Dan Repacholi recently jumped behind the wheel of a Ford F-150 Lightning, the fully electric American ute he’s now holding up as the future for Australians. It wasn’t his — he didn’t buy one. He just test drove it. But the message was clear: this is what he thinks Aussies should be driving.
Only problem? In Australia, this so-called solution to our ute love affair costs an eye-watering $254,000 before on-road costs. Once you factor in registration, compliance, and conversion from left-hand drive, you’re looking at nearly $280,000 drive-away.
That’s half the price of a home in the Hunter Valley. Imagine telling hardworking tradies and farmers that the future of their workhorse is a truck that costs more than their mortgage.
When someone in the community pointed out the absurd cost, Repacholi’s response was one word: “Bullshit.”
No, Dan. The real bullshit is pretending a quarter-million-dollar imported EV is a realistic answer for hardworking Australians who rely on their utes every single day.
Why the Ford F-150 Lightning Doesn’t Work for Australia
- Not sold by Ford dealers here. Ford Australia has already said it won’t bring the Lightning into local showrooms.
- Grey import only. The ones here are shipped from the U.S. and converted to right-hand drive by niche workshops. No dealer support, no nationwide warranty.
- Built for American roads. The Lightning is made for wide U.S. highways, not bush tracks, job sites or paddocks.
This isn’t about giving tradies or farmers real options. It’s about political theatre. A flashy photo op in an American EV truck followed by lectures about “future-proofing” the Aussie ute — while ignoring the reality that no working family can afford one.
Real Aussies Know Better
- A farmer in Singleton doesn’t need a $280,000 EV ute to haul hay.
- A brickie in Cessnock doesn’t want Canberra telling him he’s “backward” for driving a diesel Ranger.
- A family in Maitland won’t swap their Hilux for an American import that costs more than four brand-new utes combined.
The Ford F-150 Lightning in Australia is nothing more than a luxury toy for elites — not a practical workhorse for real Australians. So let’s be honest: Repacholi’s little test drive wasn’t about helping the working class. It was about headlines, stunts, and pretending to be on the side of ute lovers while ignoring the cost of living crisis.
And yes, Dan — the real bullshit is pretending this oversized, overpriced, imported electric truck is a solution for the working men and women of this country.