DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. halted production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery fire erupted at its Kentucky truck plant.
The blaze broke out late Tuesday in a parking lot holding new vehicles, destroying two trucks and damaging three others. No injuries were reported, but the fire forced the automaker to pause assembly at the Louisville-area facility through at least next Monday.
“We are working closely with our battery supplier to determine the root cause of this incident,” said James Kowalski, Ford’s vice president of North American manufacturing. “Safety is our top priority, and we will not restart production until we are confident in the integrity of the battery systems.”
The F-150 Lightning is Ford’s flagship electric vehicle, with sales of roughly 24,000 units last year. The Kentucky plant, which employs about 7,800 workers, builds both the Lightning and the Super Duty gas-powered trucks.
Fire follows earlier battery recalls
This is not the first battery problem for the Lightning. In June, Ford recalled nearly 100,000 vehicles globally, including the Lightning, over a separate battery cell defect that could cause a short circuit. That recall cost the company an estimated $250 million.
“Ford can’t afford another black eye on its EV lineup,” said automotive analyst Rebecca Torres of AutoForecast Solutions. “Every week of downtime here costs them millions in lost revenue and gives rivals like the Chevy Silverado EV more room to grab market share.”
The company has invested $5.6 billion in the Kentucky plant, which opened in 2023 as part of Ford’s massive push into electrification. The facility is jointly operated with South Korean battery maker SK On.
What happens next
Ford said it expects to resume Lightning production by Feb. 10, pending investigation results. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is monitoring the situation. Investors and dealers are watching closely, as any extended shutdown could further dent Ford’s already tight EV margins.
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