DETROIT — Ford will drastically minimize the variety of hourly staff at its manufacturing facility that builds the Ford F-150 Lightning as gross sales of electrical automobiles gradual, in line with a media report.
Ford started the yr by slicing manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning electrical pickup after weaker-than-expected electrical car gross sales progress.
Whereas EV gross sales are rising within the U.S., the tempo is falling effectively wanting the business’s bold timetable and plenty of shoppers are turning to hybrid automobiles as a substitute.
Ford bought simply over 24,000 Lightnings final yr, up 55% from 2022. However sellers are reporting slower gross sales and rising inventories on the electrical truck, which begins at slightly below $50,000.
On Wednesday, the Detroit Free Press and Louisville Courier reported that Ford will start trimming the hourly workforce subsequent week on the Rouge Electrical Car Heart in Dearborn, Michigan, in line with Ford spokeswoman Jessica Enoch.
Of the two,100 staff who make up three work crews on the Dearborn facility, a 3rd will stay, Enoch instructed the Detroit Free Press. Ford will switch 700 staff to the Michigan Meeting Plant in Wayne to construct the Bronco and Ranger. The remaining 700 staff will both take a retirement package deal supplied throughout final yr’s contract talks with the United Auto Employees, or will take a reassignment in southeast Michigan. Ford is including a 3rd crew at Michigan Meeting, the paper reported.
Shares of Ford Motor Co. have been primarily flat earlier than the opening bell.
