Ford has temporarily halted the production and in-transit shipping of its popular F-150 Lightning electric truck due to a potential battery issue. The automaker issued a nationwide “stop shipment” order to its carriers while it investigates the root cause of the problem.
Emma Bergg, a Ford spokesperson, confirmed that the halt was put in place as a precautionary measure after a potential battery issue was discovered during a pre-delivery quality inspection. Ford engineers are currently working to identify the issue and take necessary action to resolve it.
Sales of the F-150 Lightnings that are already in dealer inventory will continue, but customers who have been waiting for delivery may have to wait longer. The duration of the halt depends on how long it takes the company to conduct a root cause analysis of the potential battery issue.
The F-150 Lightning has been in high demand recently, and the automaker has had to fulfill its massive order list, which has led to a significant price hike of almost 40%. The vehicle’s battery is supplied by SK On, a spinoff of the Korean firm SK Innovation. However, Ford has not disclosed the specifics of the issue or how many vehicles may be affected.
