Editorial illustration for Blue Oval kills F‑150 Lightning, GM books USD 7.6 B charge, Stellantis follows
Detroit's $50B EV Gamble Collapses: Big Auto's Retreat
Blue Oval kills F‑150 Lightning, GM books USD 7.6 B charge, Stellantis follows
The auto world woke up to three headlines that read like a post‑mortem. Ford’s iconic pickup, the F‑150 Lightning, was pulled from the lineup, ending a project that had been billed as a modern‑day Model T. Just hours later General Motors disclosed a $7.6 billion write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle push.
Across the street, Stellantis revealed a $26.6 billion hit to the same effort. Those numbers alone raise eyebrows, but the timing is what sharpens the focus. In a sector where billions are poured into batteries, software and new platforms, a cascade of losses in a single day suggests more than a misstep—it hints at a systemic misalignment.
The stakes aren’t abstract; they touch everything from factory floors in Michigan to the supply chains that feed them. As the industry grapples with these setbacks, the broader question emerges: is the United States slipping from its historic role as a global automotive leader?
On the same day, the Blue Oval said it was killing the F‑150 Lightning, a vehicle once heralded as the return of the Model T. General Motors came next, with a $7.6 billion charge. And then Stellantis, with a colossal $26.6 billion hit on its EV investments.
How did the US get EVs so wrong? The lazy
On the same day, the Blue Oval said it was killing the F-150 Lightning, a vehicle once heralded as the return of the Model T. General Motors came next, with a $7.6 billion charge. And then Stellantis, with a colossal $26.6 billion hit on its EV investments.
How did the US get EVs so wrong? The lazy answer is that Americans just don't want them, preferring to keep pumping dead dinosaur sludge into their lifted Ford F-150s and not have to deal with all that charging. But the real reason is that Detroit never took the challenge seriously, while dealers actively worked against the transition, worried about losses in service and repair.
And then President Donald Trump turned EVs politically toxic, and here we are. Americans are now falling behind in what may be one of the most significant technological shifts since the first car rolled off the assembly line. Poof As such, Trump seems happy to accelerate the auto industry's rush toward irrelevance.
Along with Congressional Republicans, Trump eliminated the $7,500 EV tax credit, right when the market was finding its footing. GM's EV sales dropped 43 percent in the quarter right after the tax credit ended. The Trump administration has also rolled back emissions regulations that were designed to push automakers to build more EVs and challenged California's authority to set its own pollution limits.
The headline‑making moves from Ford, GM and Stellantis underline a stark moment for U.S. automakers. Ford’s decision to kill the F‑150 Lightning, a model once billed as a modern‑day Model T, signals a retreat rather than a pivot.
GM’s $7.6 billion charge and Stellantis’s $26.6 billion hit on EV investments echo the same pattern of costly recalibration. What went wrong? The article points to a series of missteps: a bungled EV transition in Detroit, the rollback of emission rules under the Trump administration, and a lingering fuel‑crisis mindset that stalled momentum.
Whether these setbacks stem from strategic laziness, regulatory reversals or deeper industry inertia remains unclear. If America’s auto sector once commanded global admiration, the current financial writ‑downs suggest a fragile position. The piece stops short of offering a remedy, leaving readers to wonder how the industry will navigate the gap between past glory and present uncertainty.
Further Reading
- Ford F-150 Lightning Dies as EV, Will Resurrect as Range-Extended EV - Cars.com
- Ford Cancels Electric F-150 Lightning, Plans EREV Instead - Kelley Blue Book
- Ford Permanently Ends Production Of The F-150 Lightning - YouTube - State of Charge
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Common Questions Answered
How much have Detroit automakers lost in EV investments?
Detroit car giants have collectively lost approximately $50-53 billion in electric vehicle investments across Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The write-downs include Ford's $19.5 billion, GM's $7.6 billion, and Stellantis's massive $26.5 billion charge, representing the largest capital destruction in automotive history.
Why are Detroit automakers pulling back from electric vehicle production?
The EV retreat stems from several key factors, including the expiration of federal EV tax credits, reduced regulatory pressure on emissions standards, and lower-than-expected consumer demand. Market experts point to structural challenges like cheaper gasoline in the US and longer driving distances, which have made electric vehicles less attractive to American consumers.
What specific actions have automakers taken in response to their EV challenges?
Ford has discontinued the F-150 Lightning and canceled several planned electric vehicles, while GM has reduced EV capacity and booked significant charges. Stellantis has canceled plans for an all-electric Ram pickup, killed plug-in hybrid Jeep and Chrysler models, and is pivoting towards hybrid and traditional powertrain vehicles.
How do EV adoption rates differ between the US and Europe?
According to industry experts, EVs account for about 17% of sales in Europe compared to just 8% in the United States. The significant difference is attributed to structural market realities, including cheaper gasoline in the US and Americans' tendency to drive longer distances, which make electric vehicles less practical for many consumers.