Ford Motor Company has announced a temporary suspension of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. This decision comes in response to a fire at a key aluminum supplier’s facility and a strategic realignment towards more profitable gas and hybrid models.
Supplier Disruption and Financial Impact
In September 2025, a fire at Novelis’ Oswego, New York plant severely damaged the hot mill section, a critical component in producing automotive-grade aluminum. This incident has disrupted the supply chain for Ford’s F-Series trucks, leading to significant financial repercussions. The automaker anticipates a loss of up to $2 billion in earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025 due to this disruption. Consequently, Ford has revised its full-year profit guidance for 2025, lowering it from $6.5 billion to $6 billion. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/ford-lowers-annual-guidance-citing-fire-suppliers-aluminum-plant-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai))
Strategic Shift Towards Gas and Hybrid Models
In light of the aluminum supply constraints and financial impact, Ford is prioritizing the production of its gas and hybrid F-Series trucks, which are more profitable and less dependent on aluminum. The company plans to increase F-Series production by over 50,000 units in 2026 by adding a third shift at the Dearborn Truck Plant. This expansion is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs. ([carscoops.com](https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/ford-hits-gas-on-truck-production-f-150-lightning-to-remain-paused/?utm_source=openai))
F-150 Lightning Production Pause
The production of the F-150 Lightning will remain paused indefinitely as Ford focuses on its gas and hybrid models. All hourly employees at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center will be transferred to the Dearborn Truck Plant to support the increased production of traditional F-Series trucks. ([carscoops.com](https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/ford-hits-gas-on-truck-production-f-150-lightning-to-remain-paused/?utm_source=openai))
Market Context and Future Outlook
The F-150 Lightning has been a significant player in the electric pickup market, with sales increasing by 39.7% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025. However, these numbers are still overshadowed by the sales of Ford’s gas-powered F-Series trucks. The company has not provided a specific date for resuming F-150 Lightning production but has indicated that it will bring the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center back online at an appropriate time.
Conclusion
Ford’s decision to halt F-150 Lightning production reflects a strategic response to supply chain disruptions and a focus on more profitable models. While the pause is indefinite, the company remains committed to its electric vehicle lineup and will resume production when conditions are favorable.
