Ford Motor Company announced on Friday that it has suspended shipments of all 2024 model year F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks to conduct quality checks for an undisclosed issue.
The automaker, based in Detroit, disclosed that the shipment pause commenced on February 9 and did not provide a timeline for when it anticipates resuming shipments of the electric vehicle (EV) trucks, which began in January.
According to Reuters, a Ford spokesperson declined to specify the nature of the quality issue being assessed during the suspension of shipments. FOX Business’s request for comment from Ford remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
In January, Ford revealed plans to reduce production levels for the F-150 Lightning, slashing output from the previously intended rate of 3,200 per week to approximately 1,600 per week. This adjustment reflects subdued demand for EVs in the U.S. auto market.
Additionally, Ford intends to scale back shifts at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, the facility responsible for manufacturing the EV pickups, to just one shift effective April 1. This move will impact around 1,400 workers, with 700 employees transferring to the company’s Michigan Assembly Plant. Some workers may be reassigned to roles within the Rouge complex or other Ford facilities in southeast Michigan, while others may opt for the Special Retirement Incentive Program outlined in the 2023 Ford-UAW contract.
Ford commenced production of the F-150 Lightning in April 2022 and reported selling over 24,100 Lightning EV trucks in the U.S. in 2023, representing a nearly 55% increase from the previous year’s sales figure of 15,600.
Meanwhile, as Ford pauses deliveries of the F-150 Lightning, it has initiated shipments of the newly designed gas-powered 2024 model F-150 pickups to dealerships.
Ford assured that it anticipates ramping up shipments of the gas-powered F-150s in the coming weeks after completing thorough quality launch checks to uphold its high standards. The company reaffirmed that the gas-powered F-150s are on schedule for shipment in early 2024.
