Lightning production restarting March 13 (after pause for fire investigation)

Peter P · Mar 2, 2023

Ford plans to restart production of the electric F-150 Lightning on March 13

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/02/ford-f-150-lightning-production-restart.html

Ford Motor plans to restart production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup on March 13.
A month ago a battery issue caused one of the vehicles to catch fire.

DETROIT – Ford Motor plans to restart production of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup on March 13 – more than a month after a battery issue caused one of the vehicles to catch fire.

The automaker said Thursday the production timing will allow its battery supplier, SK On, to restart production and deliver battery packs for the electric pickups.

The fire occurred Feb. 4 in a holding lot during a pre-delivery quality check while the vehicle was charging. Ford suspended production of the vehicles and issued a stop-shipment to dealers. Ford said previously engineers determined there was no evidence of a charging fault.

“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to apply our learnings and work with SK On’s team to ensure we continue delivering high-quality battery packs – down to the battery cells. As REVC ramps up production, we will continue holding already-produced vehicles while we work through engineering and parts updates,” Ford said in a statement to CNBC.

UpWithFilm · Mar 2, 2023

As someone who has a truck that's been sitting on that lot since the beginning of February, this part really sticks out to me:

"As REVC ramps up production, we will continue holding already-produced vehicles while we work through engineering and parts updates.”

To me, this reads as if they think may need to update or fix something physical on the already built trucks, or there's still concern that they might. With the issues they've apparently had with shipping out produced trucks, you'd think they'd use this time to catch up, or at least ramp up shipping.

Pioneer74 · Mar 2, 2023

UpWithFilm said:
As someone who has a truck that's been sitting on that lot since the beginning of February, this part really sticks out to me:

"As REVC ramps up production, we will continue holding already-produced vehicles while we work through engineering and parts updates.”

To me, this reads as if they think may need to update or fix something physical on the already built trucks, or there's still concern that they might. With the issues they've apparently had with shipping out produced trucks, you'd think they'd use this time to catch up, or at least ramp up shipping.

It might also be due to the fact that a lot of work has been done in the building to increase run rate while production has been stopped. They might want to treat it like a fresh launch to validate everything.

boggle · Mar 2, 2023

Ford declined to disclose details of the issue that caused the vehicle to catch fire or of the implemented solution.

Still putting their intentionally vague PR statement together I see.

Its PJ Bia · Mar 2, 2023

I swear, if newly produced trucks get delivered before mine thats been in a lot for a month....

Maquis · Mar 2, 2023

Its PJ Bia said:
I swear, if newly produced trucks get delivered before mine thats been in a lot for a month....

That exact thing happened in 2021 regarding Mach-Es. Ford built cars without a module due to the chip shortage and stacked them up at the factory. When chips became available, they went to the production line first so that they could stop producing cars that would need rework.

This is a different scenario, but if for some reason already built trucks need something done to them, new production won’t be held until that rework is complete.

Hopefully, built trucks will simply get released for delivery.

CdnCGM23 · Mar 2, 2023

Its PJ Bia said:
I swear, if newly produced trucks get delivered before mine thats been in a lot for a month....

Right! I'm on the same list brother!!

Griddlez · Mar 2, 2023

Considering how quickly (I'm sure not fast enough for those waiting) they are turning this around - I think it's safe speculation that it had nothing or little to do directly with the battery internals their selves? Would SK been able to make a battery spec change that fast and then deliver enough to start production again?

Lightning Rod · Mar 2, 2023

If they know that all is OK and production will resume in a week and a half, why not just ship the trucks that are getting acid rained on for months?

My (yet to be shipped) truck belongs in a safe environment... in my garage.

MickeyAO · Mar 2, 2023

Griddlez said:
Considering how quickly (I'm sure not fast enough for those waiting) they are turning this around - I think it's safe speculation that it had nothing or little to do directly with the battery internals their selves? Would SK been able to make a battery spec change that fast and then deliver enough to start production again?

With all the validation testing that goes into a new or redesigned pack, no.

detansinn · Mar 2, 2023

The news combined with the email that I received today suggests that my Lightning will be sitting at the Port of Wilmington for a loooong time.

My original delivery was the week of 2/6, then 2/13, then 2/20. Last week, they bumped it to 3/21, which I suspect there’s little more going on there than they just decided to add a month to it.

At this point, it gets here when it gets here. I am assuming May/June so that I can be pleasantly surprised if it arrives earlier.

pja3668 · Mar 4, 2023

detansinn said:
The news combined with the email that I received today suggests that my Lightning will be sitting at the Port of Wilmington for a loooong time.

My original delivery was the week of 2/6, then 2/13, then 2/20. Last week, they bumped it to 3/21, which I suspect there’s little more going on there than they just decided to add a month to it.

At this point, it gets here when it gets here. I am assuming May/June so that I can be pleasantly surprised if it arrives earlier.

My order status still says 2/28-3/13. HOWEVER, my account has not been updated since 2/2. I'm SURE my delivery will be pushed out as well. I'm only 80 miles away from where it's apparently sitting in Delaware. I'm tempted to drive down just to look and see if it's legit there. Nothing seems real anymore. My gut tells me I won't see it anytime soon. My birthday is March 6th. I said something to my dealer in January about "maybe" getting it by my birthday. He said I'd have it well before that (ship date was 1/16). Of course that was before this battery debacle. Now I'm hoping I see it by Fathers Day. I'm so close. Or so it seems (????). But there's a part of me that's so sick and tired of EVERYTHING. Waiting. Obsessively checking my account day after day, week after week, month after month. Interest rates going to shit. It's been weeks since my dealer appraised my trade. How much do you want to bet they'll reappraise it. There's only way that's going. And it ain't up.

detansinn · Mar 4, 2023

I am sure that it’s sitting there with mine. I’ve been through the various stages of anger, depression, etc about it. I am now at acceptance, because there is nothing that can be done to move the needle faster.

Its PJ Bia · Mar 4, 2023

pja3668 said:
My order status still says 2/28-3/13. HOWEVER, my account has not been updated since 2/2. I'm SURE my delivery will be pushed out as well. I'm only 80 miles away from where it's apparently sitting in Delaware. I'm tempted to drive down just to look and see if it's legit there. Nothing seems real anymore. My gut tells me I won't see it anytime soon. My birthday is March 6th. I said something to my dealer in January about "maybe" getting it by my birthday. He said I'd have it well before that (ship date was 1/16). Of course that was before this battery debacle. Now I'm hoping I see it by Fathers Day. I'm so close. Or so it seems (????). But there's a part of me that's so sick and tired of EVERYTHING. Waiting. Obsessively checking my account day after day, week after week, month after month. Interest rates going to shit. It's been weeks since my dealer appraised my trade. How much do you want to bet they'll reappraise it. There's only way that's going. And it ain't up.

The last bit of depression I'll have is when it shows up after the 7500 rebate gets slashed in half, and ford will do nothing to help us out waiting for their mistake to get fixed.

EVMainer · Mar 4, 2023

Its PJ Bia said:
The last bit of depression I'll have is when it shows up after the 7500 rebate gets slashed in half, and for will do nothing to help us out waiting for their mistake to get fixed.

This 100%. I'm guessing mine will arrive the day after the rebate is halved.

Lightning production restarting March 13 (after pause for fire investigation)

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