It wasn’t that long ago we constantly saw in a number of automotive and mainstream media publications that the Ford Lighting was absolutely the future of not only the F-150 but pickup trucks. Well, that hasn’t aged well and now Ford’s slashing production while making excuses, covering up a deeper problem we’ve been shining a light on for months.
Perhaps this has something to do with Ford’s move?
The first crack in the dam came when different reviewers tried actually towing something with the Ford Lighting, something you do with a truck. You probably already know how horrible the all-electric pickups are at towing even a light trailer any distance, with the range getting cut into a small fraction of normal.
Other issues, including a battery fire at Ford’s factory and a recall, seemed to only chip away at the image of the Lightning. While you can theorize those might be the cause behind the automaker cutting a shift from the EV truck’s production schedule, as well as recently canceling dealer stock orders as reported by Yahoo Finance, there’s a far bigger story here.
Automakers and their access media counterparts (that is media outlets which depend on access to automaker events and press pool vehicles) worked together to craft a story about dramatically rising demand for EVs in the US market. But the reality is we’ve been seeing EV demanding softening since at least the beginning of 2023.
Signs of weakening demand don’t just include Ford Lightning production cutbacks but also the price slashes for all kinds of EVs. After all, if demand were high prices would at least stay consistent if not increase.
Many EV aficionados don’t want to hear this reality. Some are busy spinning this Lighting story as a sign that the Tesla Cybertruck is cutting into demand as it prepares to take the whole auto industry by storm. The reality is most people who want an EV and can actually afford one (or who are dumb enough to agree to an 86-month loan for one) have already bought an EV.
Most remaining consumers are tired of the relentless EV push, especially with talk of using the government to force them to buy one. Automakers and their access media partners would be wise to listen.
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