SOL at #2 on my dealers list. OK, I could still get a 2023 but now there's this diminishing tax credit thing and who knows how much they will jack up MSRPs.
What most OEMS are comfortable doing is manufacturing and wholesaling. Retail, well that's complicated considering about 2% of customers have the product and financial acumen to make direct to customer sales feasible. Like the 2% that buys things like electric vehicles.
Saw a Guesstimation that a couple of hundred trucks will be allocated to Michigan and there's 137 dealers. I'm #2 at my dealer and #1 got a 1st wave invite. Looking iffy for me to get one.
Let's say Ford wanted to get a product out on the market without waiting for years while the engineering was perfected and the assembly procedures specialized around it. Hoses and clamps on an EV aren't stressed, the hottest loop is the cabin heat and it's probably 160F vs over 200F on an ICE...
All I know is I am next up at my dealer. One wave 1 invite, none in wave 2. Salesman says they still have no info on how many allocations they will get this year, doubts any dealer actually knows for sure at this point.
Last night, Tim Bartz of Long McArthur Ford in Salina KS, said they were allocated two, yes two, Lightnings for this year.
I put in an inquiry with my dealer. I know I am high on the priority list but I might not be high enough.
To simplify, a Lightning will go about 2 miles on a kwh and my electric (with fees and taxes) is 16 cents per kwh so 8 cents/mile. Equivalent for current regular gas prices would be 40 mpg.
What I heard (and you have to listen multiple times since Elon is somewhat incoherent, LOL) is that they are still figuring out how to build it at an affordable price. Which means initial costing came out ridiculously expensive. Maybe it's not so easy to fold 1/8" stainless sheet like origami.