With the over 160,000 F-150 Ford Lightning reservations, the 2022 Lightning has now entered its 2nd phase. According to Ford CEO Jim Farley, the production team is putting out units used to prove out quality before full-scale Ford F-150 Lightning production begins in a few months.
The demand for the F-150 Lightning prompted Ford to double its original production target to 80,000 units per year, along with investing an additional $250 million to add 450 more jobs at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center – which builds electric motors and electric transaxles, and the Rawsonville Components Plant – where batteries are assembled.
As reported back in September, the traditional car assembly is not the same when it comes to putting the Ford Lightning's together. Opposed to humans on the line, automated robots are used to carry parts and pickups from station to station. Ford has focused on using AI (Artificial Intelligence) and has invested heavily into it as well. Even though Ford Motor Company (FoMoCo) believes AI is the future, they still don't see robots taking over all production of the manufacturing. Humans will always be needed to assemble vehicles (Gas or electric).
Even though FoMoCo believes the Lightning will be out by their scheduled release, they know the numbers will be limited it. Just like the Tesla Cyber Truck and the Rivian R1T, parts continue to be on back order (or just not available), which could most likely happen for the Lightning. Hopefully all goes to plan and we start to see 160k Ford F-150 Lightnings on the road (mine included!).
