Ford has confirmed a temporary pause of shipments for its 2024 F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks, attributing the decision to extended quality checks.
According to a Ford spokesperson, who confirmed the stop-ship order with Automotive News, production of the Lightning is unaffected and continues at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
The spokesperson also confirmed the order was issued on February 9, and there is no definitive timeline for when it will be lifted.
The company provided no details on what the quality check is related to. Previously however, Ford had to halt production of the Lightning last year for one month after issues were discovered with the electric pickup truck’s battery pack that could lead to a fire.
Ford’s decision to stop shipments and conduct extra quality checks comes at a pivotal time, as the automaker has seen a significant slowdown in demand for its electric vehicles. In response Ford has adjusted its pricing strategy for the 2024 Lightning models, with reductions on higher trims and incentives on select 2023 models. The company has also lowered prices significantly on the Mustang Mach-E.
