After a six-week pause, Ford‘s F-150 Lightning production has roared back to life at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) in Dearborn, Michigan. The shutdown facilitated a strategic expansion of the facility, tripling its manufacturing capacity, a move geared towards addressing the surging demand for Ford’s electric truck. By fall, Ford anticipates an annualized production rate of 150,000 units. Though summer deliveries suffered due to the temporary shutdown, Ford now stands poised to expedite the ramp-up process, unlocking a greater supply of the F-150 Lightning.

Ford is also ramping up the production of battery packs at the Rawsonville Components Plant

“We eagerly anticipate putting the F-150 Lightning into our customers’ hands – from the U.S. to Norway. This is a testament to our dedicated team’s relentless efforts,” said Debbie Manzano, director of manufacturing, Ford Motor Company.

Expected to produce over 70,000 F-150 Lightning trucks in 2023, the facility’s new tooling promotes not only increased production but also higher quality. The REVC now boasts innovative tools for automatic measurement and validation of exterior body fit – a first in a Ford North American plant.

Adding a third station to validate wheel alignment and headlamp aim for driver assist technology, Ford is simultaneously training 1,200 additional manufacturing employees, accelerating onboarding with a buddy system.

In a parallel development, Ford is enhancing the production of battery packs at the Rawsonville Components Plant and EV power units at the Van D. Electric Powertrain Center in Michigan, aligning with the increased F-150 Lightning assembly at REVC. These production enhancements promise shorter order-to-delivery times, with a focus on high-demand trim levels like the XLT, which constitutes over half of new orders. Furthermore, the F-150 Lightning Pro is now available in limited quantities, with priority given to long-standing reservation holders.

“Through feedback from our first EV truck customers, we’ve identified a preference for technology and visual differentiation. We’re refining the F-150 Lightning lineup to make the switch to an EV truck an effortless choice for customers,” stated Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer, Ford Model e.

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Italian car design firm Pininfarina has unveiled its latest heavy-duty all-electric autonomous truck with a beautiful and expansive design. The design of the Xingtu reflects a vigorous reliance on cutting-edge technology to produce a truck that will provide comfort to both the environment and its driver. The Pininfarina Xingtu electric truck is specifically designed for DeepWay, a smart truck company and it is a semi-autonomous vehicle. It is targeting long-haul logistic operations and cargo deliveries in a sustainable and safe manner.

The Pininfarina Xingtu electric truck is primed to improve cargo transportation efficiency in a sustainable manner to the environment while also providing drivers the needed comforts akin to what they might expect at home. DeepWay was formed in 2020 and it has the backing of Chinese internet powerhouse Baidu. Pininfarina was commissioned by DeepWay to design the Xingtu concept semi-autonomous truck, which comes with an extensive lineup of features and gadgets. These include 11 onboard cameras, a LIDAR sensor, radars, infra-red detectors, and other components that provide excellent navigation for the truck. The Xingtu is capable of detecting obstacles 1 km away and providing a proper response for such obstacles.

The design of the complex semi-autonomous all-electric truck was accomplished by Pininfarina Shanghai. The company’s Head of Design, Matteo Piguzzi stated that heavy-duty trucks are rapidly evolving to adapt to a fast-changing environment with technology-driven innovations for seamless operations and enhanced safety. The efficiency and aerodynamics technology deployed in the Xingtu reflects in its aesthetically appealing exterior which is streamlined for autonomous driving.

The 450kWh battery of the Xingtu gives it a range of 300km, but this can be massively scaled because the battery pack is easily swappable. The battery can also be fully charged in one hour. The interior of the Xingtu is another area of innovation and technology. The large display screen is an infotainment hub, and the experience is further accentuated with expansive and ultra-comfortable seats, and a voice assistant to enable prompt actions. There are no details as of now however on the possible release date for the Xingtu. Pininfarina could provide such details subsequently.

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(source)

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Logistics giant FedEx has taken delivery of the first batch of General Motors’ BrightDrop electric delivery vans. This marks a milestone as the company continues to transit its operations into sustainable carbon-neutral ideals. Earlier this year when BrightDrop, the logistics and electric delivery arm of GM, was launched, FedEx placed an order of 500 electric delivery vans.

The collaboration between FedEx and BrightDrop has now culminated in the delivery of the first set of electric Light Commercial Vehicles (eLCVs), named the EV600. FedEx has now confirmed taking delivery of the first five units of the EV600. Some images of the new EV600 electric delivery vans were also shared by FedEx.

The EV600 is powered by GM’s Ultium platform and the van has an estimated range of up to 250 miles (402.3km) on a full charge. The EV600 offers more than 600 cubic feet (17 cubic meters) of cargo space.

FedEx had put 2040 as its target for its global pickup and delivery (PUD) fleet to go all-electric.The EV600 delivery vans are to be deployed at FedEx’s Express facility in Inglewood, California. According to Mitch Jackson, Chief Sustainability Officer of FedEx, the addition of the BrightDrop EV600 EVs into its fleet is a historic moment for both companies. The milestone keys into FedEx’s strategic plans to transform its pickup and delivery fleet to electric vehicles. The move also keys squarely into the ambitious sustainability goals already outlined by FedEx.

Travis Katz, President, and CEO of BrightDrop, also weighed in on the momentous occasion, coming barely a year after the formation of BrightDrop. For Katz, as eCommerce continues to blossom, the company’s mission is to dramatically reduce vehicle emissions from delivery vans. He also stated that FedEx has ambitious sustainability goals and the collaboration with FedEx shows how the private sector can innovate and help bring solutions to climate and emissions-related challenges.

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(via)

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