Ford had big plans for its electric car lineup. A three-row SUV with zero emissions was supposed to complement the three-model portfolio. However, the automaker has just announced a change of plans. The already delayed electric SUV will no longer be coming.
Ford Motor Company is making a U-turn after a years-long push toward an all-electric lineup. It all started with the company cutting a shift on the F-150 Lightning production line and adding another to produce the Ford Bronco earlier this year, saying the move was due to an expected decline in demand for electric vehicles.
The automaker tried to get ahead of the curve, but the expected “demand collapse” never materialized. Ford posted record sales numbers for its electric lineup in July. Ford sold 8,242 electric vehicles last month, up 31% from July 2023.
165,621 customers bought a Ford last month, meaning one in twenty Fords sold in July was a EV. FoMoCo is the second largest electric car manufacturer in the USA after Tesla. Its best-selling electric car is the Mustang Mach-E, followed by the F-150 Lightning. The product range also includes the e-Transit van.
Photo: Ford
Nevertheless, the figures are not encouraging for the brand, which has now decided to abandon its plans for the three-row electric Off-road vehicleThe model was originally scheduled to roll off the production line at the Oakville Assembly Complex in Canada in 2025. Earlier this summer, that was pushed back to 2026, and now the project has been cancelled altogether.
The facility was originally intended to be converted into a production center for electric vehicles, but instead the automaker will build large Super Duty trucks at the Canadian plant.
Meanwhile, the company will also develop a new family of three-row, electric SUVs with hybrid technology. The brand is reducing investment in electric vehicle development by 10% and cutting costs across the entire lineup to boost demand. According to Reuters, Ford is expected to lose up to $5.5 billion on electric vehicles this year alone.
FoMoCo will also take a special write-off of approximately $400 million to write off certain assets related to the canceled three-row SUV. The move may result in additional costs of up to $1.5 billion.
Photo: Ford
Ford plans to launch another electric van by 2026 and two new pickup trucks by 2027, most likely to be electrified, as the company plans to offer a product lineup that produces lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Ford is also waiting for the introduction of cheaper battery technology before launching the updated F-150 Lightning, which was originally planned for 2025 and has been pushed back to 2027. In addition, the company will shift some battery production to reduce costs in order to qualify for incentives under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
