Ford adds jobs to increase production of electric F-150 pickup; reservations top 150,000

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor is increasing hiring to extend manufacturing capability for its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup because it begins constructing prototypes of the electrical pickup.

The Detroit automaker mentioned Thursday that it plans to speculate a further $250 million and add 450 jobs throughout three Michigan services, together with the Rouge Electrical Automobile Heart that is constructing the truck, to extend annual manufacturing capability for the car to 80,000 items.

Ford has now invested about $950 million in manufacturing of a hybrid model of the truck and the electrical F-150, which is scheduled to go on sale subsequent spring beginning at about $40,000.

Greater than 150,000 reservations have been made for the car since its debut in Might, up from 120,000 on the finish of July, in response to Ford.

Manufacturing and reservations for the F-150 Lightning are being intently watched by traders and business analysts as a barometer for client acceptance of electrical autos, particularly pickups, which dominate gross sales within the U.S.

“We knew the F-150 Lightning was particular, however the curiosity from the general public has surpassed our highest expectations and adjusted the dialog round electrical autos. So we’re doubling down, including jobs and funding to extend manufacturing,” Ford Chair Invoice Ford mentioned in a launch.

A handful of automakers are anticipated to supply electrical pickups within the coming years. Amazon- and Ford-backed start-up Rivian earlier this week turned the primary automaker to enter what’s anticipated to be a hotly contested phase.

Normal Motors is predicted to get its EV pickup to market subsequent with the GMC Hummer EV rolling off meeting strains this fall. EV start-up Lordstown Motors and Ford are anticipated to observe subsequent 12 months together with Tesla, which lately pushed again deliveries of its Cybertruck from this 12 months to late 2022.

Pre-production, or prototypes, are utilized by corporations for testing and validation forward of assembling autos which can be used for certification earlier than precise manufacturing for shoppers.

Inside Ford’s Rouge Electrical Automobile Heart, the corporate is simply starting to construct pre-production fashions. A restricted quantity of the pickups have really been produced on the plant in Dearborn, Mich., however officers mentioned meeting will ramp-up over time.