Ford’s electrical F-150 Lightning is clearly in excessive demand, and the corporate is decided to maintain up. The automaker has paired information of pre-production work with a promise to speculate an additional $250 million and create 450 new jobs to extend manufacturing capability. That ought to assist Ford construct 80,000 Lightning vehicles per 12 months — little consolation when the corporate now has 150,000 reservations, however the transfer ought to cut back wait instances.

Most of the roles will go to employees assembling the electrical F-150 on the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, whereas others will construct extra batteries on the Rawsonville Components Plant and motors on the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center. The first vehicles needs to be obtainable in spring 2022.

The manufacturing numbers will not compete with standard vehicles for some time. As Autoweek observed, Ford averaged gross sales of about 900,000 common F-150 vehicles per 12 months earlier than the pandemic and chip shortages got here into play. While the Lightning could also be greater than a distinct segment product, it is not but on the level the place Ford must rethink its standard truck manufacturing.

There’s additionally a certain quantity of posturing concerned with the information. Ford is clearly desirous to please a authorities selling made-in-America EVs. However, it is nonetheless a recognition of pent-up demand for electrical pickups, each from Ford and from the trade as a complete. Not that Ford might need a lot alternative. With Rivian already producing its first vehicles, Ford dangers dropping gross sales to opponents if it does not ramp up manufacturing.