Reuters reported on Thursday that Ford has scrapped plans to build electric vehicles (EVs) at a major factory and will instead build large gasoline-powered pickup trucks at the plant.
The company had originally planned to build the three-row electric SUV at its Oakville, Canada, factory between 2025 and 2027, but the plant is now expected to expand production capacity to 100,000 F-Series Super Duty trucks. according to Ford remains committed to producing the EV on that timeline, although it's unclear which factory it will be built at, according to Reuters.
Ford expects to lose more than $4.5 billion on its EV line in 2023 and more than $5 billion this year, according to Reuters. The company has previously said it would launch its next-generation EV “only when it is profitable.” (Related article: Major automaker suffers $1.3 billion loss on key EV line)
'Totally pathetic': Battleground state autoworkers tell CNN 'deteriorating' economy and EV mandate motivated them to vote for Trump pic.twitter.com/ydUn3Xcftl
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 12, 2024
“This has nothing to do with EVs,” a Ford spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It's about getting more Super Duty trucks to more customers, faster. Our plants in Kentucky and Ohio are already producing Super Duty at full capacity, and the wait for the industry's most popular work truck has been too long for both our customers and Ford.”
“In the process, our colleagues in Oakville will be returning to work sooner as they recently ceased production of the vehicles they were building,” the spokesperson added. “There is no change to the timing of the three-row electric SUV planned for Oakville, only a change in where it will be built. Oakville will also be producing the electric Super Duty, which will be introduced alongside the next version of the vehicle.”.“
According to Reuters, Super Duty trucks built at Ford's Oakville plant will be able to take advantage of what the company calls “future multi-energy technologies.”
“Super Duty is a vital tool for businesses and people around the world, and even though our Kentucky truck plant and Ohio assembly plant are operating at full capacity, we can't meet demand,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. “At the same time, we look forward to introducing our three-row electric utility vehicle.”
According to Reuters, global demand growth for EVs has slowed, with companies like Tesla and Chinese giant BYD slashing prices to boost demand, while established manufacturers like Ford and General Motors are backtracking on ambitious EV production targets.
The Biden administration is using tough regulations and billions of taxpayer dollars to encourage manufacturers and consumers to switch to EVs. Despite recently finalizing rules that require manufacturers to make 56% of new vehicle sales EVs and an additional 13% plug-in hybrids by 2032, EPA Administrator Michael Regan claims the Biden administration is not encouraging the shift to EVs. EV Mandatory.
As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
