[JV150]

So I have been watching and reading this forum for month. Probably no different than most eager son to be Lightning owners. Does anyone have any clue how Ford is picking what they are actually building? It seems like there is very little rhyme or reason after the Oder waves to how these are being built and distributed. My dealer in Upstate NY has not had any orders given a build date yet. My order was approved on 2/18 and not a word since. Yet I see others with order dates after mine with their trucks or at least their build date. I completely understand not having it in my driveway yet but lack of communication and consistency in how they are distributing the builds is frustrating!

 

[ChasingCoral]

Build dates are dependent on lots of scheduling factors based on line efficiency and parts availability. Platinums and Lariat are being built earlier than most XLTs and retail customer pros.

 

[JV150]

Which I have heard. I have the Lariat on order which makes it frustrating when you see people how ordered after you getting their trucks.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Which I have heard. I have the Lariat on order which makes it frustrating when you see people how ordered after you getting their trucks.

Has your car been built yet? If not, do you have a build date?

 

[JV150]

That is the issue. I don’t think even have a build date yet. I have no problem waiting my turn but 5 months with no update from Ford is unacceptable.

 

[2023 lighting]

The secrecy is frustrating. I wonder how much it's driven by unknown supply constraints.

Not knowing if you'll get the truck this year, next year, or...?

It would be great knowing the reason and I don't see a reason the public can't know the reason except unless it's related to trade secrets such as supply problems.

 

[Voltz]

I don’t think even have a build date yet.

Have you checked your online Ford account for a possible schedule date? Is the order showing in your account?

Did you build the truck using your online account? The way you worded your first post, it sounds like you did and the dealer accepted it?

 

[Azbittel]

So I have been watching and reading this forum for month. Probably no different than most eager son to be Lightning owners. Does anyone have any clue how Ford is picking what they are actually building? It seems like there is very little rhyme or reason after the Oder waves to how these are being built and distributed. My dealer in Upstate NY has not had any orders given a build date yet. My order was approved on 2/18 and not a word since. Yet I see others with order dates after mine with their trucks or at least their build date. I completely understand not having it in my driveway yet but lack of communication and consistency in how they are distributing the builds is frustrating!

What dealer? Mine is a wave 2, 312A/Max Tow XLT with a build week of tomorrow, 7/18. Pretty late rez date, 1/20 order date.

I'm in Syracuse ordering out of Friendly in Geneva, so far I'm their only reasonably soon order afaik.

Where in the process are you? What was your reservation date/time? Who is your dealer? What wave, and whats your build like? All pretty important details.

 

[2023 lighting]

They run relatively small paint groups in the ICE factory. If the Lightning has its own paint line they may not run certain colors very often yet with such low build numbers.

 

[JV150]

I did order through my Ford account. Dealer has confirmed there is no issues with the order. That said I still don’t have a build date. Ordered a Lariat extended range with all terrain tires. Nothing else fancy.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

I think all these decisions are Fords, and for us to assume that we know how it should be done is a little short sighted, though I certainly am one to understand and even participate in the aggravation after my initial build week was way back in May, pushed into June several times later, and then now the end of this Month. I get it.

but, I also am not privy to how Ford decides what comes first, second, or last - I'm sure it's not them 'trying' to aggravate our situation, as most folks don't zone in on these builds like we have. I'm sure that they are not going to simply 'open up' to our questions and spill all the details of 'how' they make these decisions. It could be commodity issues or reasons. It could reasons for the most efficient line operation. It could be employee reasons. It could be a lot of things that we know little about, although I am frustrated just as everyone else is, at least until I actually receive my truck.

I was the purchasing agent years and years ago for a boat builder. They built about 6 'models' of family boats, mainly with inboard/outboard engines, some were 17' family-type boats, a few were longer 'sport' boats, and one was a larger 'cuddy cabin' cruiser. All used similar hardware, at least as much as possible, similar paint and gelcoat, similar fiberglass construction, similar foam and vinyl seating, and similar technology. I'll admit, though, each 'model' had it's own build timing, different from the others, all going down the same 'line', with the same workers, etc. I can understand more clearly, from my own perspective, that if you don't receive those chrome plated parts, you could have boats sitting on the side, or outside, incomplete, waiting on parts. It's then HARD to get the same amount of priority for those since they are now 'outside' of the normal work line. Someone has to make a special time and trip to get those finished. If an engine order is delayed, well, you can see where THAT would put the line. If you run out of the fiberglass, or a specific color gelcoat or paint, well, you get the picture. It's not even a matter of whether you ORDERED them in a timely matter, it can be many, many issues along the way that may delay those parts or commodities - and we have little control over that.

