Important Update: Ford EV Roadmap & Future of F-150 Lightning (EREV Next Gen Model) - ⛔️ ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS

[Ford Motor Company]

Answering a handful on questions, and hoping to answer more in the coming days.

Thanks for getting quick information to us forum members. Does this mean the 2026 models won't be manufactured at all (just thought of the recently announced STX model), or a few '26 will be produced this year, then stop at year-end?

Production of the current generation end this year.

It's been a short seven weeks @Ford Motor Company
"And that article is AI unfactual slop (unlike me)."
I still like ya Brian, not AI

FWIW, at the time I was right... It was a great seven weeks for me.

Couple questions:

1. when do you plan to release the EREV Lightning?

2. I’d love some more details on the goodwill for early adopters you mentioned. Specifically, for those of us who went the traditional purchase route and our trade values have plummeted. At least the leaseholders can walk away clean.

1. We don't have timing to share just yet. However, the UEV truck is aiming to launch in 2027.

2. I will share more about that once I get my hands on more details.

What I’m worried about is parts and batteries being available for those of us who get the extended warranty and stay for the long haul.

Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years.

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[WaterboyNorCal]

Looks like a pretty negative response from us Lightning owners, Ford.
Are you listening to us?
Yet?

no, they’re 100% not listening. Maybe some individual employees are, but not Corporate. Hugely disappointing. I blame the dealership network because they wanted the truck to fail out of the gate. Why would they want to sell a vehicle that has minimal maintenance? They don’t. Scout knows this and it’s why they’re trying so hard to avoid having to sell directly to the buyer, thus avoiding this same issue with VW dealerships. Sure- did SOME dealers embrace the Lightning? Yes, but many more were determined to prioritize gas trucks.

And all this BS about how most truck owners require 700 miles of range because they tow a massive trailer cross country? Pure fantasy. Over 90% of gas F150 owners don’t do that. Those who DO buy an F250/350.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

@Ford Motor Company
Brian, you said you might be back tonight to answer any questions. Is it possible Ford will 'unlock' the extra capacity in our ER batteries? That extra percent just might get is further down the road as we travel or tow more.

Thanks!

I don't believe this is planned (that I know of), but I will be sure to pass it along.

 

[Joe Dablock]

The only problem Ford has is advertising and salesmanship. If I were Ford, I would have EVs as loaner cars. They need to get people driving EVs. It would work great for one day repairs.

 

[Dave70]

After going from the gas F150 to the F150 Lightning, I will never go back to a gas vehicle again. Fully electric is just so much better for my use case. If a fully electric F150 isn't available when I decide to replace my Lightning, I will just go to another brand.

 

[Cbowe]

Ford shocks the EV world! The BEV F-150 Lightning is gone, STX & T3 cancelled, next-gen is EREV, $19B lost… but what does it really mean for owners and EV trucks? My full breakdown here

 

[Pod]

I am stunned Ford is just ending the line in like a week. No ‘26 model is just crazy. Glad I have the dual charger ‘23. Ford better stand by the early adopters. We deserve better than this. I am sad, angry and honestly completely surprised. Was looking forward to the “T3”. One visit to 1600 and Jim changes complete course. Have some stones. Ford, I am a loyal customer from a legacy Ford family. Never, EVER considered anything but FoMoCo. Furious to see this…loyalty matters.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Hmm, interesting.

I sort of see where Ford is coming from. The Lightning, guess we’ll have to call it the Lightning BEV now, is not a great long haul tow rig. But it is excellent at everything else.

I don’t think the EREV is going to go the way most (customers and Ford) think it is going to. You are most likely going to get around 50 miles realistically towing on battery only. After that you are in something worse than ICE only. Worse because, converting chemical energy (gas) into mechanical energy, into electrical energy, rectify and regulate that energy to go onto the HVDC bus, then convert it back to a multiphase output for the motors, and finally back to mechanical energy at the wheels is going to be less efficient then a straight ICE implementation (chemical->mechanical).

If you think it will be a tiny gas sipping genny, it won’t. If you going to pull a long mountain pass with a heavy trailer, whatever power you need by the electric motors, the gas motor has to deliver that plus overhead. Otherwise you are going to join the tractor trailers in the slow lane with your hazards on. (the main reason I believe the EREV Lighting will be lower on power then its BEV older brother)

I’ll keep my BEV Lighting for at least another 4 years. After that… I’ll look for another BEV truck, but if none appeal to me, I’ll go back to ICE. No EREV. The numbers don’t add up.

