Ford Reportedly Considering Pulling the Plug on the F-150 Lightning
According to Reuters, Ford executives are actively weighing whether to discontinue the all-electric F-150 Lightning as losses mount and EV demand softens — a stark admission of the challenges facing America's best-selling truck nameplate in electric form.
Ford’s all-electric F-150 Lightning may be heading for the scrap heap.
The automaker’s executives are actively considering scrapping the electric pickup truck, the Wall Street Journal reported on November 6, 2025, citing people familiar with the matter. The review comes as Ford absorbs mounting losses on the Lightning — reportedly billions of dollars — and grapples with softer-than-expected EV demand in the U.S. market.
A Costly Experiment
Ford hasn’t publicly disclosed specific Lightning financials, but the company took a $19.5 billion pre-tax charge in 2025 related to its EV business, the bulk of which is tied to the Lightning and the broader F-150 electric program. The truck, which starts at $55,995 and tops out above $90,000 for the Platinum model, has struggled to reach the volumes Ford projected when it launched the vehicle in 2022.
Ford had originally planned a next-generation Lightning built on a dedicated EV platform for the 2025 model year, but that timeline has slipped repeatedly. According to the Journal report, the current review is looking at whether to proceed with any successor at all — or whether Ford’s EV truck ambitions should be shelved entirely in favor of its hybrid strategy.
The Hybrid Pivot
Ford CEO Jim Farley has been increasingly vocal about the company’s hybrid strategy as a bridge technology. The F-150 PowerBoost hybrid — which pairs a turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor and a small battery for supplemental torque — has sold well and carries a distinct cost advantage: no premium over a conventional gas F-150, and no range anxiety.
Ford is also working on an extended-range electric F-150 using a generator-assisted powertrain — essentially a series hybrid architecture — that would address range concerns while keeping manufacturing costs lower than a pure BEV. Whether this represents the future of the Lightning nameplate or a separate product line remains unclear.
What It Means for the Market
If Ford walks away from the Lightning, it would be a significant signal about the current state of the U.S. full-size electric truck market. The Rivian R1T has carved out a niche as a premium lifestyle truck but at much lower volumes. The Chevrolet Silverado EV exists but has been slow to reach meaningful numbers. Tesla’s Cybertruck has attracted attention but divides opinion on aesthetics and practicality.
The honest reality is that trucks are America’s vehicle — and America’s truck buyers have proven among the most resistant to going electric. High purchase prices, towing limitations, and charging infrastructure concerns in rural and semi-rural areas where trucks dominate have combined to make the segment a challenging one for BEVs.
Ford still sells plenty of conventional F-Series trucks. The question is whether the company believes it can convert those customers to electric over the next decade, or whether the Lightning represents an experiment whose time hasn’t yet arrived. Based on this report, Ford itself seems uncertain.
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Related gear for F-150 Lightning owners:
- F-150 Lightning Center Console Organizer — Genuine Ford and aftermarket organizers for the Lightning interior
- Portable Level 2 EV Charger — Charge your Lightning anywhere with a 240V outlet
Source: Reuters, Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2025
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