Next-gen Ford F-150 Lightning delayed until 2028

Ford Motor has announced its battery-powered Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford E-Transit replacements have both been postponed.

This move buys the US car-making giant time in the effort to release a family of smaller, more affordable EVs to market that will include a small or mid-size zero-emission ute that could be positioned beneath the current Ford Ranger

According to Reuters, Ford has already contacted suppliers involved with the development of the unnamed full-size ute and confirmed that production would be pushed back from 2027 to 2028.

The next-generation Ford E-Transit, meanwhile, was supposed to enter production next year but will now be delayed until 2028.

Commenting on reports that the big battery-powered ute’s arrival has been pushed back, Ford released a statement that said:

“F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today’s customer needs”, with Ford adding that it “will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.”

Ford reportedly will now use the time to refocus its efforts to develop a range of low-cost EVs, to help it finally compete with cheap EVs from China.

To help deliver its affordable electric cars, work has already begun on creating what’s described as a ‘streamlined platform’ that should bring cost-savings when it comes to production.

The switch in strategies had been previewed in a call to investors last week by Ford CEO Jim Farley who said: “The pure EV market in the US seems to us very clear, small vehicles used for commuting and around town.”

During the call Farley went on to blame quality issues for triggering mass recalls and said that he expected the Blue Oval’s electric car division to post losses of up to $US5.5 billion ($A8.5b).

Just last year Ford scrapped plans for a full-size three-row SUV flagship over a perceived lack of demand. Ford says it will now lay out its future plans for its upcoming EVs on August 11 but among the cars it will unveil will be a compact ute.

Ahead of the unveil Ford has trademarked the ‘Ranchero’ nameplate on August 5. The new EV pick-up shuns a crude ladder-frame chassis for a car-like monocoque, sacrificing payload for a more sophisticated ride and drive.

The new Ford Ranchero EV could be repositioned as a replacement for the popular Ford Focus-based Maverick ute sold in the US, but all should be revealed shortly.

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