Yes. This. The battery has to be big enough to output power to get a heavy vehicle to 60 in 5ish seconds. So it, battery, inverter, motors will need to be able to output 300-350kW...400 to 470hp. There will need to be a substantial buffer to accommodate towing power needs, unless you want a 300kW generator. So let's say a 60kWh battery with 40kWh useable before the generator turns on with another 5kW useable while the generator is operating so that it can have a 100 to 150kW generator and still accommodate towing up a long steep grade. This could allow 80 to 100 miles EV before the generator turns on. They also lose the incentive to make it charge aggressively on dcfc because they have a generator on board. How much nvh will come with a 100kW generator? They say it will be like a diesel electric locomotive. Do you know something that is pretty darn loud up close? A locomotive. If they thought the bev lightning was a flop the EREV is going to bankrupt them.

 

[crow]

if you could make a 6 seater option I know quite a few people that would be more interested!

Hi F-150 Lightning owners,

I’m coming to you today with an update on our product roadmap. There has been a lot of speculation recently and we just went live with some news. So, I want to give you the facts straight from Ford, explain what is changing, and more importantly, why.

With the F-150 Lightning, we proved an electric truck could be a hit, and it has remained the best-selling electric pickup. Let’s be real about what we’ve learned from you, the owners, and the market over the last few years. You love the electric performance, smoothness, and the tech, but for those that drive long distances, take frequent trips or tow heavy loads across state lines often, an F-150 Lightning might not be the truck for them. And we want it to be.

We took a bet, produced an amazing product that so many people love, and now we’re making adjustments in response to evolving market realities, consumer preferences, and the regulatory environment. No one could have predicted how the EV landscape would change in the U.S., which has impacted the industry.
That is why our next-generation F-150 Lightning will be an EREV. 100% electric power delivery, sub-5-second acceleration – and adds an estimated 700+ mile range with locomotive-like towing capability. That is a game-changer for our customers. Like the current F-150 Lightning, the next-gen version will also offer exportable electricity that can power everything from work sites to camp sites to homes during a power outage.

For those who aren’t familiar with EREVs, this isn't a traditional plug-in hybrid. This is an electric vehicle with an on-board generator. It’s designed to give you the electric capability you enjoy around town, but with the range and towing confidence of a gas truck when you’re hauling a boat or camper. It will be assembled right here in Dearborn at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.

What this means for the current generation F-150 Lightning and “T3” truck​

Production of the current generation of F-150 Lightning will end this year, and we have also made the decision to no longer produce the next-generation full-size electric truck, also known as “T3”. For those that still wish to purchase a MY25 F-150 Lightning, we have good inventory and interested customers can purchase from dealer stock.

If you have an order in, or were waiting on one, please contact your dealer immediately to see if your vehicle will be built or if they can match you to an existing stock unit.

As for existing Lightning customers who might be coming off lease or looking or a new Lightning, we are looking at the following:

• Assist early adopters to purchase or lease a new 25MY Lightning
• Offering extensions to customers who wish to extend their leases beyond the original term
• Providing dealer support to help match customer with available inventory

What about support for my current F-150 Lightning?​

I know reading "production is ending" can be nerve-wracking for current owners. I want to be clear: We are committed to ensuring ongoing support of your vehicle’s software updates, quality and experience. Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years. The team is not walking away from the current F-150 Lightning, and I’m not going anywhere.

The Ford Universal EV Platform​

While we shift F-150 Lightning to EREV, we are absolutely maintaining our plans and investment in the next generation of affordable EVs. The new Universal EV (UEV) platform is now more important than ever for Ford. UEV platform development is well underway. This flexible architecture will underpin a new family of smaller, more affordable, and cost-efficient vehicles—starting with a midsize pickup in 2027.

There is no impact to Mustang Mach-E. Mustang Mach-E is a great success story and is now available in almost 60 markets across the globe. It continues to be a standout electric SUV and plays an important role in the portfolio.

