That’d extend the current 14th-gen’s lifespan to eight years—Ford likes to switch up the pickup every five or six years
- The launch of the 15th-generation Ford F-150 could be delayed by a year, per new reports
- If true, such a delay would stretch the existing truck’s lifespan significantly
- The leak comes via parts suppliers who have apparently been told of the change
It isn’t overly rare for a manufacturer to delay the introduction of a new model; witness the recent spate of postponements and even outright cancellations in various EV segments, for example. But what absolutely is rare is the delay of a huge-selling cash-cow—especially one which is the cornerstone of a brand and foundation of an entire company.
Said to be dubbed project code P736 by insiders, the next-gen F-150 is expected to be offered with both internal-combustion and hybrid power options, though it remains to be seen which gassers make the cut. Talking heads with ears in the company allege suppliers for the new F-150 have been informed to alter their production plans, being told to not expect cranking out parts for the next-gen truck until 2028, and to plan on continue producing gear for the existing truck until that time.
All hands in the Glass House are mum on the subject, of course, given we’re not just talking about future product but arguably the most important future product at Ford. A misstep or dropped ball with the F-150 would be disastrous on numerous levels, not the least of which is the financial hit which may occur—to say nothing of lost bragging rights in the perpetual mine-is-bigger-than-yours tug-of-war that is the Detroit truck market.
The existing truck is known as the model’s 14th generation, on sale since 2021 with a refresh two years ago. Blue Oval pages of history teaches us the company likes to roll out an F-150 with meaningful changes every five or six model years; a delay until the 2029 model year would stick gen 14 with a lengthy eight-year product cycle. That’s a lifetime in this brutally competitive segment, and a span not seen since the new-for-’97 truck was displaced by the span-fire new 2004 truck.
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