Ford is specifically increasing production of its mainline Lightning XLT versions, which will be deliverable by early September if ordered today. The automaker states that XLT is its highest-demand model.
Some customers have waited a year to get their preorders fulfilled, and reservations were closed throughout most of 2022 as Ford took a breather to catch up on 200,000 preorders. It had also halted production for a month earlier this year to investigate battery pack fires. Ford says the Lighting XLT is its highest-demand model, so it’s boosting production and increasing its delivery goals from 130,000 to 150,000 electric trucks annually.
Demand for the F-150 Lightning may have cooled due to Ford increasing prices last year of its most financially attainable models. It also massively increased the cost of the entry “Pro” model that went from its 2021 launch price of $39,974 to $59,974 earlier this year.
Ford’s higher-end Lariat and Platinum models are also still available but aren’t said to be getting an increase in production. The XLT model starts at $64,474 with a standard 240-mile range battery. The extended range, 320-mile version starts at $78,874. Ford says all the standard-range XLTs are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax incentive — as well as most of the extended-range configurations.
Even with the price increases, Ford may be anticipating new customers excited about the automaker’s new deal with Tesla. Ford announced it will be adopting Tesla’s EV charging standard, now known as NACS, to enable its EV customers to use the reliable Tesla Supercharging network for long-haul trips.
