: sustainable profitability alongside customer satisfaction.
For consumers who reserved a Lightning in 2021 expecting a $40,000 electric truck, that vehicle never existed beyond the announcement. For those considering an electric truck now, the options narrow to expensive startups like Rivian, delayed GM products, or waiting for Ford’s EREV with unannounced pricing and uncertain timing.
The F-150 Lightning demonstrated that electric trucks are technically feasible. The engineering functioned reliably and performance impressed owners who prioritized acceleration over traditional truck capabilities. Manufacturing them profitably at scale remains the industry’s unsolved challenge. Ford wagers that the EREV configuration provides the solution. The next several years will determine whether this bet delivers better returns than the previous $3.6 billion lesson.
F-150 Lightning Specifications (2025 Model Year, Final Year)
| Pricing | Base MSRP: $54,995 / As-tested: $70,000+ (top trims) |
| Motor | Dual electric motors (front and rear) |
| Power | 452 hp (standard range) / 580 hp (extended range) |
| Torque | 775 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | AWD (electric) |
| 0-60 mph | 4.0 seconds (extended range) |
| EPA Range | 240 miles (standard) / 320 miles (extended) |
| Battery | 98 kWh (standard) / 131 kWh (extended range) |
| Charging | DC fast charging: 15-80% in 44 minutes (extended range) |
| Towing Capacity | 7,700 lbs (standard) / 10,000 lbs (extended range) |
| Payload Capacity | 2,000 lbs |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Bed Length | 5.5 feet or 6.5 feet |
About Ford Motor Company: Founded in 1903, Ford manufactures vehicles under the Ford and Lincoln brands. The company’s F-Series pickup trucks have been America’s bestselling vehicles for over four decades. Ford’s Model e division handles electric vehicle development and reported $3.6 billion in losses through September 2025.
Article Last Updated: December 18, 2025.
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Michael Kahn is the publisher of The Weekly Driver, serving as writer, photographer, and content creator. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for adventure, he specializes in uncovering the stories and experiences of automobile enthusiasts. Michael’s work is inspired by his love for off-the-beaten-path road trips, global exploration, and the pursuit of exceptional culinary experiences, all captured through the lens of a world traveler and automotive enthusiast.