Ford's Electric Truck: A Sudden U-Turn?

Ford is thinking hard about dropping its electric F-150 Lightning pickup. This news comes after they stopped making it earlier this year due to a fire at an aluminum plant. Now, they're focusing more on gas and hybrid trucks because they make more money and don't need as much aluminum. The F-150 Lightning is part of Ford's electric vehicle division, Model e, which has been losing a lot of money. In the third quarter of 2025, they lost another $1. 4 billion. That brings their total loss for the first nine months of the year to $3. 6 billion. Most of that loss comes from their current electric vehicles, like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. The rest is from investing in new electric models. Ford is now shifting its focus to smaller, more affordable electric cars. They're developing a new platform called the Universal EV platform. This platform will help them make electric vehicles that cost around $30, 000. The first vehicle on this platform is expected to be a midsize electric pickup, similar to the Ford Maverick or Ranger. It's set to come out in 2027. CEO Jim Farley said that $30, 000 electric vehicles are "not a distant plan. " He added that they are "right around the corner" at Ford. This shift in focus shows that Ford is trying to make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable for everyone.