Ford delays some North American electric SUV, truck production

WASHINGTON — Ford Motor said Thursday it had delayed the planned launches of three-row EVS in Canada and its next-generation electric pickup truck in Tennessee as the slowdown in EV demand globally forces automakers to revise production plans.

Ford said separately it was boosting hybrid electric vehicle offerings and by 2030 expects to offer hybrid powertrains across its lineup of gas-powered vehicles.

“We are committed to scaling a profitable EV business, using capital wisely and bringing to market the right gas, hybrid and fully electric vehicles at the right time,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said.

Ford, which lost nearly $4.7 billion on its EV business in 2023, said in February the next generation of EVS will be launched “only when they can be profitable.” Shares were up 1.8 per cent in premarket trading on the news.

The Dearborn automaker said it would push back the launch of the new large EV SUV that it will build at its assembly complex in Oakville, Ontario to 2027 from 2025 to “will allow for the consumer market for three-row EVS to further develop and enable Ford to take advantage of emerging battery technology.”

Separately, Ford said it will delay deliveries of an all-new EV truck it will build at a new plant in western Tennessee until 2026. Ford said last year it planned to begin production in late 2025 and build up to 500,000 electric trucks annually at the plant. Ford plans to begin customer deliveries of the new truck in 2026 and gradually ramp up production to help assure quality.

Reuters