Ford Begins Production on F-150 Lightning
After long months of teasing, we have finally witnessed the production start of Ford’s first-ever full-size electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning.
The new truck is considered a milestone and a turning point for the company and the entire truck technology as well.
The new EV is already a huge success, even before the start of production. Ford has received 200,000 reservations, effectively selling all of 2022’s stock. The lucky customers will be able to enjoy their new trucks in return for less than $40.000.
Ford’s gamble on its new F-150 Lightning has paid off, but it was far from a stroke of luck, the blue oval has made a huge investment in its production lines, upgrading them, and making them ready to accommodate the first EV truck to enter mass production.
The total cost of the investment plan surpassed $1 billion, it was aimed at developing five Ford plants in the state of Michigan, resulting in 1,700 new jobs.
The investment plan included also the expanding of the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center allowing it to increase production and reach 150,000 units in 2023. The results of this huge investment are very obvious in the new plants, as we clearly see that the innovation was not limited to trucks.
Ford got rid of all the cumbersome traditional conveyors, cranes, and all that. Replacing everything with new robotic Autonomous Guided Vehicles that facilitate the transport of the new F-150 Lightning trucks inside the facility. And give the workers more room and easiness of movement, resulting eventually in an increase in production output, number and frequency of quality checks, and product customization possibilities, without being constrained by traditional factory equipment.
The other novelty is the Cobots, a new form of robots that can work in harmony with human workers, giving them valuable help with difficult tasks without the need for safety cages.
Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO had a word to say about this event: “America’s real transition to electric vehicles starts now,” adding, “F-150 Lightning is just the beginning of our ambitions for growth and leadership in digital, electric vehicles. We continue to expand our EV manufacturing footprint across the U.S., including the start of site preparation at Blue Oval City, which will enable us to meet the ever-increasing customer demand for our exciting EV line-up.”
Ford is not satisfied with what it has achieved and is still aiming higher, hoping to produce more than 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026 which would represent about a third of the company’s entire output.
The new F-150 Lightning is clearly a great truck that needs equally great car covers to keep it safe out there in the wild world.
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