Ford set to resume F-150 Lightning production next week

Published Sat, Mar 11, 2023 · 10:21 AM

Ford says production is on track to resume Monday with a “clean stock of battery packs.” PHOTO: AFP

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FORD Motor said on Friday (Mar 10) it was on track to resume production of F-150 Lightning vehicles on Monday after the No 2 US automaker recalled 18 electric trucks due to a battery cell manufacturing defect.

The recall announced Friday stemmed from production over a four-week period starting at the end of last year. Ford said it had recently established “that 18 vehicles containing cells from that four-week period had made it to dealers and customers.”

Ford said it will replace the battery packs in the 18 vehicles, but said it is not aware of any fires or any injuries related to the recall.

The automaker previously announced it planned to restart production Monday after it halted output after a EV battery fire in early February.

Ford said an EV truck caught fire Feb 4 during a pre-delivery quality inspection in a company holding lot in Dearborn, Michigan and spread to two other trucks. The automaker halted production the next day.

The automaker said Friday “the root cause identified was related to battery cell production at the SK On plant in Georgia. SK On is the automotive battery unit of SK Innovation.

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Ford is moving ahead with the project despite uncertainty around how the US Treasury Department will interpret requirements in President Joe Biden’s signature climate package, the Inflation Reduction Act.

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Ford’s revenue for the third quarter increased 10 per cent to US$39.4 billion, beating Wall Street’s projection of US$36.4 billion.

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The F-150 Lightning Pro now starts at US$51,974, up 30 per cent from the original starting price of US$39,974 when the truck went on sale in May.

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Ford said together with SK On it had “confirmed the root causes and have implemented quality actions.”

Ford said Friday it still has not set a date for resuming deliveries, but said production is on track to resume Monday with a “clean stock of battery packs.” REUTERS

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