On Wednesday, Farley told journlists the company would limit production in the vehicle's first year on sale and that Ford already had "made a call on volume," but he declined to give a number. Ford took a similar strategy with the 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, limiting it to 50,000 vehicles in its first year of production.
Wolfe Research analyst Rod Lache, in an investor note Thursday, estimated Lightning production would be limited to 80,000 pickups per year, based on capacity data from parts plants that supply the truck.
Ford is banking on the Lightning to draw in new customers and convert electric vehicle skeptics.
"This is America's bestselling vehicle, so if there's one vehicle that's going to give us an indication of whether these EVs are going to take off, it will be this Lightning," Farley said on CNBC.
Ford shares rose 4.6 percent to $13.07 in Friday morning trading in New York.
Analysts so far seem impressed with the pickup's capability and low starting price.
Lache said it could be a "game-changer."
Ryan Brinkman, an analyst with J.P. Morgan, raised his share price target to $16 from $15 and noted the Lightning was "clearly superior to its internal combustion cousin."
Brinkman also recounted a recent presentation for analysts during which Ford executives asked what price they thought the Lightning would start at. Answers ranged from $59,000 to $69,000.
"The actual starting price, Ford told us, was $49,000, which was sufficiently low to elicit audible gasps followed by polite clapping from the audience," he wrote. "After which we were told, 'Just joking — we played a [trick] on you. It doesn't start at $49,000, it starts at $39,974.' "
