Yesterday, Ford unveiled its F-150 all-electric Lightning model. What does the model mean for Ford stock and how does it compare with other pickup trucks?
Ford’s F-150 is among the major all-electric pick-up trucks that would hit the market over the next two years. We also have Tesla’s Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, and Lordstown’s Endurance pickup.
Biden tested Ford’s F-150 Lightning model
Incidentally, President Joe Biden has tried his hand at the Ford F-150 Lightning and sounded impressed and said “this sucker’s quick.” Biden called himself a “car guy” and said that “the future of the auto industry is electric.” Last year, his predecessor Donald Trump had also praised the Endurance model.
However, Biden and Trump have different world views on electric cars and climate change. While the Biden administration plans to spend billions on ramping up electric vehicle infrastructure and see electric vehicles as the future, Trump was a climate change denier and his administration was more favorable to the fossil fuel industry.
Ford F-150 deliveries are expected in 2022
Meanwhile, the deliveries of Ford F-150 Lightning are expected to begin next year. The company has kept the starting price at around $40,000 while the premium end would cost around $90,000. The model will have two battery options and would have a range of 230 to 300 miles.
To put that in perspective, Tesla plans to have an EPA range of 250 miles for its Cybertruck, and the base pricing is expected to be similar to that of the Ford F-150. Notably, the F-150 has been America’s best-selling pickup for decades. The company took a major risk in 2025 when it converted it from a steel body to an aluminum body vehicle. However, the model continued to grow its sales and the new model was well received by the market.
F-150 is the biggest profit center
While Ford does not provide the breakup of F-150, it is believed to be a $42 billion business and the single biggest contributor to the company’s profitability. It is widely believed that the profits from Ford’s F-150 sales subsidize some of the other loss-making models.
Unsurprisingly, Ford has big expectations from the F-150 Lightning model. “For both Ford and the American auto industry, F-150 Lightning represents a defining moment as we progress toward a zero-emissions, digitally connected future,” said Ford Chairman Bill Ford. He added, “Now we are revolutionizing it for a new generation.”
Electric vehicle companies
Unlike some of the other electric vehicle companies that are making losses and burning cash for every car that they sell, Ford expects the F-150 electric model to be profitable. Darren Palmer, Ford’s head of electric vehicles said “We’re going to make money on this truck,” He added, “Our mantra is: 1. We have to make money on it … and 2. They have to do things that other trucks never did. That’s how you tempt people in.”
Speaking with the Verge, Palmer said “I think there’s enough to tempt people to look at [buying the electric version], and a good percent already were — we saw that in our research. But I think it’s going to tempt people who weren’t even looking.”
Ford is eligible for US federal tax credit
One advantage that Ford has over Tesla and General Motors are that its electric vehicles are still eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. Both Tesla and General Motors no longer qualify for the subsidy. Under the current federal tax rules for electric cars, the tax credit starts phasing out once an automaker sells 200,000 electric cars. Tesla has sold over a million electric cars and no longer qualifies for the subsidy. However, many believe that Biden might lift the threshold given the administration’s impetus towards electric vehicles.
Analysts are bullish on Ford F-150 electric model
Meanwhile, analysts are bullish on Ford’s F-150. “Ford went well beyond installing a battery pack in a traditional F-150,” said iSeeCars.com executive analyst Karl Brauer. He added, “The automaker’s comprehensive approach to the Lightning’s design, performance, and advanced features would make it a desirable truck with a traditional engine.”
Reflecting upon the importance of the F-150, Brauer said “It’s obvious Ford recognizes both the opportunity and risk presented by the shift toward electric vehicles, and the automaker has clearly committed to keeping the F-150 viable in a battery-powered world.”
“That vehicle is going to come in and fill a void. And if it’s affordable, I mean, it’s going to be a game changer,” said Shelley Francis, co-founder of EVHybridNoire.
