The Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the Blue Oval's most important model launches in a long time. Since it was revealed back in May, demand for Ford's first-ever electric pickup has exceeded expectations, prompting Ford to double production.

To prepare for its arrival, Ford is investing $250 million and creating 450 new jobs at its Michigan plant. Everything seemed to be going to plan, supporting claims that the order books will open later this month to convert reservations into sales. However, it looks like Ford F-150 Lightning orders will start later than expected.

CarBuzz reader Raymond Urias contacted his local Ford dealer in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, to find out if the rumors that F-150 Lightning orders are starting on October 26 are true.

In response, the dealer said there are rumors that F-150 Lightning orders will start "late this year or beginning of next year." When an exact date is confirmed, all F-150 Lightning reservation holders will be contacted by their local dealer.

It isn't clear why Ford F-150 Lightning orders are delayed, but it's worth noting that the October 25 date was never officially confirmed by Ford. To date, Ford has secured 150,000 reservations for its first electric pickup, so it will be interesting to see how many of these reservations convert into orders.

Impressively, 75 percent of F-150 Lightning reservations were made by new customers who don't already own a Ford vehicle. Pricing for the entry-level F-150 Lightning starts at $39,974, while the range-topping Platinum trim will set you back at least $90,474 before any tax credit incentives are applied.

Powered by two electric motors, the base truck is rated at 426 hp and 775 lb-ft with a 240-mile range. Opting for the more powerful 563-hp Platinum increases the range to 300 miles. After the order books open, the first customer examples are due to arrive in spring 2022.