Ford F-150 Lightning outsold the Cybertruck and was then canceled for poor sales

Post by stickfigure » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 9:47 PM UTC

remove-resolve wrote: post #182

a4isms wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A pickup truck should just be max utility A working truck should be max utility. Around the core market of "working trucks," there are various wannabe truck products that do not have to be max utility. For example, a Subaru Brat or a Hyundai Santa Fe. Niche products compared to an F-150, but they had/have their fans. I personally can't stand the design, but the idea of an impractical "halo vehicle" that appeals to…

I can't speak for the Santa Fe, but most Brat owners admit they have no intention of using it as a utility vehicle. The same cannot be said for most F-150 owners I know.

Post by epolanski » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 9:49 PM UTC

dghlsakjg wrote: post #177

epolanski wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Armchair internet analysts think they know better than the biggest car producer in the world that reinvented the modern supply chain. "But look at Tesla market cap!!!" Toyota had the right intuition: focus on EVs when the global sales will make sense for it, meanwhile avoid throwing good money after bad like most legacy automakers did with EVs.

Toyota is not immune to throwing good money after bad. They have dumped billions into hydrogen fuel cell research and production over three decades. Last year they sold more Venzas than hydrogen cars. Notably, the Venza was discontinued after the 2024 model year and those sales figures represent inventory leftover from prior years.

Post by bluGill » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 9:54 PM UTC

philistine wrote: post #274

bluGill wrote: post #230

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Electric cars still need maintenance. They don't get regular oil changes, but they wear out tires sooner. They have more recalls in general than ICE (this will likely change, but manufactures are still learning how to make EVs reliable). The parts of a car that are not common with EVs don't break for the first 100k miles, and almost nobody is using the dealer for cars that old. There is plenty of other work that is c…

Your argument hinges on any level of maintenance being enough to maintain our current level of investment. The truth is always more complicated. Take for example DVD rental. The market completely evaporated, while there is still a small lingering community that could be serviced by rentals. My local library is proof that there is a market. But there are, bar some weird exceptions, no remaining DVD rental stores. If a…

Post by AngryData » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 9:56 PM UTC

ElijahLynn wrote: post #25

billti wrote: post #13

I think the timing of the Cybertruck starting deliveries roughly aligning with when Elon got heavily involved in politics hurt it quite a bit. It is such a distinctive vehicle with a strong association with Elon, that there was an immediate brand association. It may have had poor sales anyway, but it certainly didn't help that many folks on the left, who are typically the most 'pro EV', had a large 'anti-Elon' shift…

The Cybertruck also does the tightest turns because it has front and back wheel steering. I could imagine that to be useful on job sites.

Post by seanmcdirmid » Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

array_key_first wrote: post #175

danans wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a shame the Lightning got discontinued. > As an EV owner, it sucks that the main thing holding the technology back is misconceptions and misunderstanding, rather than actual practical matters. The F150 Lighting (and the Cybertruck) are failing precisely because it was impractical. It was expensive, has limited range when doing actual "pickup truck" work, like hauling tons of construction materials. It was buil…

I don't think that market is a niche at all. From what I can tell, most pickup owners don't use them as a pickup. They use them as a more masculine pavement SUV. So, you'd think, the F150 L and Cyber truck would be perfect.