Ford’s Truck Onslaught Is Gas-Fired

Vehicles nonetheless rule at Ford, and the automaker has all weapons blazing with new variations of all three of its conventional pickups now in manufacturing. All of them nonetheless make the most of inner combustion engines, to enchantment to prospects who just like the tried-and-true. Since final spring, Ford has launched new variations of the Tremendous Obligation, the F-150 full-size pickup, and the Ranger. Collectively they make up 90 % of Ford’s pickup quantity; the new new compact Ford Maverick accounts for the remainder.

The Ford F-150 Lightning electrical pickup has garnered a lot of the headlines however its gross sales have been falling off and shipments stopped Feb. 9 for an undisclosed problem. Ford continued to construct them and park them because the automaker labored on a repair on what seemed to be a headlight problem. Kumar Galhotra, Ford chief working officer, tells us that the Lightning will start transport once more on the finish of the month. Even so, falling demand has led Ford to cut back manufacturing of the electrical truck in Dearborn. And the subsequent technology of the truck, which can not proceed to make use of the Lightning identify, will probably be in-built Michigan in addition to on the new BlueOval Metropolis advanced in Tennessee. However manufacturing has been pushed again a 12 months to 2026.

In the meantime, demand for conventional vehicles continues to develop. Ford is now transport the brand new Ranger in addition to the Ranger Raptor, all its F-150 variants together with the Raptor and hybrid. Ford has by no means had so many new vehicles hitting the market without delay, says Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue.

Business-wide, truck gross sales elevated 4.5 % within the U.S. final 12 months and present no indicators of slowing. Ford constructed 144,000 new vehicles within the first quarter. The automaker assembles a brand new truck within the U.S. each 33 seconds.

Whereas the urge for food for pure EVs has lessened, hybrid demand continues to develop and Ford autos symbolize 72 % of the hybrid truck market, led by the Maverick. However a brand new F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid is coming and Ford is doubling the manufacturing price of the bigger hybrid to twenty % of all F-150s constructed this 12 months. European business prospects will be capable of get a plug-in hybrid model of the Ranger by the tip of the 12 months for his or her fleets.

Ford continues to work to enhance its high quality points. Knowledge from pre-production 2024 F-150s confirmed some modules weren’t shutting off at evening and thus consuming extra energy than they need to. The software program was up to date earlier than any manufacturing vehicles left the plant. The problem has been resolved, and Ford will is beginning to ship Rangers and F-150s that have been held for high quality management causes. The 2024 F-150 has an up to date design in and out, in addition to a brand new 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6 base engine and accessible BlueCruise hands-free driving.