Ford has confirmed manufacturing of its electrical Ford F-150 Lightning truck will resume at present, after it stopped producing the in-demand automobile after one caught hearth on the firm’s manufacturing facility on February 4.
On the time, Ford put an instantaneous cease to manufacturing whereas it started an investigation into the basis reason behind the battery hearth.
The corporate’s battery provider, South Korean model SK, has since mentioned it was a uncommon occurence and never a design flaw, which Ford has at present confirmed in its personal assertion.
“On Feb. 4, throughout a regular high quality examine, one automobile displayed a battery situation and caught hearth. The basis trigger recognized was associated to battery cell manufacturing on the SK On plant in Georgia,” the model mentioned in a press release.
“Ford isn’t conscious of any studies of accident or harm associated to this recall. Along with SK On, we’ve got confirmed the basis causes and have applied high quality actions. Manufacturing is on observe to renew Monday with clear inventory of battery packs.”
As a part of the rectification course of, the 18 different Ford F-150 Lightnings constructed with the batch of batteries recognized to have a possible situation and delivered to prospects have been recalled to have their battery pack changed.
“Ford is recalling 18 F-150 Lightnings on account of a battery cell manufacturing defect, which occurred over a four-week interval beginning on the finish of final 12 months. We not too long ago established that 18 autos containing cells from that four-week interval had made it to sellers and prospects.”
The hearth incident appears to have completed little to hinder buyer urge for food, with the present wait instances pointing to large order lists. The restricted provide and excessive demand situation goes again to the automobile’s launch in 2021.
Ford was pressured to shut its order books in December 2021, earlier than manufacturing had even began, and in 2022 introduced plans to double its manufacturing output in an try to get automobiles to prospects sooner.
The Ford USA web site now says this 2023 mannequin 12 months is now not accessible to order.
The Blue Oval has now invested greater than $US1 billion ($A1.44 billion) in Michigan for the F-150 Lightning alone, with 1700 jobs created throughout 5 vegetation.
It’s unclear if the F-150 Lightning shall be coming Down Beneath, however Ford Australia has beforehand mentioned it’s bringing not less than 5 electrified autos by 2024. It’s additionally bringing the petrol-powered F-150 to market in 2023.
Given the huge North American demand for the F-150 Lightning, don’t anticipate it to return right here any time quickly.
MORE: All the things Ford F-150
