Lightning sales report for Q1 2025

[TaxmanHog]

https://fordauthority.com/2025/04/f...umbers-figures-results-first-quarter-2025-q1/

https://fordauthority.com/fmc/ford-...s-numbers/ford-f-150-lightning-sales-numbers/

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[RickLightning]

Pretty dismal, but not surprising given the CyberTruck, the new GM trucks (with much longer range which some people want/need), and Ford basically saying "this is it until 2028".

 

[Vulnox]

Yeah, the boost in March isn't a huge surprise given the incentives available. It's what got me into mine. I had a reservation back when the Lightning was first introduced, but Ford kept bumping up the price to where it was not worth it by the time my number finally got called. They finally got me to sign once the incentives were so high it was almost back to the introductory price.

That said, it's at least consistent and decent for a vehicle that has been on sale longer than any other BEV truck on the market. It sucks that Ford is pushing back any hope of major upgrades though. That may fly for the ICE F-150 where most of your competition is just throwing around simple features to throw on a commercial like fancy tailgates and higher tow ratings. In the BEV space where basically every other BEV truck has faster charging and in some cases more range, they need to start looking at these platforms in a different way.

The Lightning is still a strong competitor though. Great capacity numbers, still in the pack range when not considering 200kWh battery packs, and probably one of the easiest BEVs to get dealer support for since 85% of the truck is just an F-150.

 

[Altivec]

Considering they haven't put any love to the lightning, I think the numbers are actually pretty good.

 

[MaintGrl]

Considering they haven't put any love to the lightning, I think the numbers are actually pretty good.

Ya, ain't that the truth . . I NEVER see any advertisements for the Lightning. Maybe a passing glance or comment, but that is about it...Ford is certainly NOT pushing it as viable replacement.

 

[F150ROD]

7,187 is not bad consider its now an old EV and the Cybertruck only sold 12k as a new vehicle. That 12k is lumped in with the sales of S and X, so who knows that the true sales are.

I’m sure Tesla will come out and say they led in EV Truck sales

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

A quarterly sales volume of 7,187 is great, IMO, based on the attitude of dealerships within a couple hours drive of me.

There are no new Lightnings and no new Mustang Mach-Es available within 100 miles of me, according to cars dot com. As far as I know, all of the Ford dealers in this area threatened the lawsuit against Ford that would have required they invest in EV service equipment, etc., won their little tantrum, and then they didn't even bother to bring in EVs to sell. The nearest dealer with either EV is 116 miles away. That would mean half a day of wasted time just to test drive one.

Ford's search says the local dealer could get a single Lighting in 10 days or so. The next nearest dealer is >50 miles away, and their ship time looks to be 3-4 weeks.

 

[MountainAlive]

So if I’m reading the yearly totals right, Ford has only sold about 80k Lightnings in total since it launched in 2022?

 

[TaxmanHog]

So if I’m reading the yearly totals right, Ford has only sold about 80k Lightnings in total since it launched in 2022?

Correct, at one point they hoped to be selling upwards of 150,000 a year, then SHTF.

Lightning production rate to be 150,000 per year by late 2023

 

[MountainAlive]

Correct, at one point they hoped to be selling upwards of 150,000 a year, then SHTF.

Lightning production rate to be 150,000 per year by late 2023

 

[Altivec]

They probably would be at 150k sales per year if they cut the charge times in half and got their software in order. Instead they are going to invest in going backwards to EREV. By the time that unreliable Frankenstein comes out, battery tech will be under 10min for a charge making EREV's useless. Like always, Ford is chasing their own tail instead of acting like a tech company and improving the truck year over year.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Correct, at one point they hoped to be selling upwards of 150,000 a year, then SHTF.

Lightning production rate to be 150,000 per year by late 2023

And they still could if they were to be more aggressive on the total price and packages of the lower tier to increase interest in the $50,000 range. Sure little or no actual profit at that point, but they could sell some volume and hopefully recover R& D costs.

