2024 Ford F-150 pickups stored on Michigan lots ship on schedule after quality checks

New 2024 F-150 pickups that have filled random storage lots across Michigan are now headed to customers.

"We started shipping new 2024 F-150s to dealers beginning last week," Mike Levine, Ford North America product communications director, told the Free Press. "We will steadily increase shipments as we continue going through our quality checks to ensure they meet the quality our customers expect."

Ford predicted last year the trucks would be available in early 2024 and things are running on schedule, he said.

"We are shipping exactly when we said we would and feel good about getting these trucks to customers," Levine said.

People have called and emailed the Detroit Free Press asking about the 2024 trucks filling up random once-vacant lots in public places around metro Detroit and up to 90 miles away, curious about why. It's a new launch.

One key issue for Ford is the importance of producing as many vehicles as possible, because they're recorded as a sale for the automaker when they leave the factory, not when they leave the dealership, noted John McElroy, veteran automotive analyst and host of the "Autoline After Hours" podcast and webcast.

While there may be costs associated with storage, automakers absorb those costs to meet the revenue guidance they gave to Wall Street, McElroy said.

Building vehicles and storing them initially is part of the new launch process and procedures, Levine said.

Also, as part of the 2024 F-150 standard quality checks, Ford is addressing potential issues with headlamps as part of production review prior to shipping to dealers, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. Ford stopped shipment of the Lightning pickups on Feb. 9 to complete quality review protocols.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has told industry analysts and investors that the automaker is committed to slowing delivery of vehicles coming off the production line and doing whatever is needed to be certain tough quality standards are met. Reducing warranty and recall costs is essential to improving profits, Farley has said.

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The Ford F-150 is built by UAW members at the Dearborn Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly in Claycomo, Missouri. The F-Series retained its title in 2023 as bestselling truck for the 47th year in a row and the bestselling vehicle for the 42nd year in a row.

Pickups are a highly competitive segment that generates billions for automakers.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on X at @phoebesaid