Ford will pause production of its F-150 Lightning electric truck starting mid-November for nearly two months, facing lower demand, rising competition, and financial losses in its EV sector. “We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability,” a Ford spokesperson told TechCrunch, with Automotive News first reporting the news.
This production pause follows a shift in the EV market, with Tesla’s Cybertruck surpassing Ford’s Mach-E to become the third best-selling EV in the U.S. and General Motors outperforming Ford in EV sales for Q3, selling 32,095 electric vehicles compared to Ford’s 23,509.
During its recent earnings call, Ford projected $1.2 billion in revenue for its Model e EV division, alongside expected annual losses of around $5.5 billion—though this is lower than initially anticipated, it’s still higher than losses recorded in 2023. Model e, Ford’s dedicated EV division, operates separately from Ford’s gas-powered and commercial vehicle segments.
Production will halt at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, from November 15 through January 6, 2025. This period includes the company’s holiday break from December 23. Earlier this year, Ford reduced staffing by a third at this plant.
The announcement comes as Michigan, a key swing state, prepares for elections next week. EV incentives have been debated, and Ford has already delayed its planned electric three-row SUV and next-gen EV pickup amid high production costs and cooling demand.
