Right-hand-drive Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up spotted in Brisbane

An electric Ford F-150 Lightning has been caught on camera on the streets of Brisbane – and with the steering wheel on the right side.

As first reported by The Driven, images posted to X (formally Twitter) by @wynchil show the right-hand-drive F-150 Lightning in the Brisbane suburb of Morningside – though it’s not clear at this stage whether the vehicle is a private import or a prototype from Ford.

While the petrol-powered Ford F-150 pick-up has been confirmed for Australia – with right-hand-drive remanufacturing being carried out in Melbourne by RMA on behalf of Ford – the US car giant has yet to announce whether the electric F-150 Lightning will be offered locally.

In April 2023, Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic refused to rule-out bringing the Lightning to Australia, admitting he would “love” to see the electric pick-up in local showrooms.

It’s believed the vehicle in the photos is the F-150 Lightning XLT variant, which offers 515 kilometres of driving range from its 131kWh battery pack.

The XLT model send a combined 337kW and 1050Nm from dual electric motors – one for each axle – to all four wheels, allowing an approximate 0-100km/h time of less than five seconds.

Ford Australia has previously announced it will launch five new electrified model by the end of 2024, but has confirmed the F-150 Lightning isn’t one of the five – suggesting the pick-up could be earmarked for a 2025 launch, if it does indeed get the greenlight.

The company has said it is focusing on getting the right-hand-drive remanufacturing right for petrol-powered F-150s first.

Drive has approached Ford Australia about the mystery vehicle and this story will be updated with its response.

If the vehicle is indeed a right-hand-drive prototype from Ford, it’s not clear why it would be in Brisbane. Prototype vehicles being evaluated by Ford also typically wear Victorian number plates.

Drive can confirm the F-150 Lightning is on the Department of Infrastructure’s list of approved vehicles for private importation.

There are a number of independent local companies offering right-hand-drive conversions for US pick-ups – many of which complete the process overseas where labour is cheaper – before shipping the finished vehicle to Australia.

While a Queensland-based conversion company told Drive it has not yet worked on an F-150 Lightning, it’s possible a private customer commissioned an interstate company to do the conversion.

Morningside, where the vehicle was seen, is a 20 minute drive from the Port of Brisbane, where vehicles arrive via sea.