Ford’s next F-150 Lightning will have a gas generator as it pivots away from large EVs

Ford announced on Monday that it will cease the production of its fully-electric F-150 Lightning, marking a significant shift in the company’s electric vehicle strategy. In its place, the automaker plans to introduce an "extended range electric vehicle" version of the Lightning, equipped with a gas generator capable of recharging the battery to enable driving for over 700 miles. The timeline for the new F-150 Lightning's release and its pricing details remain undisclosed. Ford has also revealed a substantial charge of $19.5 billion in special items—most of which is expected to be recorded in the fourth quarter—due to the extensive impact of this strategy shift on various vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities. Significantly, Ford has confirmed the cancellation of its next-generation all-electric truck, internally referred to as "T3." This model was intended to be a brand-new design, unlike the current Lightning, which adapted electric technology into an existing gas vehicle framework. Additionally, Ford is abandoning plans for a next-gen commercial van, although the existing E-Transit model will continue to be produced. In a statement, Ford indicated that it is moving away from larger electric vehicles where the business case has weakened due to lower-than-anticipated demand, rising costs, and regulatory shifts. However, the company remains committed to launching a mid-sized all-electric pickup by 2027, which will be built on a new platform developed by a team that includes former Tesla executives. "Instead of investing billions in large EVs that currently lack a viable path to profitability, we are redirecting those funds towards more lucrative areas such as hybrid trucks and vans, extended range electric vehicles, affordable EVs, and new ventures like energy storage," stated Ford president Andrew Frick during a press call. The F-150 Lightning was first introduced in 2021, following the rollout of the all-electric Mustang, the Mach-E. Although it was initially teased with a starting price of $40,000, that figure primarily targeted fleet customers, and many individual buyers found the actual price to be considerably higher. Over the past two years, Ford has sold approximately 7,000 Lightnings each quarter, with a peak of nearly 11,000 units sold in the fourth quarter of 2024. The EV market has faced significant challenges since the Lightning's introduction, including intense price competition triggered by Tesla and the reversal of several Biden-era policies aimed at fostering electric vehicle sales following the recent political shift in Congress.