As the first pre-production F-150 Lightning trucks roll out of Ford’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center to satisfy soaring demand, Ford said it will increase investment and add jobs in assembly lines to boost production.
Ford is investing an additional US$250 million (roughly P12 billion) and adding 450 more direct jobs across the Rouge Center, Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center, and Rawsonville Components Plant. The investment and added jobs at the Michigan plants will help increase production capacity to 80,000 trucks a year, Ford said.
The F-150 Lightning, the F-150's electrified sibling, has an estimated driving range of 300 miles (482 kilometers) with the extended range battery. "Aimed at the heart of the US auto market, Ford has taken more than 150,000 reservations for the trucks to date," the manufacturer said.
The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center was part of the company's initial US$700 million investment in the historic Ford Rouge Center, built specifically for the F-150 Lightning. This new center supports Ford’s goal of sustainable production, being a zero waste-to-landfill site.
Among the green equipment here include natural lighting, LED lighting, and the primary forklift fleet that use hydrogen fuel cells with a zero-emission profile. The Rouge Center is built on the site of the old Dearborn Assembly Plant, using its recycled foundation and construction materials.
Meanwhile, the Rawsonville Components Plant will assemble the electric pickup's batteries, and the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center will increase its capacity to supply electric motors and electric transaxles.
Aside from the Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup, Ford's Michigan assembly lines will produce more EVs as well as autonomous vehicles.
As for the F-150, it boasts a maximum power output of 563hp and 1,050Nm of near-instantaneous torque. It nets a zero-to-100kph-time in the mid-four-second range when outfitted with an extended-range battery. It will also have the ability to drive itself with Co-Pilot360 technology and BlueCruise.
“We knew the F-150 Lightning was special, but the interest from the public has surpassed our highest expectations and changed the conversation around electric vehicles. So we are doubling down, adding jobs and investment to increase production,” Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said.
The company's executives added that the F-150 is America's best-selling truck for 44 years.
Photos from Ford
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