The Ford F-150 Lightning Steals the Spotlight from the Tesla Cybertruck

The electric version of the Ford F-150, the archetype of the American pickup truck, is a huge success in the United States.

In November 2019, Tesla made headlines by unveiling the Cybertruck, an innovative and affordable pickup designed to save Americans from the pollution caused by traditional gas-powered pickups. Appearing on a Recode Decode show, Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, explained in 2018 that they “wanted to rid the roads of gasoline and diesel pickups.”

But like many Tesla innovations, the Cybertruck has faced delays. Production was first postponed to 2022, and the manufacturer has since provided no new timeline.

Also read: Autonomous Vehicles: Could Geely Outpace Tesla?

F-150 Lightning Production Nearly Doubled

This situation benefits Ford, which has meanwhile introduced the F-150 Lightning. Ford is one of the ten oldest automakers still in operation (along with Peugeot, Renault, and a few others), and in 2021, the traditional F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in the United States… for the 40th consecutive year. It is also the quintessential American “pickup truck,” whose name instantly evokes the sound of a big V8 engine. A true symbol!

The electric version of this pickup offers advantages such as a bed with a built-in scale, a large front trunk, and power outlets capable of running heavy-duty tools.

However, there were concerns that Americans might not warmly accept this sometimes seemingly contradictory vehicle, leading Ford to significantly underestimate its success. The manufacturer announced last week that it would almost double annual production to reach 150,000 units per year starting mid-2023. Initially, it planned to produce 40,000 units in 2022 and 80,000 in 2023.

First Deliveries on Time

Ford had taken 200,000 refundable reservations of $100 each before closing them. These customers are gradually being invited to order since last week, and the manufacturer is now accepting new orders via the new configurator it just launched.

It also turns out that the starting price of $40,000 before taxes applies to the “Pro” model, aimed at professionals, which promises an EPA range of 230 miles (370 km). The consumer-oriented “XLT” starts at $53,000 before taxes with the same range. The “Extended Range” version, offering 300 miles EPA range (483 km), starts at $72,000 before taxes.

The first deliveries of the Ford F-150 Lightning are scheduled for spring 2022, as planned.

Rivian Also Outpaces Tesla

It is worth noting that Tesla has been surpassed in the electric pickup segment by another manufacturer, the Californian startup Rivian, which has been delivering its first R1T models since October 2021.