Beginning April 1, one-third of the workforce will stay on-site at Ford’s Rouge EV plant in Michigan. Ford is drastically chopping its workforce on the facility the place the F-150 Lightning is constructed, with demand “a lot slower” than anticipated.
Ford chopping F-150 Lightning workforce
Ford initially introduced the discount in January, citing “slower than anticipated” demand. Though Ford’s Lightning was the best-selling electrical pickup final yr, topping Rivian’s R1T, the EV truck faces new competitors in a difficult market.
In response to Ford spokeswoman Jessica Enoch, one-third of the two,100 employees will stay on the plant beginning April 1, 2024.
Enoch instructed The Detroit Free Press that 700 employees will probably be transferred to its Michigan Meeting plant to assist construct the Bronco and Ranger. In the meantime, the remaining 700 can both take the $50,000 retirement bundle from the 2023 contract negotiations, or be reassigned to is Michigan Meeting plant.
Ford’s workforce discount on the F-150 Lightning plant is not going to embody job losses. As an alternative, employees are being reassigned or supplied retirement.
In January, Spokesperson Martin Gunsberg instructed Electrek that the ability had been working with three crews working two shifts. Beginning subsequent week, it’ll go down to at least one crew working one shift.
“Their intentions had been to construct 180,000-plus items. Proper now, we’re 55,000 items they’re gonna construct,” in accordance with Todd Dunn, president of UAW Native 862.
The transfer comes after Ford mentioned it could ramp up Lightning manufacturing only a yr in the past. Nevertheless, the automaker has been rotating shifts on the facility since October.
Enoch mentioned new autos have been held for high quality evaluation since early February. Shipments are anticipated to start in April.
Ford launched vital incentives on the 2023 F-150 Lightning to make room for brand new fashions. The 2023 Lightning Lariat, XLT, and Professional trims are eligible for a $7,500 retail credit score.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning trim |
Value | Vary (EPA-est miles) |
| Professional | $54,995 | 240 |
| XLT | $64,995 | 240 |
| Flash | $73,495 | 320 |
| Lariat | $79,495 | 320 |
| Platinum | $84,995 | 300 |
| Platinum Black | $92,995 | 300 |
Ford additionally made a number of changes to 2024MY Lightning costs. The bottom Professional trim, begins at $54,995 with 240 miles vary. The lineup additionally gained a “Flash” trim in 2024 with a tech-focused inside, Ford’s Tow Tech bundle, and as much as 320 miles vary. It begins at $73,495.
Electrek’s Take
The workforce discount comes as Ford shifts plans from bigger EVs to smaller, extra inexpensive ones.
CEO Jim Farley revealed Ford was creating a low-cost EV platform. Led by Alan Clarke, a prime engineer for Tesla’s Mannequin Y and three, Farley mentioned it has “a few of the finest EV engineers on the earth” creating the platform.
Ford’s CFO, John Lawler, reiterated these plans on the BofA Auto Summit Tuesday. Lawler mentioned, “The sport is not going to be fought and gained with bigger autos.” Smaller, extra inexpensive ones will win in the long term.
The brand new EV platform could have a number of “prime hats,” enabling new electrical SUVs, vans, sedans, and vans.
In response to Bloomberg Businessweek, a smaller, cheaper electrical pickup and SUV would be the first to launch on the platform. The primary mannequin is anticipated to be obtainable in 2026, with beginning costs round $25,000.
Lawler mentioned the last word competitors will probably be low-cost EVs from China, like BYD, and Tesla, which is planning a $25,000 EV of its personal.
Ford’s CFO mentioned Ford is matching capability with demand. He added “demand is way slower than the trade anticipated.”
In the meantime, Ford faces stiff competitors in each the electrical pickup and mid-size electrical SUV market. New electrical pickups just like the Tesla Cybertruck and Chevy Silverado EV are rolling out whereas Rivian continues constructing R1T capability.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is among the many hottest EV segments, together with Tesla’s Mannequin Y, the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Volkswagen ID.4, and the Kia EV6. New electrical SUVs just like the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are becoming a member of the market.
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