{"id":2123349,"date":"2023-12-12T20:21:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T01:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ev-agenda-suffers-crushing-blow-as-ford-dramatically-slashes-electric-f-150-lightning-production\/"},"modified":"2023-12-12T20:24:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T01:24:19","slug":"ev-agenda-suffers-crushing-blow-as-ford-dramatically-slashes-electric-f-150-lightning-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ev-agenda-suffers-crushing-blow-as-ford-dramatically-slashes-electric-f-150-lightning-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Ford&#8217;s electric F-150 Lightning production cut deals a major blow to the EV agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fev-agenda-suffers-crushing-blow-as-ford-dramatically-slashes-electric-f-150-lightning-production%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2123349&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Ford Slashes Electric F-150 Lightning Production, Dealing a Crushing Blow to the \u200cEV Agenda<\/h2>\n<p>Ford Motor Co. has\u200d made a\u200c surprising move by significantly reducing \u200bproduction of its highly anticipated EV F-150 Lightning pickup truck. The decision \u200ccomes as demand for the vehicles has plummeted, forcing the automaker to dial back on its commitment to the \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brad-slager-riffed-from-the-headlines-the-2022-media-mayhem-honors\/\" title=\"Brad Slager: Riffed From The Headlines: The 2022 Media Mayhem Honors\">electric vehicle agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Ford had announced ambitious plans to \u200cmanufacture 3,200\u200c Lightning \u2064models per week by 2024. However,\u2062 the company has now \u2063revised its order to only 1,600 units, according to\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2023-12-11\/ford-slashes-electric-f-150-plans-in-ominous-sign-for-ev-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This unexpected pullback \u2064marks a significant turnaround for Ford, which had previously touted the F-150 Lightning as the &#8220;test for\u200b adoption for electric vehicles&#8221; in the U.S.A.<\/p>\n<p>While Ford attributes the production cut to a business decision driven by mounting losses on EVs, it is worth noting that \u200dthe Lightning had its\u200b best sales\u200b month ever in November, with 4,393 new vehicles delivered\u2064 to customers. However, Lightning\u2062 sales did experience a\u2063 46% decline in \u2062the third\u200b quarter.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, Ford&#8217;s gas-powered vehicle production \u2063remains unaffected, as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autonews.com\/manufacturing\/ford-cutting-f-150-lightning-ev-production-half-memo-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Automotive News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Implications\u2063 for Workers and EV Industry<\/h3>\n<p>The decision to \u200ccut \u2063production of the Lightning will result in the \u2063idling of one of Ford&#8217;s\u200c three shifts at its Lightning plant, potentially \u2063leading to layoffs for around 700 workers. This move is\u2064 particularly disappointing for \u200bemployees who were recently \u200badded to the third\u200b shift after the plant was expanded\u2062 by over 70%, according to Automotive News.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, Ford is not \u2062the only company scaling back \u2062its investment in \u200dEVs. General Motors,\u2062 among others, has also reduced its commitment to EV production and delayed a planned $12 billion \u2062investment in\u2064 the sector.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the Lightning, Ford is also revising production expectations for its\u2063 Mustang Mach-E model and delaying its investment in a new\u2064 battery plant in Kentucky.<\/p>\n<h3>The EV Narrative and Challenges Ahead<\/h3>\n<p>Despite these setbacks, Ford maintains that \u2062EVs are\u200d still a\u200d growth product. CFO John Lawler asserts that while \u2064the industry&#8217;s growth rate may be slower\u200b than expected, \u2063EVs are indeed gaining traction.<\/p>\n<p>However, the forced EV revolution is not progressing as quickly as President Joe Biden and\u200b his climate change \u200dadvocates would like. Biden continues to explore ways to \u200cincentivize companies like Ford to prioritize EV manufacturing through tax subsidies.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, the automotive \u2064industry is facing challenges in promoting \u200bEVs. General Motors recently sought to retain tax \u2063credits for \u2063EVs \u2062while announcing plant closures due to waning customer interest. Car manufacturers are also resorting to price cuts and attractive lease options to stimulate\u200b EV sales.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, EVs are taking longer to sell compared to gas-powered and hybrid vehicles, resulting in unsold inventory and financial burdens for\u2064 car dealers, as reported by\u200c the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/business\/autos\/ev-makers-turn-to-discounts-to-combat-waning-demand-3aa77535\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As \u200cevidence mounts against EVs being the panacea they were\u2062 touted to be, with reports of lower reliability and even \u200bcausing more \u2064potholes, Ford&#8217;s production cut serves as further proof that the industry may have overestimated the demand for electric vehicles. It appears that most Americans are not \u2063yet ready to embrace\u200c EV ownership.