Ford is making new efforts to double manufacturing capability of the F-150 Lightning electrical pickup to 150,000 autos per yr, the corporate introduced. That follows information from December that it capped pre-orders at 200,000 items, with CEO Jim Farley saying “we are completely oversubscribed with our battery electric vehicles.” In addition, the corporate will begin inviting the primary group of reservation holders to put orders for the F-150 Lightning beginning on Thursday, January sixth. 

To enhance manufacturing, Ford mentioned it created a small process pressure of workers from “manufacturing, purchasing, strategy, product development, and capacity planning” to seek out methods to speed up manufacturing. It’s additionally working with key suppliers “to find ways to increase capacity of electric vehicle parts, including battery cells, battery trays and electric drive systems,” the corporate mentioned in a press launch.

The firm famous that the F-150 Lightning is now within the the ultimate pre-build part earlier than transferring into mass manufacturing for retail and business prospects, with deliveries beginning this spring. The purpose is to check manufacturing autos over 1,000,000 miles or so in real-world buyer situations. 

On the order aspect, Ford mentioned it is utilizing a wave-by-wave reservation course of, asking pre-order holders to look at for an invite through e mail or verify their Ford.com account. The automaker indicated that later pre-order holders may need to attend for autos from the next mannequin yr. (Ford additionally famous that over 75 % of reservation holders had been new to the model.) 

Deliveries of the 2022 F-150 Lightning pickup will start in spring of 2022 with a beginning MSRP of $39,974 earlier than any obtainable tax incentives. However, some reports indicate that some sellers could also be dinging prospects as much as $30,000 further to be among the many first to obtain their autos. 

Ford lately introduced that it could triple manufacturing of the Mustang Mach-E to succeed in 200,000 items per yr by 2023, with plans to have the “global capacity to produce 600,000 BEVs annually.” To do this, it is constructing what it calls its “most advanced, most efficient auto production facility in its 118-year history in Tennessee,” together with three battery vegetation inbuilt collaboration with SK Innovation. All of that represents a complete $11.4 billion funding with 11,000 new jobs created.

The F-150 Lightning is eligible for a full $7,500 US BEV tax credit score as of at the moment (together with any state subsidies), however Ford is predicted to hit its 200,000 car eligibility restrict later this yr. At that time, the credit score will regularly be phased out except new legislation is passed that will change the foundations.