Ford has announced it will cease production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning truck and replace it with a hybrid version featuring a gas generator. The new extended-range electric vehicle aims to offer over 700 miles of range while maintaining electric driving performance. This shift reflects broader challenges in the EV market, including lower demand and regulatory changes.
Ford's decision to end production of the current F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck comes amid a strategic pivot away from larger battery-electric vehicles. The company revealed on December 15, 2025, that it will reboot the model as an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), incorporating a gas generator to recharge a larger battery while keeping the powertrain fully electric. This setup is expected to deliver more than 700 miles of range, addressing customer demands for heavy-duty towing and long-distance travel.
Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer, highlighted the model's appeal: "Our next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV will be every bit as revolutionary. It delivers everything Lightning customers love – near instantaneous torque and pure electric driving. But with a high-power generator enabling an estimated range of 700+ miles, it tows like a locomotive. Heavy-duty towing and cross-country travel will be as effortless as the daily commute."
Production of the existing all-electric Lightning will conclude this year, with employees shifting to building gas and hybrid trucks. This move aligns with Ford's projection that hybrids, EREVs, and EVs will make up half of its global sales volume by 2030, up from 17% currently. The company cited lower-than-expected demand, high costs, and regulatory shifts—particularly under the incoming Trump administration—as reasons for halting select larger EVs.
Ford is also repurposing facilities: it ended a joint venture with SK On, retaining a Kentucky battery plant to produce lithium iron phosphate cells for data centers with a $2 billion investment, targeting 20 GWh annual output within 18 months. A Tennessee assembly plant will build gas-powered trucks starting in four years, while an Ohio facility will focus on gas and hybrid commercial vans.
The changes are projected to result in a $19.5 billion negative financial impact through 2027, including $5.5 billion in cash outflows, mostly in the final quarter of 2025.
