Ford adding jobs to produce electric pickup truck

Ford Motor Company announced on Thursday that it was adding a total of 450 jobs among three Michigan facilities to produce its all-electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning.

The company said it was planning to invest $250 million in addition to the new jobs toward the production of the electric pick-up, which the company says has 150,000 reservations to date. 

The company noted that production capacity will go up to 80,000 vehicles a year as a result of the added jobs and financial investment. The trucks will be on the market in the spring of 2022 with a starting price of $40,000.

“We knew the F-150 Lightning was special, but the interest from the public has surpassed our highest expectations and changed the conversation around electric vehicles. So we are doubling down, adding jobs and investment to increase production,” Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford Motor Company, said in a statement. “This truck and the Ford-UAW workers who are assembling it in Michigan have a chance to make history and lead the electric vehicle movement in America.” 

The announcement comes after a proposal introduced by House Democrats passed the lower chamber’s Ways and Means Committee this week that would expand tax credits to electric vehicles that are union-made. 

Under the proposal, most electric vehicles would be given a tax credit of $7,500. However, that rebate would jump to up to $12,500 for electric vehicles that are union-made. The legislation has price controls on which vehicles would be covered under the legislation.

Those who would be eligible under the program include individuals who make an adjusted income of up to $400,000, a head of household making up to $600,000 or joint returns of up to $800,000.

The legislation would benefit Ford, General Motors and Stellantis NV, who employ union workers. However, the measure has drawn criticism from Tesla, Honda and Toyota — companies that claim the legislation is biased and discriminatory.