Ford announced that the F-150 Lightning (Lightning) electric pickup’s base model “Pro” price has been raised from $55,974 to $59,974, not including $1895 for shipping. That’s $20,000 more than the $39,974 price tag at launch in May 2021, with other models such as the Lariat and Platinum also seeing price increases of varying degrees.
The Lariat model is reportedly priced $1,500 higher at $77,869, and the Platinum model is priced $1,200 higher at $99,969. (Both prices include shipping.) The only model not affected is the slightly cheaper XLT, whose price has not changed since last December when it rose to $63,474. However, that’s also more than $10,000 higher than the initial $52,974.
Ford has faced several challenges since launching this electric pickup. Most notably a battery fire incident led the company to suspend production and deliveries of the vehicle and recall a dozen vehicles. Such an incident is especially problematic as the company is pushing ahead with its electrification strategy and cutting jobs significantly.
Ford has resumed production of the Lightning electric pickup, but that doesn’t mean the vehicle will be any easier to buy, CNBC reports. The company’s consumer and speciality websites both hint that “retail orders are no longer being taken for the current model due to strong demand.”
Ford’s competitors aren’t faring any better. the Rivian’s R1T starts at about $73,000, and the company is telling customers who reserve now that they won’t receive their cars until at least the fall of 2023. In the meantime, prices are subject to change and delays are a possibility. As for Tesla’s Cybertruck, its price and launch date are still a mystery.
