DETROIT – Ford Motor is rising manufacturing of its Bronco SUV and Ranger pickup, whereas slicing output of its all-electric F-150 Lightning, the automaker stated Friday.

Ford stated the manufacturing modifications are supposed to match output with buyer demand. They mark the newest cuts or delays to manufacturing of EVs amid slower-than-expected buyer demand.

“We’re making the most of our manufacturing flexibility to supply prospects selections whereas balancing our progress and profitability. Prospects love the F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling EV pickup,” Ford CEO Jim Farley stated in a launch. “We see a shiny future for electrical automobiles for particular customers, particularly with our upcoming digitally superior EVs and entry to Tesla’s charging community starting this quarter.”

The introduced reduce to F-150 Lightning manufacturing comes a month after CNBC and different media shops reported Ford would slash deliberate output of the pickup roughly in half this yr, marking a significant reversal after the automaker considerably elevated plant capability for the electrical automobile in 2023.

The automaker might be decreasing output of the Lightning at its Rouge Electrical Automobile Middle in Michigan to at least one manufacturing shift from two, impacting roughly 1,400 staff. The discount takes impact April 1.

Ford declined to specify how the eradicated manufacturing shift will influence output of the automobiles.

Ford stated roughly half of the affected staff will switch to the Michigan Meeting Plant that produces the Bronco and Ranger. Others will switch to close by crops or are anticipated to take part in a “Particular Retirement Incentive Program” agreed to within the 2023 Ford-United Auto Employees contract, the corporate stated.

The Michigan Meeting Plant will add a 3rd shift this summer season to extend manufacturing of the Bronco and Ranger, based on Ford. The corporate plans so as to add 900 jobs at that plant.

Gross sales of the F-150 Lightning have been up 55% final yr to greater than 24,000 pickups. Nevertheless, automobiles haven’t been promoting as shortly as they have been beforehand. Ford stated it expects “additional progress” in gross sales for the automobile in 2024, however reportedly not as a lot because the 150,000 manufacturing fee it accounted for when it up-fitted the plant final yr.

Gross sales of the Bronco and Ranger have been each down 9.7% and 43.3% final yr, respectively. The plant that produces the automobiles was closely impacted by a six-week UAW labor strike.

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