Chip shortage
Meanwhile, while Ford’s electric plans are taking shape, the company is also battling a severe chip shortage. While automakers across the board have complained of chip shortage, Ford is among the worst affected. It lost 17% of its first-quarter production due to chip shortage and expects to lose half of its production in the second quarter. It expects the condition to get better in the second half where it is forecasting a 10% production loss.
The chip shortage also impacted Ford’s cash flows as it added $2.2 billion to its inventory as the vehicles could not get built fully due to the chip shortage. The company expects adjusted free cash flows between $500 million to $1.5 billion in 2021.
Ford stands to lose billions from the chip shortage
“There are more whitewater moments ahead for us that we have to navigate,” said CEO Jim Farley during the company’s first-quarter earnings call. He added, “The semiconductor shortage and the impact to production will get worse before it gets better.”
The company expects the chip shortage to wipe off almost $2.5 billion from its pre-tax profits in 2021. According to consulting firm AlixPartners, the global automotive industry would lose $60.6 billion in revenues in 2021 due to chip shortage. Apart from the automotive industry, while goods, gaming, and smartphone companies are also grappling with the chip shortage.
Meanwhile, the chip shortage has also been a boon for many chip companies. The Auto and power unit of STMicroelectronics NV reported a 280% increase in first-quarter profits.
Chip shortage would get worse before getting better
The chip shortage is expected to persist at least for the new few quarters. “The second quarter is going to be worse for automakers than the first quarter,” said Song Sun-jae, an analyst at Hana Daetoo Securities Co. in Seoul. He added, “The chip-shortage problem could end up lasting longer, maybe into next year.”
Ford to halt production
Meanwhile, Ford has announced that it would halt production for varying periods at eight of its plants in North America due to the chip shortage. “Our teams continue making the most of our available semiconductor allocation and will continue finding unique solutions to provide as many high-quality vehicles as possible to our dealers and customers,” said the company in its release.
Coming back to Ford’s F-150 Lightning, markets would follow the model’s sales closely and see how it fares against Tesla’s Cybertruck and other electric pickup trucks. If the model can win over consumers, just as the previous versions did, they could help sustain the rally in Ford stock.
You can buy Ford stock through any of the best online stockbrokers. Alternatively, if you wish to trade derivatives, we also have reviewed a list of derivative brokers you can consider.
Trusted & Regulated Stock & CFD Brokers
What we like
- 0% Fees on Stocks
- 5000+ Stocks, ETFs and other Markets
- Accepts Paypal Deposits
Min Deposit
$200
Charge per Trade
Zero Commission on real stocks
64 traders signed up today
Visit Now67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Available Assets
- Total Number of Stocks & Shares5000+
- US Stocks
- German Stocks
- UK Stocks
- European
- ETF Stocks
- IPO
- Funds
- Bonds
- Options
- Futures
- CFDs
- Crypto
Charge per Trade
- FTSE 100 Zero Commission
- NASDAQ Zero Commission
- DAX Zero Commission
- Facebook Zero Commission
- Alphabet Zero Commission
- Tesla Zero Commission
- Apple Zero Commission
- Microsoft Zero Commission
Deposit Method
- Wire Transfer
- Credit Cards
- Bank Account
- Paypall
- Skrill
- Neteller
What we like
- Sign up today and get $5 free
- Fractals Available
- Paypal Available
Min Deposit
$0
Charge per Trade
$1 to $9 PCM
Visit Now
Investing in financial markets carries risk, you have the potential to lose your total investment.
Available Assets
- Total Number of Shares999
- US Stocks
- German Stocks
- UK Stocks
- European Stocks
- EFTs
- IPOs
- Funds
- Bonds
- Options
- Futures
- CFDs
- Crypto
Charge per Trade
- FTSE 100 $1 - $9 per month
- NASDAQ $1 - $9 per month
- DAX $1 - $9 per month
- Facebook $1 - $9 per month
- Alphabet $1 - $9 per month
- Telsa $1 - $9 per month
- Apple $1 - $9 per month
- Microsoft $1 - $9 per month
Deposit Method
- Wire Transfer
- Credit Cards
- Bank Account
Share
