Important Innovations

   Ford's F-150 Lightning May Be an EV Gamechanger Source:  Ford A Truck That Can Power Your Home During a Power Outage The long anticipated Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck is being hailed by some automotive experts as disruptive, gamechanging innovation in the EV market.  In the first 48 hours after it was unveiled in late May 2021, 44,500 people reserved it for purchase.  For the past five years, the F-150 has been the top selling vehicle in the US.  Ford has electrified and added many smart features to their best selling vehicle, which is expected to result in big sales.  Ford CEO Jim Farley said the F-150 is now going digital and fully electric.  He added several fascinating details.  He said Lightning can power your house during a power outage.  The EV is faster than the original F-150 Lightning Performance truck and it will constantly improve through over the air updates. Production on the vehicle will start in spring 20...

  Ford's F-150 Lightning May Be an EV Gamechanger Source:  Ford A Truck That Can Power Your Home During a Power Outage The long anticipated Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck is being hailed by some automotive experts as disruptive, gamechanging innovation in the EV market.  In the first 48 hours after it was unveiled in late May 2021, 44,500 people reserved it for purchase.  For the past five years, the F-150 has been the top selling vehicle in the US.  Ford has electrified and added many smart features to their best selling vehicle, which is expected to result in big sales.  Ford CEO Jim Farley said the F-150 is now going digital and fully electric.  He added several fascinating details.  He said Lightning can power your house during a power outage.  The EV is faster than the original F-150 Lightning Performance truck and it will constantly improve through over the air updates. Production on the vehicle will start in spring 2022...

High Stakes Debut This Week Source:  Ford 2020 F-150 Competition is Fierce Ford has a lot riding on its new traditional and hybrid versions of the 2021 F-150 pick-up truck to be unveiled on Thursday night.  In fact, they're "betting the farm on it".  The F-150 is the top selling vehicle in the US and it is Ford's cash cow.  The F-150 equaled 37% of Ford's 2.4 million vehicles sold in 2019. Ford's Financial Strategy Ford is betting the new F-150 will help it profitably grow the commercial side of Ford's business to support its $11 billion restructuring plan and start paying off more than $20 billion in new debt from the coronavirus.  The new F-150 has new technologies like an integrated power generator to power tools and other equipment. Also, it's expected to contain Ford's new electric architecture or "brain" which enables Ford's advanced driver assist, called "Active Drive Assist", which is similar to Tesla...

Electric Ford F-150 Pickup Source:  Ford F-series Electric Truck Prototype Assembled in Michigan for 2021 Ford is investing in electric vehicles in a very big way.  A few weeks ago, it unveiled to rave review the Ford Mustang all-electric SUV, the Mach-E.  Today, Ford made good on a promise to electrify its highly popular F-150 pickup truck and to do so in its Michigan assembly plants with production likely in 2021. UAW Contract As part of its 4 year agreement with the UAW ratified in November 2019, Ford is pouring $6 billion into US plants for the production of electric and hybrid versions of the F-150 pickup along with autonomous vehicles and other products.  Ford is also adding nearly 3,000 jobs to its Michigan workforce. 2021 Big Year For Ford, the first autonomous vehicles will be completed in Michigan starting in 2021.  The fully electric F-150 pickup will come shortly after that.  This is part of Ford's $11.5 billion investment toward...