Ford F-150 Lightning Gains Used Demand After EV Pickup Discontinued

Ford Motor's discontinued F-150 Lightning electric pickup is gaining demand in the U.S. used market as buyers find lower prices attractive after new production ended. The truck is selling faster, with dealers reporting strong interest and prices recovering despite Ford's earlier sales challenges.

According to Edmunds.com, used F-150 Lightning models are selling in about 20 days, compared with a 44-day average for used vehicles in the U.S. Prices have risen 4% since the start of the year to about $50,000.

The used-market shift follows Ford's decision to end Lightning production after the final model left the assembly line in December. CEO Jim Farley said the company struggled with demand for expensive electric vehicles.

"The very high-end EVs, the $50K, 70K, $80,000 vehicles, they just weren’t selling." Farley said.

Ford's electric pickup launched with a base F-150 Lightning Pro MSRP of $39,974 in 2021, but prices later increased to around $60,000. Edmunds.com reported the average transaction price during its first year reached $79,000 as Ford focused on higher-priced versions.

Used EV dealer Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas said pricing has changed the vehicle's appeal in the secondhand market.

"When Ford was selling it brand new, the math was complicated," Douglas said.

Douglas also described the current used pricing level as more attractive for buyers comparing electric trucks with other options.

"The Lightning is 50% to 60% of the sticker price and that is really a sweet spot," Douglas said.

Nearly one-third of used Lightnings are being sold by dealerships outside Ford's network, according to Douglas. Many of those dealers are choosing direct sales because of current demand instead of returning vehicles to Ford dealers.

EV Group CEO and cofounder Alex Lawrence said availability has become a challenge for reasonably priced used Lightnings. The truck has attracted buyers who use it as a second vehicle for commuting.

Ford's next electric pickup effort will be the Fathom, planned as the first vehicle on the company's Universal Electric Vehicle platform. Ford said the model will start at $28,350 before a $1,595 delivery fee and is scheduled for 2027.

Ford spokesperson confirmed the company's timeline for the upcoming model.

"We’ve said previously, ‘Fathom will launch in 2027’ - and there is no change to that." a Ford spokesperson said.

Farley discussed the challenge of bringing the new platform to market at scale during the 2026 Automotive News Congress.

"It’s going to be a heck of an effort to launch this at scale, at cost, on time." Farley said.