Production of Ford’s next-generation electric truck that will be manufactured at BlueOval City in West Tennessee has been delayed a third time, the company announced.
Initially slated to begin this year, Ford said in August 2024 that the production timeline for its new electric truck, the F-150 Lightning, would be pushed back until 2027.
Now, Ford confirmed earlier this month that production of its electric truck model is planned to begin in 2028, with prototype builds beginning at BlueOval City next year.
A spokesman for Ford said in a statement that the company told its suppliers and employees of the timeline pushback for both its electric truck model and next-gen electric van, assembled in Ohio, in June.
“We remain and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability,” the spokesman added.
BlueOval City was announced in 2021. Ford said at the time it would invest a total of $5.6 billion in the Stanton area for its 3,600-acre campus.
The Tennessee General Assembly approved $884 million in incentives for Ford’s project during a special legislative session in October 2021.
Once fully operational, BlueOval City is anticipated to employ approximately 6,000 workers between the campus’ electric vehicle manufacturing facility, the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, and battery manufacturing facility, BlueOval SK Battery Park, which will produce lithium-ion battery cells for Ford and Lincoln EVs.
Ford has further plans to invest in the area surrounding BlueOval City. Last year, the company unveiled a $9 million “Good Neighbor Plan” funding initiative to support and “uplift” residents of the surrounding communities of the manufacturing facility.
As production of the electric truck model stalls in West Tennessee, Ford announced last week that it will begin assembling a new midsize, four-door electric pickup at its Louisville Assembly Plant beginning in 2027.
Ford will expand its Louisville facility by 52,000 square feet to accommodate production of its electric midsize truck model.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Ford Electric Trucking” by Automotive Rhythms. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
this was a pipe dream and empty promises from the start
Nothing surprising about this. Can the state of Tennessee get a refund of the money so foolishly GIVEN to Ford? Lee and his legislative cronies gave away the farm for NOTHING!