Other News: Battery Technology​

We are also making moves to make our business more sustainable. We are repurposing our Kentucky battery plant to build large-scale battery storage systems (for grid and industrial use), and our Michigan plant will be focusing on prismatic LFP cells. The same Michigan plant will be ramping up production in 2026 to power the new midsize electric truck built on our new Universal EV Platform.

Ford has been in manufacturing for over a century. We understand power management, thermal systems, safety engineering, and large-scale manufacturing. Our licensed LFP prismatic technology is proven, and our brand represents long-term accountability critical for 20+ year infrastructure investments.

I know this is a lot of news, and for the BEV purists, this might be tough to hear. We have a huge opportunity to get more people driving electric – whether that be plug-in hybrid, extended-range electric or pure electric vehicles and our plans set us up to succeed in this mission.

You can read the press release on this news here. I’ll be in the comments a later tonight to answer what I can.

Brian from Ford

 

[carys98]

And also...am I the only one who doesn't buy vehicles based on what I think their value might be X number of years down the road? Automobiles are one of the WORST investments a person can make, IMHO.

I have never thought about the value of any vehicle I’ve ever owned until a few days before I was going to trade it in.

 

[TooManyToyz]

Well, this is just par for the course for me. Here's a list of Ford products that I've owned. All but four models have been discontinued.
1954 F100
1974 B600 Fire Rescue Truck
1975 Lincoln Mark V
1979 Fairmont wagon
1987 F150
1988 F150
1992 F350
1993 Lincoln Mark VII
1994 Lincoln Town Car
1995 Crown Vic
1995 E350 Van
1995 E350 Box Truck
1997 F350
1998 E350 Box Truck
2001 Lincoln LS
2003 Mercury Sable
2004 Mercury Mountaineer
2009 Mustang GT
2014 Flex
2016 Transit Connect
2019 Transit Connect
2019 Flex
2021 F150
2022 Lightning Lariat ER

 

[White lightin]

Will you take trade-ins of Lightnings on the new trucks, with a fair value for the Lightnings since the resale market on our Lightnings has likely plummeted with this announcement?

If the erev Ford is not a full size truck they will not sell.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Yeah, this is a massive step backwards

Partly a step backwards. I hope that they reconsider and do like the i3 and offer a BEV only version they can easily decouple the generator portion.

 

[Pacific.NW]

Thanks for your continued support, Brian.

I’ll just throw it out there that if, and when, it comes time to replace my Lightning, it will be with another full EV. I have zero interest in returning to gasoline, full stop. I road trip and haul a small travel trailer with my Lightning, and I don’t want more range at the cost of burning fossil fuels. This feels like a step back and a sh!tty compromise for FoMoCo to try and keep shareholders happy instead of looking forward to greener technologies.

Looks like my next EV won’t be a Ford, sorry.

 

[Ventorum94]

What makes Ford think that it all comes down to range? Is that the feedback they got from people who actually buy EVs- or from people who would never buy an EV, regardless of range? If the vehicle’s range is more than average daily distance driven, it’s sufficient for the vast majority of use cases. Charging speed is also of secondary priority, because the vast majority of charging occurs in the garage at night- Level 2, not 3.
Ford, don’t beat yourself up, you brought an awesome, groundbreaking vehicle to market. Remember: in 2021, when you announced Lightning was coming, the price of gasoline was climbing stratospherically and eventually reached $5/gal, more in some places and less in others, before plummeting mid-decade. At $5 gas, an electric full size truck could save $400/month in gasoline, and made complete economic sense, even with a $15k acquisition premium over ICE F150 (and the $7500 tax credit cut that EV premium in half). At $2.75 gas and no EV tax credit, the economics no longer favor EVs over ICE. Today, we buy an EV on the merits of the electric drivetrain, and not to “save the planet” (which was never a significant purchase motive for Lightning buyers, imho).
Your greatest marketing mistake was in making the claim of equivalency in tasks that a small minority of F150 owners’ use cases require: heavy towing and long-distance driving (remember the slick 2022 photo of the Lightning pulling a 20+ ft Airstream?).
Know your customers! As an owner of a Lightning (which is hands-down the best truck I’ve ever owned) and two Teslas, I have no interest in buying a truck with a lithium battery pack AND a gasoline generator. The simplicity of BEV is its major appeal! Again; it’s NOT ALL ABOUT RANGE!!

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