 

[2023 lighting]

I worked for boat factory. Fortunately i ran the wood cnc machine. The ones that worked in the fiberglass shop, man that was one nasty job. That stuff destroyed their cars their clothes their lungs.

 

[stokesiii]

I read somewhere that the build dates were determined by the order you signed up for the first night the reservations opened up on 5/29/21. I signed up literally the minute after the announcement was done but placed by order on 2/22 and just got my truck on Friday (LOVE IT BTW). I think this lines up with what I read that the build order was based on how fast you signed up originally not converted to an order.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I read somewhere that the build dates were determined by the order you signed up for the first night the reservations opened up on 5/29/21. I signed up literally the minute after the announcement was done but placed by order on 2/22 and just got my truck on Friday (LOVE IT BTW). I think this lines up with what I read that the build order was based on how fast you signed up originally not converted to an order.

I have never seen this stated by Ford. While it is a great concept, vehicle production scheduling is dependent on many more factors than your reservation date, or even some combination of reservation and order dates. Parts availability and line efficiency are much more important.

 

[stokesiii]

I have never seen this stated by Ford. While it is a great concept, vehicle production scheduling is dependent on many more factors than your reservation date, or even some combination of reservation and order dates. Parts availability and line efficiency are much more important.

Yep I agree. They have to be very systematic about the builds. I think my build was pretty common. Black Lariat with extended battery and spray in liner. I didn't get too fancy with the customization, nor are there that many...

 

[IGF150]

Yep I agree. They have to be very systematic about the builds. I think my build was pretty common. Black Lariat with extended battery and spray in liner. I didn't get too fancy with the customization, nor are there that many...

I think that would make the most sense from Ford's perspective. If they can get out the most Lariat's and Platinum's with the most basic customizations they will make those first so ford can maximize their revenue and get sales vs. a fully custom Lariat or Platinum that would require Ford to spend more time building.

 

[Eclectic]

I think I saw that Ford prioritizes dealer orders based on their overall volume. Also I think dealers prioritize orders from customers that they want processed first since Ford has limits on how many orders they will / can accept from the dealer each month. (Although I would assume Lightnings would be high on the list.) Maybe EV trained & certified dealers have priority? Need to be good buddies with the dealer general manager? But delaying the build might let some of these Lightning initial problems (frunk stuck latch; bricked vehicle at 5% battery) to be worked out. I wonder if later orders going down the line get more refined parts, newer 12Vdc batteries, instead of parts that were stocked too early and waiting for months due to a slow line speed ramp up? However, I have not seen that many complaints about the trucks received so far! Where is mine?!

 

[ChasingCoral]

I think I saw that Ford prioritizes dealer orders based on their overall volume. Also I think dealers prioritize orders from customers that they want processed first since Ford has limits on how many orders they will / can accept from the dealer each month. (Although I would assume Lightnings would be high on the list.) Maybe EV trained & certified dealers have priority? Need to be good buddies with the dealer general manager? But delaying the build might let some of these Lightning initial problems (frunk stuck latch; bricked vehicle at 5% battery) to be worked out. I wonder if later orders going down the line get more refined parts, newer 12Vdc batteries, instead of parts that were stocked too early and waiting for months due to a slow line speed ramp up? However, I have not seen that many complaints about the trucks received so far! Where is mine?!

Only EV certified dealer can sell Lightnings.

 

[bmcons]

I placed my reservation as soon as the website was live, I didn’t even watch the first part of the unveiling, and then ordered in wave 1, on January 6th, and I still don’t have my truck either. But I ordered the Pro, so I understand that it would not be prioritized versus the more expensive versions. So I don’t think the reservation date matters too much by itself. It’s indeed a combination of all of these, reservations date, order date, configuration, location, distance to factory, the dealer you used, and the different parts shortages on top of that, and them the transportation scheduling on top of everything. You can also have human error along the way.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I placed my reservation as soon as the website was live, I didn’t even watch the first part of the unveiling, and then ordered in wave 1, on January 6th, and I still don’t have my truck either. But I ordered the Pro, so I understand that it would not be prioritized versus the more expensive versions. So I don’t think the reservation date matters too much by itself. It’s indeed a combination of all of these, reservations date, order date, configuration, location, distance to factory, the dealer you used, and the different parts shortages on top of that, and them the transportation scheduling on top of everything. You can also have human error along the way.

Ford always indicated that customer Pro deliveries would be late summer 2022.