--- title: "Factory Fire Leaves Ford Without Enough Aluminum to Build the F-150 Lightning" date: "2025-10-24" modified: "2025-10-24" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-f-150-lightning-best-selling-electric-pickup-production-stop" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "F-150 Lightning" - "Ford" - "pickup" --- # Factory Fire Leaves Ford Without Enough Aluminum to Build the F-150 Lightning ![A Ford F-150 Lightning in production]() *A Ford F-150 Lightning on the production line at the Rogue Electric Vehicle Center. \Ford\* The [Ford F-150 Lightning]() is the best-selling electric pickup in the country, but it doesn't matter. The gas-burning F-150 and Super Duty are obviously much hotter sellers, and they are what [Ford]() has chosen to prioritize while the automaker's stock of aluminum is constrained after a fire at one of its suppliers' facilities. Meanwhile, production for the all-electric truck will remain on hiatus into the new year. Ford is pausing Lightning production indefinitely and choosing to divert its available aluminum toward the internal-combustion and hybrid F-Series products, which use less of the metal and are less plentiful on dealer lots. Ford spokesperson Sam Schembari told *The Drive*, "F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric pickup truck in the U.S. – despite new competition from CyberTruck, Chevy, GMC, Hummer and Rivian – and delivered record sales in Q3. Right now, we’re focused on producing F-150 ICE and Hybrid as we recover from the fire at Novelis. We have good inventories of the F-150 Lightning and will bring Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) back up at the right time, but don’t have an exact date at this time." Ford's been managing this problem since September 16, when a fire at its aluminum supplier, Novelis, based in Oswego, New York, shut down its hot mill. The supplier doesn't expect it to be operational again until December, and Ford expects the downtime could cost it as much as $2 billion. In response, the automaker plans to increase regular F-150 production early next year and temporarily move staff from REVC, where the Lightning is built, to the Dearborn plant, where the other trucks are made. ![]() **Ford** This is one of several manufacturing setbacks the F-150 Lightning has faced during its relatively short existence. [Almost exactly a year ago](), Ford temporarily stopped building the electric pickup because of low demand and excess dealer stock. Back in early 2023, it was stopped for a shorter time [due to "a battery issue."]() *This story was updated with an official comment from Ford* *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com*[]() ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()