Ford To Cut Jobs At F-150 Lightning Plant

Ford Motor Co. is set to implement significant workforce reductions at the factory responsible for manufacturing the Ford F-150 Lightning, following a decision to lower production targets for its all-electric pickup truck.

According to Ford spokesperson, starting next week, approximately one third of the 2,100 workers across three shifts at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn will remain employed onsite after 1 April. Of these, a crew of 700 will be relocated to the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne to focus on producing the Bronco and Ranger models. The remaining 700 employees will have the option to either accept a $50,000 retirement package negotiated during the 2023 contract discussions or seek reassignment within southeast Michigan. Meanwhile, Ford is adding a third crew at the Michigan Assembly plant.

While staffing reductions at the Lightning plant were initially announced in January, they will not result in any job losses.

Ford had previously announced plans to expand its workforce to increase Lightning production a year ago. However, due to a slowdown in electric vehicle sales, the company had been implementing shift rotations since October, which included scheduled layoffs.