Ford takes a swipe at Tesla over Cybertruck delays

US car giant Ford has claimed leadership in the electric pick-up race in North America and taken a swipe at Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk at the same time.

While calling its F-150 Lightning “the leader of all EV pickup trucks in our industry in the United States”, Ford's CEO Jim Farley compared his company's success with the ongoing delays on the Tesla Cybertruck, which is now promised for production in 2023.

“Take that Elon Musk,” he said playfully.

Farley was speaking at a press conference in Detroit, first reported by Business Insider, where Ford announced a major deal for renewable energy supplies.

“We’re really on a mission at Ford to lead an electric and digital revolution for many, not few,” he said.

Ford said by 2025 every vehicle it builds in the state of Michigan, USA will be assembled with the equivalent of 100 per cent carbon-free electricity, 10 years earlier than Ford’s global goal.

“Today is an example of what it looks like to lead . . . to turn talk into action,” Farley said in an official statement.

The supplier, DTE Energy, described the deal as “The largest renewable energy purchase from a utility in US history.”

Ford had sold nearly 4500 Lightnings by the end of July and is about to open its order books for the 2023 model, but with price rises of up to $US8500 put down to 'significant material cost increases and other factors'.

Tesla has also flagged price rises for the Cybertruck, as reported by Drive, but without providing any detail.