Business 209
Renault CEO Tightens Platform-Sharing Rules to Ensure Rival Models Look Distinct
Used Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickups Sell at Half Price as Demand Surges
The discontinued Ford F-150 Lightning has become a standout performer on the used market, with prices around 50% below the original MSRP driving strong buyer interest.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
The used car market has found an unlikely champion in the Ford F-150 Lightning, the electric pickup that Ford has discontinued. Prices for second-hand examples have fallen to roughly half their original manufacturer's suggested retail price, and that steep discount has turned the model into one of the strongest sellers in the pre-owned segment.
Buyers who balked at the Lightning's original sticker price are now finding the same trucks at figures that make the electric drivetrain far more palatable. The result is a surge in demand that has caught dealers and analysts off guard, given the broader cooling of interest in electric vehicles over the past year.
The F-150 Lightning launched to considerable fanfare as Ford's flagship electric vehicle, promising the utility of America's best-selling pickup with zero tailpipe emissions. But production costs, shifting consumer preferences and a slowdown in EV adoption pushed Ford to scale back its ambitions. The company eventually halted production of the model, leaving a pool of existing vehicles to circulate on the secondary market.
That decision has had an unintended consequence. With no new Lightnings rolling off the line, the used inventory has become the only route to ownership for many buyers. And as depreciation has bitten hard, those buyers are discovering that a lightly used electric pickup can cost less than a comparable petrol or diesel model.
Depreciation is a familiar story for electric vehicles, which have generally shed value faster than their combustion-engine counterparts. The Lightning's case is extreme because it combines a high initial price, a relatively short production run and the stigma of discontinuation. For value-focused shoppers, those factors add up to an opportunity rather than a warning sign.
The appeal is not difficult to understand. The Lightning offers four-wheel drive, substantial payload and towing capability, and the instant torque that characterises electric propulsion. Running costs are lower than those of a conventional full-size pickup, and many examples remain within their battery and drivetrain warranties. For buyers who can live with the range limitations of an electric truck, the maths has become compelling.
Dealers report that well-specified Lightnings are moving quickly, particularly those with the larger battery pack and higher trim levels. The discount means that a truck that once competed with luxury vehicles on price now sits in the same bracket as mid-range petrol pickups. That repositioning has broadened the pool of potential customers.
The trend also says something about the wider electric vehicle market. As manufacturers adjust their electrification plans, discontinued or slow-selling models can find a second life on the used lot. The Lightning is not the first EV to benefit from this dynamic, but the scale of the discount makes it one of the most striking examples.
For Ford, the situation is a mixed blessing. Strong used demand keeps residual values from collapsing entirely, which matters for lease returns and for the brand's reputation. But it also highlights the commercial difficulties that led to the model's discontinuation in the first place.
Whether the surge will last is uncertain. Used prices for electric vehicles have been volatile, and further shifts in the new-car market could change the calculus again. For now, the F-150 Lightning has found a niche as a bargain, and buyers are responding accordingly.
5
