After a temporary halt in production, Ford has announced that it plans to resume production of the F-150 Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on March 13th. This follows a battery fire that occurred during a routine quality check on February 4th. While the fire resulted in halting production and an in-transit stop-ship order to prevent the release of recently built vehicles, Ford confirmed that Lightning trucks already in the hands of customers were not affected by the issue.
The cause of the battery fire was identified, but not publicly revealed, and was linked to battery supplier SK On. The supplier worked with Ford to investigate and apply the necessary changes to the battery pack production process, which was expected to take “a few weeks.” While Ford continues to apply their learnings, they have planned to resume production on March 13th.
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“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to apply our learnings and work with SK On’s team to ensure we continue delivering high-quality battery packs – down to the battery cells. As REVC ramps up production, we will continue holding already-produced vehicles while we work through engineering and parts updates,” Ford stated.
Although the automaker has announced a resumption in production, the in-transit stop-ship order remains in place, meaning customers waiting for their electric pickup truck will have to wait at least a few more weeks before receiving their orders.
Ford’s resumption in production marks a significant milestone in the F-150 Lightning’s production, which has garnered significant interest from customers since its announcement. With battery fires being a common issue in electric vehicles, Ford’s collaboration with SK On to address the issue and apply necessary changes to the production process highlights their commitment to delivering high-quality electric vehicles to consumers.
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As the electric vehicle market continues to grow, it is crucial for automakers to prioritize the safety and quality of their products. With the F-150 Lightning being a flagship electric truck, Ford’s efforts to ensure the vehicle’s safety and reliability bodes well for the future of the electric truck market.
