auto dealer in black and red logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Ford Pivots on Lineup

The company refocuses on hybrids and smaller EVs while adding energy-storage business line.

December 16, 2025
Ford Pivots on Lineup

Production has ceased on the all-electric F-150 Lightning as Ford shifts the model to extended-range and refocuses on hybrids.

Credit:

Ford

2 min to read


Ford said it hasn’t abandoned its aim to achieve companywide carbon neutrality by 2050. It’s just going to go about it in a different way than earlier planned.

Like most automakers, the Detroit-area company has backed off ambitious goals to go all electric in the face of slower demand and government disincentives. This week, it said it will eliminate some larger electric models, including the popular F-150 Lightning, instead refocusing on hybrids. In fact, it said most of its models will have hybrid or “multienergy” power train options by 2029.

Ford also plans to offer more affordable models amid an inflated market that has made it challenging for many consumers to swing new vehicles. The plan includes five new affordable models by the end of the decade.

“This approach prioritizes affordability, choice and profits,” the company said in a statement.

Ford now expects half of its worldwide production volume to be made up of hybrids and EVs by 2030, including extended-range electrifieds, compared to just 17% across those categories this year. It will make purely electric models on what it calls its Universal EV Platform for smaller, affordable vehicles, including a midsize pickup to enter production in 2027.

The next generation of the Lightning, meanwhile, will be an extended-range model produced at its Rouge EV plant in Dearborn. The production team formerly assigned to the current Lightning will join a third team at another Dearborn truck plant for F-150 gas and hybrid production.

Ford said the shifts to “rationalize” its EV lineup will make it more profitable. It anticipates more than $19 billion in special charges this year tied to EVs.

Meanwhile, the company announced a new business line in sales and service of battery energy storage for data centers and infrastructure “to support the electric grid” via its underutilized EV battery capacity. While Ford didn’t mention artificial intelligence, the technology requires copious amounts of electricity and is driving expansion of data center development.

LEARN MORE: Ford Dealers Charged Up for EVs







More Industry

orange background behind a line of people with a crashed car in the middle
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 16, 2026

Automaker Advances Safety for All

A new report by Volvo Cars Safety Centre analyzed the impact of 50 years' worth of research in automotive safety development

Read More →
The outside of a Jack Kain car dealership
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 9, 2026

Kentucky Store Leaves Family

An auto group stretched across three states picked up the Lexington-area Ford fixture as its second store for the brand in the state.

Read More →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 10/09/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 9, 2026

U.S. Auto Brands Falling Behind

Asian auto brands are outpacing U.S. brands in stateside new-vehicle sales. Learn more in this week's Dealer Debrief with Lauren!

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 10/02/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 2, 2026

U.S. EV Market Update | Dealer Debrief

The U.S. electric vehicle market is slowly recovering from the loss of the federal EV tax credit last fall. Learn more in this week's Dealer Debrief!

Read More →
Q3 Financing Climbs, red arrow pointing down, percentage symbol, green arrow pointing up, Auto Dealer Today
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 2, 2026

Auto Finance Numbers Set Records

Third-quarter data show how consumers are adapting to ongoing affordability challenges facing the new- and-used-vehicle markets.

Read More →
Cake with '50' candles on top
Industry•October 1, 2026

Auto Dealerships Can’t Afford to Ignore the 50+ Consumer

Younger generations may be all the buzz today when it comes to product marketing targets, but their older cohorts command a sizable share of purchasing power.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Gray Toyota SUV parked outside of glass paned building
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 25, 2026

Savings Seekers Boost U.S. Automakers’ Rivals

As consumers here look for ways to curb inflation’s affect on their budgets, brands offering plenty of alternative powertrains are closing in on home-grown OEMs.

Read More →
Various graphs and sheets of infographics laid out with handwritten post it notes.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 25, 2026

The Slow Electric Ascent

Second-quarter data show that the electric-vehicle market in the U.S. is inching up, the majority of states seeing a month-over-month increase.

Read More →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 09/23/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 23, 2026

Safer Rides & Cyberattacks

Vehicle crash testing is getting a virtual boost, but auto dealerships are facing increased cyberattacks. Learn more in this week's Dealer Debrief!

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Dealer Debrief, Auto Dealer Today, with Lauren Lawrence, 09/18/2026
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 18, 2026

Affordability Angst | Dealer Debrief

August saw little relief for car buyers, whether they were shopping new or used. Take a look at the month's breakdown in this week's Dealer Debrief!

Read More →