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No, the Ford F-150 Lightning production isn’t delayed
No, the Ford F-150 Lightning production isn’t delayed

Jimmy Dinsmore October 25, 2021
Ford Motor Co. recently tantalized us with the
first pre-production F-150 Lightning trucks rolling off the assembly line. This typically means the actual production ones would soon follow. However, some reservation holders are concerned production might be delayed for this new all-electric truck.
We know there are 150,000 reservations for the all-electric F-150, as Ford confirmed that number with us, but there seems to be seem confusion about when those reservations can and will be turned into actual orders.
Members of an online forum dedicated to the Lightning posted letters they received from their dealers letting them know about a delay in the order conversion. On
LightningOwners.com, the letters some reservation holders posted were disappointing.
One letter reads: “Unfortunately, the Lightning order banks will not be opening next week. They will now be opening in December 2021. I will reach back out to schedule appointments to order Lightnings at that time. The arrival of the Lightning has not been delayed and still due to arrive mid-2022.”
While this appears to be nothing more than a minor setback, some of the reservation holders wonder if this is related to the ongoing microchip shortage and if the entire production process will be delayed. However, according to the letter posted to the forum, this doesn’t appear to be the case.
Ford responds to Lightning reservation holders
Emma Bergg, Ford’s spokesperson for the F-150 Lightning, tried to put any doubts or speculation to rest.
“We are excited to have more than 150,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning,” she said. “We have not yet communicated a date for when customers will start to be invited to convert their reservation to order.”
Bergg also said any previous conversion date was never anything more than an estimation, and Ford has yet to finalize a date. She also confirmed what was stated in the letter: Production for the Lightning has not been delayed and “deliveries will begin in spring 2022.”
The bottom line on F-150 Lightning orders
At 150,000, the current reservation count for the F-150 Lightning is high. Ford would be wise to get those converted before they lose some of the buzz and interest – or you know, buy an electric truck
such as the Rivian R1T, which is already out there.
We reported on
Tesla delaying the Cybertruck indefinitely and how that could cost Elon Musk his reputation. And though the R1T is out there, Rivian is still a relative unknown. Assuming there aren’t delays, Ford will still be the second electric pickup truck out with the F-150 Lightning, and we hope the mounting frustration doesn’t curtail the enthusiasm that exists for this revolutionary all-electric truck from a tried-and-true automaker.
We don’t blame the dealers for “jumping the gun” or trying to be as transparent as possible with their customers. That is the right thing to do. It’s been a rough year for both dealers and consumers as far as waiting for inventory and product.