The company confirmed the price hike while announcing that it is reopening orders for the popular vehicle this Thursday.
“We’ve announced pricing ahead of reopening order banks so our reservation holders can make an informed decision around ordering a Lightning,” said Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer of Ford’s new Model e division that oversees electric vehicles.
Ford said the starting prices for the 2023 F-150 Lightning will now range from about $47,000 to $97,000, up between $6,000 and $8,500, depending on the model. The 2022 model ranged from between $40,000 to $92,000.
The price adjustment for the vehicle marks the first for Ford since it was officially launched in April 2022. The company said the price hikes were because of “significant material cost increases and other factors.”
The first customer deliveries began in May with over 4,400 sold year-to-date. It is unclear how many reservation holders who have not yet ordered a truck will be impacted by the price hikes.
However, the Michigan-headquartered automaker said the price adjustments will not impact customers who have already ordered a vehicle and are awaiting delivery.
New and Improved
Ford also announced new improvements to the F-150 Lightning, including boosting its standard range battery models to an EPA-estimated targeted range of 240 miles and adding Pro Trailer Hitch Assist technology, which it said “automatically controls steering, throttle, and brake inputs to make hitching trailers easier.”Electric vehicle makers have been impacted by the rising costs of batteries needed to make the cars, which shot up because of increased demand and supply chain issues that have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ford executives said in July that the company expected material costs to rise about $4 billion this year and would offset this by raising prices for customers, according to Reuters.
The $433 billion Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which is currently working its way through Congress, will provide tax cuts to buyers of electric vehicles, however the legislation requires the final assembly of the car to be in North America.