Ford to Co-Produce Old, New F-150 Truck Models

Ford Motor Co. plans to continue building its current F-150 pickup truck for about six months after it starts making the next-generation model, according to Reuters.

Unnamed sources tell the news service that Ford will overlap production to avoid the possibility of supply disruptions for the hot-selling pickup caused by glitches when launching the new truck.

Analysts have estimated that the F-150 and its Expedition SUV derivative generate more than 90% of Ford's worldwide profits.

The heavily reengineered F-150 will feature an unusually large proportion of aluminum and other lightweight materials expected to cut at least 700 lbs from the truck's curb weight.

Reuters says Ford will begin making the new pickup a year from now but continue building the current model until the end of 2014. The company produces the F-150 in Dearborn, Mich., and Kansas City, Mo.

The news service suggests the Dearborn facility will switch to the new model first.