America's Favorite Pickup Truck Is Sticking Around Longer Than Expected
The life cycle of the Ford F-150 is typically renewed every five or six years, and rightfully so. It's America's favorite pickup truck - and despite the Toyota RAV4 clinching the overall bestseller spot last year, the F-150 remains the best-selling truck in the country. However, the current 14th-generation F-150, which was introduced in 2020 for MY2021, and subsequently refreshed in 2024, will be around longer than expected.
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2025 Ford F-150
The information came from Crain's Detroit Business, stating that the Blue Oval company had told its suppliers that production of the 15th-generation F-150, codenamed P736, had been pushed by a year into mid-2028. In line with this, the current model, codenamed P702, will remain in production well into 2028, Automotive News reports.
Ford F-150 front 3/4
Uncertainty Within The Auto Industry
The ICE-powered Ford F-150 isn't the only model to be delayed. The F-150 Lightning, which wasn't exactly selling well and had tallied numbers last year lower than expected last year, will get its major overhaul in 2027. That's later than initially expected, with supplier executives telling several business publications that Ford's priority right now is cost savings and quality improvement.
While exact details of the delay weren't disclosed, it's important to note that Ford is currently experiencing uncertainty about impending tariffs that will be imposed, thanks to the newly elected President Donald Trump and the cold trade war against Canada and Mexico. Ford CEO Jim Farley went on record condemning the revised taxes for cars, considering that it does business with both countries.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Red Front Angle Sand Driving
Demand For EVs Affects Production Schedules
With the current political and economic climate, it can be deduced that Ford is realigning its strategy, especially when it comes to its biggest cash cow. While the current F-150 features a hybrid setup, Farley has bared Ford's intention to look into incorporating extended range electric vehicle (EREV) tech into its trucks, much like the Ram 1500 Ramcharger that will arrive this year. At this point, it's still unknown where this EREV truck will fit into the lineup, if at all.
Cybertruck-vs-F-150
2025 Electric Pickup Truck Comparison: Tesla Cybertruck Vs. Ford F-150 Lightning
Now that both electric pickups have been on sale for a while, which one comes out on top?
Ford isn't the only one that has expressed uncertainty about its electric offering. Even its rivals have announced delays with their corresponding electric truck contenders, with both Ram and GM rescheduling their production next year.
Ram 1500 Ramcharger (5)
