Lightning sales down 42 percent in May

[Henry Ford]

Lightning is an F150 which helps it's cause to continue production as a low volume vehicle. It's on a separate production line than other F150s though. That can't help.

My guess is Ford produces the Lightning as long as they don't need to reengineer it. A new generation F150 would kill the Lightning.

I don't think the T3 is going to make it to production. Too much cost and too much uncertainty in the market.

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[sotek2345]

Lightning is an F150 which helps it's cause to continue production as a low volume vehicle. It's on a separate production line than other F150s though. That can't help.

My guess is Ford produces the Lightning as long as they don't need to reengineer it. A new generation F150 would kill the Lightning.

I don't think the T3 is going to make it to production. Too much cost and too much uncertainty in the market.

The question then becomes what is Ford's long term plan. If the lighting goes away when they refresh the F150, which isn't that far away, and T3 is dead - that just leaves the Mach-e as a Ford EV. And that is already dated with no refresh planned.

Ford started out strong in the EV space, but seems to have given up. Not a great plan for long term relevancy.

 

[jlferg0509]

I feel that given the state of the economy and political discourse, all EV's will struggle with sales over the remainder of the year. Given that, if @Ford Motor Company wants to continue to own this area, they'll have to release an updated version (T3?).

Of all the questions I've ever gotten about my Lightning, I get, "How far can you get on a full charge?". When I tell them the average range not towing, most are surprised. It's the towing range that they cringe about, but when I share that I need to stop and stretch my legs after a couple of hours of driving anyway (lunch, age, sciatic nerve, etc.), most agree. As for the cost, have you priced a comparative ICE truck lately?

I'm hoping the technology behind Solid State Batteries will mature shortly and help with the next version on towing mileage. My honest opinion is that I don't think the Lightning is far off on towing capacity. Give me another 100 miles of range, both unhitched and towing, otherwise the truck is a winner.

 

[BSEE SPARKY]

I'm hoping the T3 will be engineered in a way that brings a midsize and full size truck. Kind of like how GM is using the one platform for a bunch of different sizes of SUV's. And now that I think about it, T3 should also include a few SUV's.

Remember Ford had a 3 row SUV for release (around now, assume Expedition lightning), but was tabled with no real plan to move forward.

 

[BSEE SPARKY]

There are a lot of people out there that believe the myths. Just yesterday went to two equipment trailer dealers. One of the salesman, asked about the Lightning. Then made statements about can't tow, no power, no range, high cost, and etc. One by one, I dispelled the lies with facts. Talked about power, towing, maintenance costs. I could tell he did not believe. So, I took him for a ride. Turned on a side street, started at 20mph, took it to 70 in a flash, barked the tires along the way. After he fixed his wrenched neck, he told me he got it. He also said, "I never expected anything like that". They are plenty of gearheads out there that if they know the truth, would be converted.

 

[sotek2345]

There are a lot of people out there that believe the myths. Just yesterday went to two equipment trailer dealers. One of the salesman, asked about the Lightning. Then made statements about can't tow, no power, no range, high cost, and etc. One by one, I dispelled the lies with facts. Talked about power, towing, maintenance costs. I could tell he did not believe. So, I took him for a ride. Turned on a side street, started at 20mph, took it to 70 in a flash, barked the tires along the way. After he fixed his wrenched neck, he told me he got it. He also said, "I never expected anything like that". They are plenty of gearheads out there that if they know the truth, would be converted.

Yup - 5 minutes behind the wheel is the best sales pitch for any EV.

 

[GDN]

The next 4 to 6 months will confirm the Lightning's fate. If the ICE F-150 gets updated to the new Android platform and the Lightning doesn't we know it's the end of the line (remember Ford said this would come to the Lighning a few years back). I highly suspect this will be the case. Ford has noted hybrid is the way forward. T3 had has no news in months (or maybe years). The battery technology we have is still questionable long term. I'll put my money on the writing is on the wall, if we see a '26 year model, it will be the last.

 

[JMD359]

From what I heard Farley say it sounds like this is the last lightning . New ones postponed for now so they don’t have to say canceled yet. He’s come right out and said these large full size vehicles simply have too high of an electrical demand for them to be practical . I kind of agree . These things devour electric esp at highway speeds . The current lightning is built on a half ton chassis with 8550 GVWR you’re not gonna really get any higher so that’s as much battery as the current vehicle can take without removing weight somewhere else.. so this particular lightning is never gonna have more range. There isn’t enough GVWR within the current chassis to allow it. That means they would have to do an eight lug set up similar to the Silverado EV. We would have a 9000+ pound lightning that probably still wouldn’t go as far as you want., it would be heavy and drive like a school bus, full size trucks are just too heavy when combined w a big battery

 

[CavRider]

If Ford abandons EV then I will abandon them.

GM EV sales Q1 25

 

[jjupi91897]

May 2025 year over year sales show a steep decline of 42% for the Lightning. Mach-E sales increased 11%. The E-Transit is down a whopping 97%. Anyone else getting nervous about the future of the Lightning?
https://electrek.co/2025/06/03/fords-ev-sales-fell-25-may-despite-employee-prices-more/

As long as they continue to provide software updates, excellent service, and maintenance to the Lightning, I am not worried.

 

[jjupi91897]

May 2025 year over year sales show a steep decline of 42% for the Lightning. Mach-E sales increased 11%. The E-Transit is down a whopping 97%. Anyone else getting nervous about the future of the Lightning?
https://electrek.co/2025/06/03/fords-ev-sales-fell-25-may-despite-employee-prices-more/

The Silverado EV is kicking butt and taking names. People like the range it offers and are will to pay the extra bucks for it.

 

[Danface]

If worrying would change anything then I'd worry, otherwise "eh". I have a truck and I like it and if they stop making it then I'll still have a truck I like.

 

[sotek2345]

MSN published this a couple weeks ago, but it reads like it is regurgitating very old information.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/aut...n-electric-pickup-trust-the-truck/ar-AA1F3xkj

If Ford abandons EV then I will abandon them.

GM EV sales Q1 25

Lack of Android Auto without a great software stack (Tesla/Rivian) is a HUGE turn off for me on GM vehicles.

 

[Adventureboy]

I truly believe this is a global train that will not stop. It may slow down and speed up as markets change, but it will continue down this path and, like the global economy, will continue to grow despite disruptions, peaks and valleys.
I'll drive on.

 

[MaintGrl]

So, a couple of things . . . first off . . .
I got MINE! Neener neener neener!,
Second . . . it's hard to sell something if you never Advertise it. I see ad's for the Mach E, but never an ad for a lightning. They may flash a picture of it's front light bar when talking about a F-150, but THAT is primarily a ICE F-150, Not the Lightning.
Third thing, , , as long as they continue to service it, abet struggle to service it, I will continue to love my Lightning Unicorn !

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