Jimmy Fallon surprises F-150 factory workers, drives Lightning with Ford CEO

Comedian Jimmy Fallon stopped by the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn on Friday afternoon to hang out with Ford CEO Jim Farley and factory workers who build the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck, the Free Press has learned.

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" host spent nearly an hour touring the new factory with Farley and plant manager Corey Williams and Fallon Gates, a manufacturing communications specialist who guides tours on-site.

"I am not sure who enjoyed the visit more, the employees at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center or Jimmy Fallon," said Fallon Gates, who had her own very funny moment introducing herself to the famous visitor. "Everyone was all smiles. Jimmy said that the tour really blew his mind."

Jimmy Fallon was making a few stops in metro Detroit; this was just one, Ford said.

Factory workers cheered the actor, who starred on "Saturday Night Live" as did Chris Farley, the late cousin of Jim Farley.

They flocked to get photos taken with the TV host, and many asked the CEO to snap images using employee cellphones as fast as they could make it happen.

Factory workers yelled, "We love you," and Fallon yelled right back.

The TV host, who has spent time on his talk show discussing the infamous "frunk," stopped by the site to meet workers who install the enormous front trunk in the pickup.

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Fallon tweeted May 21 a video of himself singing "Junk in my Frunk."

On Friday, he showed UAW employees photos of his older F-150 and talked trucks, trucks, trucks.

Ford confirmed the information provided to the Free Press about the afternoon event.

The lighthearted get-together between Farley and Fallon comes a week after Ford released second quarter adjusted earnings of $3.7 billion, which exceeded industry expectations. The Lightning plays a key role in Ford's strategy.

In the past, Fallon has joked his Ford pickup was bigger than the apartment he had when he started on "SNL" in 1998.

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The CEO and talk show host checked out a few products, including the Lightning, Bronco Raptor and Mustang Shelby GT500. And they drove the track together.

Farley tweeted pictures from the visit at 7:11 p.m. Friday and said, "So happy to host @JimmyFallon at @Ford. Fun day at the track and the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, MI surprising our teams building the #F150Lightning. Thanks Jimmy!"

Fallon tweeted a reply to Farley 17 minutes later: "You are so smart, fun and a badass. Most importantly - you treat your employees like family and I was so happy to see it all first hand. Thank you for inviting me…I told ya I’d come and hang!!!!"

A crew from WDIV-TV (Channel 4), an NBC affiliate that airs Fallon's show and "SNL," was invited to stop by and interview Fallon and Farley at the track.

Jimmy Fallon may have a special place in his heart for the Motor City.

He agreed to be a guest on the Spotify podcast "Drive" hosted by Farley this year that celebrated the role cars play in our personal lives. Neither was paid to do the show.

Ford said Friday that Fallon was not paid to stop by, he just did.

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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jimmy Fallon drives F-150 Lightning, Bronco Raptor, Mustang Shelby