It was supposed to be the dawn of a new era for America’s best-selling vehicle. When Ford unveiled the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup in 2021, the announcement landed like a thunderclap across the automotive world. The company promised a future where the iconic truck would not only haul, tow, and power worksites, but do it all with zero tailpipe emissions and a starting price of just $40,000. Fast-forward to December 2025, and that bold vision has hit a wall. Ford has officially ended production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, pivoting sharply away from its full-EV strategy and toward a mix of gasoline, hybrid, and range-extended electric vehicles.
According to NPR, the company wrapped up production of the 2025 F-150 Lightning this month, less than five years after its much-hyped launch. The decision, Ford executives say, is driven by a combination of stubborn market realities, shifting consumer preferences, and a tough financial picture. "This is a customer-driven shift to create a stronger, more resilient and more profitable Ford," CEO Jim Farley explained in a statement, as reported by Driving. "The operating reality has changed, and we are redeploying capital into higher-return growth opportunities."
Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Ford Model e, echoed that sentiment on a call with reporters: "The American consumer is speaking clearly and they want the benefits of electrification like instant torque and mobile power. But they also demand affordability … rather than spending billions more on large EVs that now have no path to profitability, we are allocating that money into higher-returning areas." (NPR)
The Lightning’s demise comes after a turbulent run. Ford’s Model e division, responsible for electric vehicles, lost about $5 billion last year (Driving). The company had once planned for up to 150,000 annual Lightning sales, but the real number never surpassed 40,000 units a year (Motor1). The Lightning was also supposed to start at $40,000, but by the time the 2025 model hit showrooms, the sticker price was closer to $55,000—and most versions sold for $60,000 to $90,000, putting them well out of reach for many buyers. Even with generous incentives, the truck failed to meet expectations.
Production headaches didn’t help. Earlier this year, a fire at one of Ford’s aluminum suppliers caused a scarcity of the metal, forcing a halt in Lightning production. When the lines restarted, Ford prioritized the more profitable gas-burning F-150s, which remain America’s favorite vehicle. Employees from the electric vehicle plant were reassigned to support increased shifts for gas and hybrid truck production in Dearborn (Motor1).
Despite these challenges, the Lightning managed to rack up accolades. It won the 2023 Truck of the Year from Motortrend and the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards, and was Kelley Blue Book’s top pick for electric trucks in 2024 (NPR). Ford says it was also the best-selling electric truck in America last quarter. Yet, as NPR notes, the entire EV pickup segment struggled with performance, affordability, and reliability—especially when it came to towing range, a crucial metric for truck buyers.
So what’s next for Ford’s electrification push? The company isn’t abandoning electric vehicles entirely, but it’s dramatically changing course. The next-generation F-150 Lightning, which may keep the Lightning name, will be a range-extended EV (EREV)—a plug-in hybrid where the wheels are always powered by an electric motor, but a gasoline engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery on the go. This move, Ford hopes, will appeal to a much broader swath of customers who want the benefits of electrification without the limitations of battery-only range. Pure internal-combustion trucks will also remain in the lineup.
Ford’s shift comes with a hefty price tag. The company estimates the pivot away from full EVs will cost about $20 billion in write-offs and cash this year (Driving, NPR). But executives argue it’s a necessary step to replace money-losing models with ones that stand a chance of turning a profit. The 15th-generation F-150 is expected to debut in 2028, and the new EREV Lightning will be built in Michigan rather than the originally planned Tennessee plant. That Tennessee facility, meanwhile, will be repurposed to produce an affordable gas-powered truck starting in 2029—a model not currently found in Ford’s lineup (Driving).
Another major consequence of the Lightning’s demise is what happens to all those batteries. Ford had invested heavily in battery plants to supply EV production lines that are now idling. Rather than let that capacity go to waste, Ford will revamp a battery production site in Kentucky to build batteries for stationary storage. These batteries will help balance the electric grid—charging up when renewable energy is abundant and discharging when electricity is scarce. They’ll also be sold to data centers and other industrial customers, opening a new revenue stream for the automaker (NPR).
Ford’s future EV plans are shrinking in size and price. The company is targeting a $30,000 midsize EV pickup, with production expected to start roughly a year from now. It also reaffirmed support for the Universal Electric Vehicle platform, which will underpin a $30,000 compact truck starting in 2027 (Motor1, NPR).
Industry analysts point to a confluence of factors behind Ford’s pivot. The EV market grew more slowly than expected, and the Lightning’s close resemblance to its gas-powered sibling made it a tough sell—why pay $10,000 to $15,000 more for a truck that looks the same, is less familiar, and can’t tow as far? Meanwhile, changes in the U.S. regulatory environment have also played a role. The Trump administration has rolled back EV tax credits and fuel economy standards that once pushed automakers to keep unprofitable electric vehicles in production. With those incentives gone, Ford and others have less reason to stick with costly EVs that aren’t selling (NPR).
For some, the Lightning’s end is a cautionary tale about the challenges of electrifying America’s favorite vehicles. For others, it’s a pragmatic response to market realities and an evolving regulatory landscape. As Ford pivots toward hybrids, range-extended EVs, and smaller electric trucks, the story of the F-150 Lightning serves as a reminder that even the boldest bets can fizzle out when the numbers don’t add up.
In the end, the Lightning’s brief but eventful run leaves Ford with lessons learned, a new direction, and—perhaps—a clearer view of what American truck buyers really want.