 

[Grease Lightning]

They probably would be at 150k sales per year if they cut the charge times in half and got their software in order. Instead they are going to invest in going backwards to EREV. By the time that unreliable Frankenstein comes out, battery tech will be under 10min for a charge making EREV's useless. Like always, Ford is chasing their own tail instead of acting like a tech company and improving the truck year over year.

The issue is it is not an all or nothing scenario. Both BEV and a REX can coexist and should. If you haul a lot or haul long distance, you would likely choose the the REX over a quick charging BEV. If you never tow, tow infrequently, or only locally, you will probably choose the BEV.

They are intended for two very different use types in most cases. Sure the Silverado EV blows away the competition in towing long distance, but a ICE still crushes it too.

 

[Altivec]

The issue is it is not an all or nothing scenario. Both BEV and a REX can coexist and should. If you haul a lot or haul long distance, you would likely choose the the REX over a quick charging BEV. If you never tow, tow infrequently, or only locally, you will probably choose the BEV.

They are intended for two very different use types in most cases. Sure the Silverado EV blows away the competition in towing long distance, but a ICE still crushes it too.

I don't want to turn this into another EREV vs BEV thread as there are plenty of those and my opinions about them are there. But to summarize those posts. If I towed a lot of long distances. I would by a cheaper and more fuel efficient diesel over a complex EREV, If I didn't do a lot of long distance driving, I would buy a BEV over an EREV. If a 10% to 80% charge can be done in 5 to 10 minutes, I would only consider a BEV no matter what kind of driving I do. I have owned an EREV car for 10 years and they are the worst of both worlds. I get the allure because when I bought, I thought it would be the best of both worlds. Many stubborn people such as myself will have to learn that on their own.

You are correct that they can co-exist as there is going to be a huge market of people that believe EREV''s are great. From a marketing standpoint it could sell well and I don't have a problem with that. My concern is that they will be cutting back on BEV trucks like the rumours and Farley himself stated. Instead of going for that 5 to 10 minute charge, they are giving up. Other manufacturers are not giving up and will soon achieve that.

If Ford is working full blast trying to improve the lightning, I have no problem with them introducing an EREV. If the EREV is being introduced to REPLACE the lightning, I am waving bye bye to Ford.

 

[Altivec]

Usage is not mutually exclusive. Usage stretches from Hot Shots to guys who never tow, and everything in between (and far more in between).

For a guy who tows a camper 10 times a year he still uses his truck for a LOT of other things. A BEV may suit 80% of his use case, but is practically unusable for the other 20%. Across billions of miles driven every year those numbers vary greatly.

I rarely tow, but am frustrated my truck is basically unusable for the few long distance towing I would want to use it for. No matter how you cut it stopping for an hour charge for every hour of driving is not realistic. But nor is spending $115k to buy a truck with a 200kwh battery that gets only half an hour more on the road for the same time charging.

At the end of the day for most switching from a ICE truck to a BEV takes it from having a truck that is usable but not great at daily driving, to a truck that's great at daily driving but not usable at all for other things.

I suggest you re-read what I said. If you feel an EREV is good for you, please enjoy. I have experience with them and they are not for me. I do not have a problem if Ford makes EREV's, My problem is if they REPLACE the lightning with EREV.

As I said. newer battery technologies are getting to the point where you do not have to wait an hour, you only wait 10 minutes. For a lot of people, that alone would be acceptable to tow long distances more often. There is also a boat load of technologies they are working on that increase density, lower costs, lower charging times. In 5 to 10 years from now, this won't even be a talking point.

Back on topic. Ford has done little to improve the lightning in 4 years. They recently upped the charging to 500Amps, shaving 6 minutes off a charge, which is great. But this is not new technology, this is just being more lenient on the tech that they already have. Right now competitors are at 800V. Instead of being at 36min for a 10 to 80 charge, that would already cut that down to 25min or less. Every drop in charge time, makes the truck more viable to more people. As I said, considering they did very little (again, not knocking the 6 min drop as that is their biggest improvement), the sales are pretty good. Their saving grace is that the "truck part" is exceptional. If they work on their charging speed, sales numbers will increase. I just hope they haven't given up as that would be a huge mistake.

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