The all-electric F-150 pickup truck will arrive in U.S. dealerships in mid-2022 at the earliest, but Ford has already decided it needs to significantly increase the initial production capacity.
Citing “strong early interest” in the model since the September announcement, Ford said it is now increasing production plans by 50 percent versus original plans. To deliver more units, the automaker will add 200 new jobs at the new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, in addition to the 300 jobs previously announced for the electric truck. Ford did not say how many electric F-150s it will be able to build, though.
In addition to investments in U.S. manufacturing for the battery-powered F-150 and E-Transit, Ford is also investing $1.35 billion to transform its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada starting in 2024 to include next-generation battery-electric vehicles. According to Ford, this will mark the first time ever that an automaker has produced full BEVs in Canada for the North American market.
See Also: 2022 Ford E-Transit To Be Made In Kansas City, Will Debut November 12
Finally, the automaker also confirmed plans to produce an additional electrified vehicle at its plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico, where the Mustang Mach-E is made. The company said the new vehicle will share “a similar electrified platform” as the Mustang Mach-E, delivering manufacturing and engineering efficiencies. Ford did not disclose how many jobs the additional vehicle will create in Mexico.
These investments add to the $100 million and 150 additional jobs announced for the Kansas City plant to build the E-Transit electric van, as well as the $150 million pledged for the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, to make e-motors and e-transaxles for new EVs, including the F-150.
“Our electric vehicle business is a dynamic source of growth. We’re setting ourselves up for profitable business now and in the future,” said John Savona, vice president, North American manufacturing.