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Read more: \u200d <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ev-agenda-suffers-crushing-blow-ford-dramatically-slashes-electric-f-150-lightning-production\/\">EV Agenda Suffers Crushing\u2064 Blow as Ford Dramatically Slashes Electric F-150 \u2064Lightning Production<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source:\u200b <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does Ford&#8217;s decision to reduce production of the \u2063F-150 Lightning affect the trajectory of the EV\u200c industry?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Other electric vehicles, such as \u2062the Mustang\u200d Mach-E and the E-Transit van. While the company continues to emphasize its commitment to\u200d electric vehicles, the reduction in production raises questions about the overall trajectory of the EV industry.<\/p>\n<p>This cutback in production is undoubtedly a blow to the EV \u2064agenda.\u2062 The F-150 Lightning was highly anticipated \u2064as it\u2063 represented an important step in\u2064 the electrification of the popular pickup truck segment. \u200bWith its impressive range and towing capabilities, the Lightning\u2063 was expected to appeal to a wide range of customers and \u200chelp accelerate the\u200d adoption of\u2062 electric vehicles \u2063in \u200dthe United States. \u200cHowever, Ford&#8217;s decision to\u2064 reduce production suggests that the demand for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/millennials-now-buying-more-pickup-trucks-than-boomers-gen-x\/\" title=\"Millennials Now Buying More Pickup Trucks Than Boomers, Gen X\">electric pickup trucks<\/a> may not be as strong as\u200d initially anticipated.<\/p>\n<p>The implications of this \u200cdecision extend beyond Ford and its \u2063employees. The EV industry as a whole \u2064may feel the effects of this setback. As \u2062major automakers like Ford and General \u200dMotors scale \u2064back their investment\u200d in\u200d electric vehicles, it \u200dsends a signal to investors and consumers that the transition to electric vehicles may\u2064 not be\u200d as imminent as \u200bpreviously \u200cthought. This could potentially \u2063slow down the development of charging infrastructure, hinder the growth of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-minority-leader-mcconnell-infrastructure-plan-is-lumped-up-list-of-leftist-priorities\/\" title=\"Senate Minority Leader McConnell: Infrastructure plan is lumped up list of leftist priorities\">electric vehicle market<\/a>, and dampen consumer confidence in EVs.<\/p>\n<p>On\u2063 the \u200bpositive side, Ford&#8217;s gas-powered\u200b vehicle production remains unaffected, indicating that there is still a strong\u200b market demand for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uaw-on-strike-at-the-big-three-automaker-plants\/\" title=\"UAW Strikes at Big Three Automaker Plants\">traditional internal combustion engine vehicles<\/a>. This highlights the ongoing challenge of convincing consumers to make the switch to electric vehicles, even with the \u2064availability of compelling\u200c options \u2063like the F-150 Lightning.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that Ford&#8217;s decision to reduce \u2062production may not \u200bbe entirely indicative\u200b of the\u2062 overall \u2063state of the EV industry. There \u200care various factors \u2062that could have contributed to this\u200b decision, including supply chain constraints and global chip shortages. However, it does\u200c raise questions about the broader market demand for \u2062electric vehicles \u200band the pace of their adoption.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion,\u2064 Ford&#8217;s decision to slash production \u200dof the F-150 Lightning is a significant setback for the\u2062 EV agenda. It\u200b not only\u2063 impacts Ford employees but\u2064 also raises concerns about\u2063 the future of the EV industry as a whole. As major automakers reevaluate \u200dtheir electric vehicle strategies, it is clear that the path\u200b to widespread\u200d adoption of electric \u200cvehicles may be more challenging than originally anticipated. The industry will\u200d need to address these challenges and\u200c find ways \u200bto\u200d overcome them in order to achieve the long-term sustainability and environmental benefits\u200b promised by electric vehicles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ford Motor Co. joins other automakers in scaling down its electric vehicle plans. Due to plummeting demand, production of the EV F-150 Lightning pickup truck will be reduced. Initially, Ford aimed to manufacture 3,200 Lightning models weekly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":2123350,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2123349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2123349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2123350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2123349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2123349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2123349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}