Ford F-150 Lightning has found a buyer in the second-hand market.

F-150 Lightning Even for a used car, it's hard to refuse a discount of 50% to 60% from the listed price. With no new cars being supplied anymore, Ford's electric pickup truck is now selling very well in the used car market.

After the last vehicle rolled off the production line in December of last year, CEO Jim Farley ( Jim Farley ) stated that the decision to cease production was due to the fact that "those high-end electric vehicles, priced at $50,000, $70,000, and $80,000, just couldn't sell."

These days, in the second-hand market, with discounts of 50% to 60%, it seems to be a profitable deal. Jimmy Douglas, the CEO of Plug, a second-hand electric vehicle wholesaler, recently told Bloomberg: “When Ford sells new cars, the calculations are quite complex.”

However, in the second-hand market, “the price of Lightning is 50% to 60% of the listed price, which falls right into a very attractive range,” he added.

Data from Edmunds.com shows that the average selling time for second-hand Ford F-150 Lightning is about 20 days, which is less than half of the average 44 days for used cars in the United States. The website states that since the beginning of this year, the price of this car has risen by 4%, to about $50,000.

Douglas said that nearly a third of used car models are sold by competitors' dealers, who usually resell the cars to Ford. However, due to high demand, many dealers choose to sell them directly.

Chase Norris from Colorado claims that this electric pickup truck is a great deal. He bought a used Lightning for around $40,000 and considers it a major upgrade over his previous fuel-powered F-150.

BJW_KEEP_00001, CEO and co-founder, stated that he is currently unable to obtain any reasonably priced used electric vehicles for sale. (BJW_KEEP_00004, BJW_KEEP_00005, BJW_KEEP_00003)

He said that many Lightning buyers use it as a second truck to save on the cost of weekly commuting.

The appearance of this vehicle is almost identical to that of the fuel-powered F-150 model. It provides immediate torque output and has no exhaust emissions. However, due to its higher price, this electric pickup truck failed to meet Ford's expectations.

The Basic Edition F-150 Lightning Pro was launched in 2021 with a starting price of $39,974, but about a year later, the price was quickly raised to around $60,000.

According to the data from Edmunds.com, the average transaction price of F-150 and Lightning in their first year on the market was $79,000, as Ford focused on launching more high-end models. The average transaction price for the fuel-powered versions was approximately $19,000 lower.

Even with higher pricing, Ford still incurs significant losses on each Lightning. In the first quarter of 2024, Ford stated that the company incurred losses of over $100,000 per electric vehicle produced.

Next year, Ford will attempt to enter the electric pickup truck market once again, launching the Fathom – which is the first model built on its “breakthrough” new General Motors electric vehicle ( UEV ) platform.

Ford stated that the starting price of the Fathom standard range version is $28,350. Even including a shipping fee of $1,595, the starting price of this electric pickup truck will be less than $30,000.

As the first vehicle model built on the UEV platform, Ford promises that the Fathom will represent a leapfrog improvement over its first-generation electric vehicle.

Ford claims that the interior space of this electric pickup truck will be larger than that of Toyota’s RAV4, and it will become the first model to directly integrate Apple Maps into its navigation system.

We also know that this electric pickup truck will be equipped with a NACS charging port, as several prototype vehicles were spotted charging at Tesla Supercharger stations this summer.

It is reported that Ford's goal is to sell about 100,000 units in the first year of listing on Fathom. Farley stated last week during the company's third-quarter financial report conference call that the model will still be launched as planned in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Fali described Fathom as a "breakthrough product" and stated that MSRP priced below $30,000 is very suitable for the current market.

At least some owners with the model F-150 have begun to switch to cheaper car models. Members of the Ford F-150 Lightning owner group stated that although it's a great driving experience, "the quote they gave us is only a little lower than the purchase price of a new car," and added, "Well, we're in!"

When contacting JF, he expressed that he "really likes Lightning" but wants to switch to a smaller car. "With the current resale value on the rise, now seems to be the perfect time to trade in," JF added.

Rivian R2 Performance with the Launch Package Are now available for purchase, with a starting price of $57,990. EPA Estimated maximum range of up to 330 miles, and a maximum horsepower of 656. R2 Premium Will be launched later this year, with a starting price of $53,990.

In the spring of 2027, Rivian will launch R2 Standard, with a starting price of $44,990. It is estimated to have a maximum range of up to 275 miles and a maximum horsepower of 350 horses.

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EricK's pinned comment

So is it that they lose $100,000 per car, or after including all the research and development costs, does it average out to a loss of $100,000 per car? There's a big difference between the two. I don't believe that the manufacturing cost for each car could be as high as over $170,000; that doesn't make any sense. They just set the prices too high, and without enough sales volume to spread those R&D costs, they can't achieve profitability. Each car has to be sold in a minimum quantity before they start making a profit.

F-150 Lightning The soaring sales in the second-hand market indicate that buyers do indeed want electric pickups, but only if the price is right.

When the price is between $60,000 and $70,000, Lightning is not so attractive; but when the price of used cars drops to $40,000, it suddenly becomes appealing. Perhaps Ford has indeed found the right direction with its next-generation electric pickup truck, Fathom, which is planned to have a starting price of less than $30,000.

Can it keep its promises? Ford has not yet disclosed the battery specifications, towing capacity, range, or any other parameters. We should find out more soon.

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