Ford wants to go head-to-head with Tesla…

Above, we can see that the F-150 Lightning looks just like an electric version of the hugely popular F-150. There is one key difference, though – the “frunk.”

the F-150 Lightning has a front trunk. Since there’s no internal combustion engine, cargo can be stored directly under the hood. The Lightning is Ford’s response to Tesla’s Cybertruck announcement from 2019. Clearly, that announcement lit a fire under Ford.And what I found particularly interesting is the fact that Ford is following the Tesla model almost to a T.  

To start with, Ford is pricing the F-150 Lightning just under $40,000. That’s about where the Cybertruck is priced.The acceleration capability of each truck is also very similar. The range each truck gets is about the same. And Ford is even offering a premium model with extended range. That’s a page right out of Tesla’s playbook.  

The Lightning will also utilize an over-the-air software upgrade system just like Tesla. And it has an iPad-like control panel in the middle of the dashboard as well. And get this – Ford is using the same preorder/deposit system that Tesla uses. The company is asking for a $100 refundable deposit to preorder the F-150 Lightning.  

The only major difference with Ford’s approach is that it will offer the Lightning through its dealer network. By comparison, Tesla sells directly to consumers. This is a big win for the dealers, who were not at all happy about Tesla cutting them out of the loop. And the biggest difference, of course, is that the F-150 Lightning will not come equipped with self-driving technology… At least not yet.

So this competition between the F-150 Lightning and the Cybertruck is going to be fascinating. We are looking at a clash between a radically new and innovative design versus a classic tried-and-true design. Through 2020, the Ford F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in America for 43 straight years. Will Americans continue to make the F-150 their chosen pickup truck as we transition into the world of EVs? Or will they go with a radically new design that’s never been seen before? 

Something that looks like it is out of a science fiction movie… We can keep our eye on preorders to get a feel for the answer.  The Cybertruck hit one million preorders last week. Meanwhile, the F-150 Lightning has picked up 70,000 preorders right out of the gate. The race is on!