Ford Motor Co.’s decision to reduce all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup production is affecting 1,400 jobs in Dearborn, Michigan. Meanwhile, it’s hiring nearly 900 people in Wayne for assembly of Bronco SUVs and Ranger midsize trucks.
The Dearborn automaker in a Friday news release said it’s seeking to balance production to meet customer demand. It says it expects growth for Lightning sales this year, but it’s less than previously anticipated. The production cut is the latest pullback by the automaker in the EV space.
“We are taking advantage of our manufacturing flexibility to offer customers choices while balancing our growth and profitability. Customers love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. “We see a bright future for electric vehicles for specific consumers, especially with our upcoming digitally advanced EVs and access to Tesla’s charging network beginning this quarter.”
The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center will become a one-shift operation effective April 1. Roughly 700 affected employees will transfer to the Bronco and Ranger factory, Michigan Assembly Plant off Michigan Avenue in Wayne, Michigan.
Ford is adding a 1,600-person third crew at Michigan Assembly in preparation for the launches of the new Ranger and off-road-focused Ranger Raptor. The plant will produce vehicles seven days a week instead of five with three crews working two shifts.
Others affected by the Lightning production cut will be placed in roles at the Rouge Complex or other facilities in southeast Michigan, according to the company.
Anyone else will be able to take advantage of the Special Retirement Incentive Program available this year through the new United Auto Workers contract. Depending on the number of employees who apply for the buyout, a few dozen workers at component plants supporting Lightning production could be affected. Ford says it would provide placements for those employees within southeast Michigan, too.
Lightning sales last year were up 55%, making it the country’s best-selling all-electric pickup. Ford implemented a several thousand-dollar price drop in July.
In January 2022, Ford announced plans to double Lightning production to 150,000 vehicles per year. The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center was down for six weeks last summer to expand capacity.
Ford in October said it was cutting $12 billion in planned EV investment as the growth in adoption slows. That included almost halving the size of its planned west Michigan battery plant in Marshall and delaying by a year the launch of production at one of its two battery plants in Kentucky with SK On. The automaker also cut back production in Mexico of the Mustang Mach-E SUV and has decreased requirements for dealers to be EV certified in the coming years.
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