Ford plans to double manufacturing of hybrid F-150 pickup vehicles in 2024, accelerating the automaker’s pivot towards gas-electric powertrains as a hedge towards reluctance amongst U.S. truck patrons to go all-electric.
Ford mentioned it’s tooling as much as equip 20% of the best-selling model-line within the U.S. market with gas-electric powertrains in 2024. For the 2024 mannequin 12 months, the hybrid powertrain shall be supplied on the identical worth as a truck outfitted with a six-cylinder “EcoBoost” combustion powertrain, the corporate mentioned.
“We are building some upside into the production schedule,” Ford Blue unit Vice President Andrew Frick informed Reuters. Demand for hybrid powertrains, at present supplied as a $3,300 possibility on sure variations of the F-150, has risen to 10% of complete F-150 gross sales, Frick mentioned.
If gross sales meet Ford’s new expectations, the hybrid F-150 may turn into one of many three best-selling gas-electric fashions within the United States, vying with Toyota Motor’s RAV 4 compact SUV.
Toyota additionally affords a hybrid system in its Tundra massive pickups. About 24% of the 59,735 Tundras offered within the U.S. via June 30 had been bought with hybrid powertrains, in response to the automaker’s gross sales knowledge. Ford offered roughly six occasions as many F-series vehicles in the identical interval.
Ford revealed the redesigned, 2024 F-150 lineup on Tuesday night at an occasion forward of the Detroit auto present’s opening to the general public on Saturday.
Ford’s pivot towards increasing the usage of hybrid expertise marks a pointy technique distinction with rival General Motors, which is pursuing an all-electric technique for its future U.S. automobile lineup, together with its Chevrolet and GMC pickup fashions.
Ford and Toyota are main a rebound for gas-electric hybrid powertrains within the United States.
U.S. gross sales of electrical automobiles are accelerating, however extra slowly than business executives had anticipated as many shoppers balk at excessive EV costs and considerations about driving vary and charging. For pickup clients, towing a trailer sharply reduces the driving vary of an electrical truck.
S&P Global Mobility estimates hybrids will greater than triple over the following 5 years, accounting for twenty-four% of U.S. new automobile gross sales in 2028.
High quantity gross sales of hybrid vehicles would assist Ford adjust to harder U.S. local weather emissions guidelines ought to demand for EVs such because the F-150 Lightning pickup fall in need of expectations.
“Every hybrid we sell is more beneficial than a traditional ICE vehicle,” Frick mentioned, utilizing an acronym for inner combustion engine.
(Reporting By Joe White; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
