Ford has recently announced that it is halting the production and shipments of its all-electric version of the best-selling pickup truck in the US, the F-150 Lightning. The automaker cited potential battery issues as the reason behind the stop-shipment order and production halt.
According to Ford’s spokesperson, Emma Bergg, a vehicle displayed a potential battery issue during the pre-delivery quality inspection process, prompting the company to investigate the matter and hold the vehicles until further notice.
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Fortunately, customers who have already purchased the F-150 Lightning can breathe a sigh of relief as there is currently no stop-sale for vehicles that are already located on Ford dealer lots, and available units can be sold to customers.
Ford has also announced its plans to invest $3.5 billion in an electric vehicle battery production facility in Michigan. The company will partner with Chinese firm CATL, and the plant is expected to produce lithium iron phosphate cells, which are less expensive to produce but have less power and range than other cell chemistries.
During the most recent Earnings Call, Ford CEO Jim Farley revealed that the company left around $2 billion on the table. He also emphasized that 2023 will be a pivotal year in the automaker’s transition to electric vehicles.
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Although halting production and shipments of the F-150 Lightning is not necessarily a strong start, it is routine for automakers to combat vehicle recalls and production issues. As electric vehicle makers continue to work towards producing EVs on a more massive scale, these production issues are sure to occur. However, they can be fixed, as Ford has demonstrated by initiating the stop-shipment and production pause to investigate and rectify the potential battery issue.
