Ford Motor
has added a third production shift
at
its Michigan plant
to produce
the electric F-150 Lightning
for improved performance.
The third shift
addition
comes as the automaker
expands its
newly built facility to
reach peak
capacity of 150,000
vehicles
by next fall.
Ford is on track to
meet this
previously announced production milestone, Corey Williams, plant manager
the Dearborn Truck Plant and Rouge
Electric Vehicle Center, said Tuesday.
said during a tour of the
facility.
His
third shift was added in
November and employment at
the electric truck
factory increased
from
his
500 to
about 750
even as construction workers
rushed
to complete
the
expansion of the facility.
We maintain high production levels.
"This is
how
we do it quickly. We build products like we build factories,"
Williams said.
Ford originally planned to build about 40,000 Lightnings
a year at
a new facility adjacent to its
long-established Dearborn
pickup
plant.
However, initial demand for electric trucks exceeded expectations, so the decision was made
to expand the factory to
increase production.
Earlier Tuesday, MotorTrend magazine named the F-150 Lightning
the
2023
Truck
of the
Year.
The
magazine's
editors said the truck
unanimously endorsed
the
award because of
its overall performance and appeal to traditional
pickup truck
buyers.
Sold 13,258
of
his
F-150 Lightnings.