Why Ford reduced the price of the F-150 Lightning by almost $10,000

This Ford truck just become even more affordable

By James Dolan Published July 26, 2023

Ford F-150 Lightning towing a load — Ford

If you want an electric pickup, the Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the few available options on the market. With a starting price of $39,974 when it was first sold in April 2022, the Ford F-150 Lightning was the most affordable electric pickup. However, Ford was forced to increase the price of its cheapest F-150 Lightning model to $59,974 by March 2023. This was due to the global chip shortage, inflation, and other trending car factors in 2023. Ford also increased the BlueCruise subscription from $200 to $800 per year.

But even with a starting price of $59,974, the Ford F-150 Lightning was still a cheaper option than other electric pickup trucks like the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV that are currently on sale. However, there was still a problem on the horizon — the Chevy Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck expected to be delivered in late 2023 and early 2024 could overthrow the F-150 Lightning as the most affordable electric pickup. That’s if the Chevy Silverado and Tesla Cybertruck will be sold as advertised.

Ford F-150 Lariat model. — Ford / Ford

The cost of a Ford F-150 Lightning

Well, Ford isn’t going to take any chances, and it slashed the prices of its electric pickup by almost $10,000. In the announcement, Ford revealed that the F-150 Lightning Pro trim will now be sold at $49,995, down from $59,974. With the Chevy Silverado EV starting at $52,000, it means the F-150 Lightning will still hold the title for the most affordable electric pickup in America.

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Besides that, the most expensive F-150 Lightning model is now sold at $91,995 after Ford slashed its price by almost $6,000. Additionally, the Lariat Extended Range model is now available at $77,495. This makes it eligible for the federal EV tax credit since it’s now sold for less than $80,000.

The F-150 Lightning Lariat standard range price has been reduced to $69,995, which is the same price as the XLT Extended Range model. Alternatively, you can choose the F-150 Lightning XLT standard range at $59,995. However, if you want the cheapest option after the Lightning Pro model, you can buy the XLT standard range (311A) at $54,995.

Coincidentally, Ford made the announcement to reduce the prices of the F-150 Lightning models after Tesla announced that the first Cybertruck rolled off the production line. If the Cybertruck starts at less than $40k, it could be the cheapest electric truck — but that’s unlikely to happen considering that it’s almost four years since it was announced and Tesla removed its price from its website.

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James Dolan is an automotive writer with extensive work experience having been published on The Drive, Hot Cars, Green…

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New Ford F-150 Lightning Flash packs popular EV features into sub-$70k sticker price

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Ford Motor Company aims to make EV truck selection simpler and less costly with the 2024 F-150 Lightning Flash, a new sweet-spot model that starts at just under $70,000. Referring to the Lightning Flash as a "tech-forward model," Ford employs a standard automaker strategy of bundling existing options to create a new model.

All about the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash
The F-150 Lightning Flash is essentially an optioned-up Lighting XLT model. The upgraded tech in the F-150 Lightning Flash starts with an extended-range battery, which increases the e-truck's power and range. All F-150 Lightning models have two electric motors, one on each axle. The extended-range battery delivers up to 433 kilowatts of power for up to 580 horsepower and 775 foot-pounds of torque, with an EPA estimated 320 miles maximum range. These numbers are significant boosts from the standard battery's 337kW, 452 horsepower, 775 ft-lb of torque, and EPA estimated 240 miles range.

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The Ford F Series and the Chevrolet Silverado are the most popular pickup trucks in the United States. Of course, as the world is shifting towards electric vehicles, both GM and Ford don’t want to lose their golden goose and they now offer electric models of their best-selling vehicles. The Ford F150 Lightning was first delivered to customers in 2022, and the Chevy Silverado EV is finally available for delivery in 2023.

Since both models fall in the same price range, you may be wondering which one should you buy if you're searching for an electric pickup. Besides that, there are a few EV trucks on the market, and the F150 Lightning and Silverado EV are the most affordable options. Which one is the better option if we compare them head-to-head? Let’s find out.

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The Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted Apple Maps EV routing last year

Ford F-150 Lariat model.

Even by EV standards, the Ford F-150 Lightning is pretty feature-packed -- it can even power your house during an outage. But since 2020, one glaring omission may have irked F-150 owners who also happen to be partial to Apple’s products. Despite the feature existing for a few years, Ford’s big electric truck does not have Apple Maps’ “EV Routing” feature. This will soon change, and it is likely to make life a little easier for owners of Ford’s premier electric truck. The F-150 is the latest Ford vehicle to get the feature after the Mustang Mach E received it last year.

On the face of it, EV routing is a simple feature. It looks at your car’s battery level and gives you some suggested charging options to help you optimize your trip. But if you dig into it, it’s a lot more complex than that. It uses things like the weight and other specs of your vehicle, your driving style, and the topographic data of the route you have entered to estimate how long your vehicle’s charge will last with a greater degree of accuracy. This complexity may explain the slower speed of the rollout.