DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor is increasing hiring to extend manufacturing capability for its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup because it begins constructing prototypes of the electrical pickup.

The Detroit automaker stated Thursday that it plans to take a position an extra $250 million and add 450 jobs throughout three Michigan amenities, together with the Rouge Electrical Car Middle that is constructing the truck, to extend annual manufacturing capability for the automobile to 80,000 models.

Ford has now invested about $950 million in manufacturing of a hybrid model of the truck and the electrical F-150, which is scheduled to go on sale subsequent spring beginning at about $40,000.

Greater than 150,000 reservations have been made for the automobile since its debut in Could, up from 120,000 on the finish of July, in response to Ford.

Manufacturing and reservations for the F-150 Lightning are being intently watched by traders and business analysts as a barometer for shopper acceptance of electrical automobiles, particularly pickups, which dominate gross sales within the U.S.

“We knew the F-150 Lightning was particular, however the curiosity from the general public has surpassed our highest expectations and altered the dialog round electrical automobiles. So we’re doubling down, including jobs and funding to extend manufacturing,” Ford Chair Invoice Ford stated in a launch.

A handful of automakers are anticipated to supply electrical pickups within the coming years. Amazon- and Ford-backed start-up Rivian earlier this week turned the primary automaker to enter what’s anticipated to be a hotly contested section.

Basic Motors is anticipated to get its EV pickup to market subsequent with the GMC Hummer EV rolling off meeting strains this fall. EV start-up Lordstown Motors and Ford are anticipated to comply with subsequent yr together with Tesla, which just lately pushed again deliveries of its Cybertruck from this yr to late 2022.

Pre-production, or prototypes, are utilized by corporations for testing and validation forward of assembling automobiles which are used for certification earlier than precise manufacturing for shoppers.

Inside Ford’s Rouge Electrical Car Middle, the corporate is simply starting to construct pre-production fashions. A restricted quantity of the pickups have truly been produced on the plant in Dearborn, Mich., however officers stated meeting will ramp-up over time.