As automakers continue forward with the industry-wide transition to all-electric powertrains, some OEMs are opting to shift strategies amid lower-than-anticipated demand for EVs. GM is among them, recently announcing plans to reintroduce plug-in hybrid powertrains to the North American market, as compared to The General’s original strategy to leapfrog hybrids entirely and transition straight to all-electrics. Now, GM’s rival, Ford, has announced that it will delay its next-generation all-electric SUVs while it continues to focus on hybrids.
As covered by our sister publication, Ford Authority, FoMoCo announced the delay earlier today, stating that it will “re-time” the launch of its “all-new three-row electric vehicles at the assembly complex in Oakville, Ontario” from 2025 to 2027.
“As the No. 2 EV brand in the U.S. for the past two years, 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,” said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley. “Our breakthrough, next-generation EVs will be new from the ground up and fully software enabled, with ever-improving digital experiences and a multitude of potential services.”
Per previous Ford Authority coverage, production of the Ford Edge crossover at the Oakville facility was previously expected to come to a close later this month in anticipation of retooling for production of the Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV. Now, however, production of both all-electric SUV models is slated to kick off in 2027.
Meanwhile, Ford states that production of the next-generation all-electric truck at the company’s Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center has been pushed back from 2025 to 2026.
Amid the delays to its various EV utility models, Ford says it will focus on ramping up hybrid production to meet growing customer demand, with plans to offer hybrid options across its North American lineup by the end of the decade. According to the automaker, Ford’s hybrid sales rose 42 percent during the first quarter of the 2024 calendar year. Meanwhile, the company’s electric vehicle sales increased by 86 percent during the same time period.
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Comments
Awesome! Please build the AWD V8 hybrid Mustang and take my money!
Ford has already disclosed that they are losing money on every EV sold. They may as well prioritize vehicles that actually produce profit.
Ford got a bit of a reprieve here as their EV strategy was disjointed and had no apparent profitability on the horizon.
Rushing the Lightning to market before the Cybertruck was ultimately a waste of time as it’s DOA unless you’ve fully bought into the cult of Elon.
GM’s slow and measured approach seems to be working itself out after some serious hiccups directly related to serious lack of battery manufacturing infrastructure in the US compared to China or Korea.
Problem is they’re dropping a profitable vehicle with the Edge.
“Ever improving digital experiences”… It’s a vehicle. How about focusing on “ever improving driving experiences”.
lol for the past 5-7 years I/we have had to hear from the EV zealots that EVs are the saving grace and epitome of green transportation. HEV and PHEV are the immediate ay forward to both reduce emissions, save fuel, and minimize a vehicle’s entire carbon footprint.
Going where the market is telling them to go. What a concept.
Lmao billions wasted when a Joe shmo like me and other said 5+ years ago this plan wasn’t going to work
It took nothing but common sense. No acute engineering or business knowledge. Just common sense. Billions upon billions of dollars.
Ford had a C Max hybrid a few years ago. They are planning to discontinue the Escape, which includes a hybrid and a plug in hybrid, in 2025. The are discontinuing the Explorer hybrid. So the only hybrid they will be selling is the Maverick pick up truck hybrid. Ford’s track record for impeccable quality for its vehicles has been well below average. So an all new hybrid line of vehicles will be years to be fully developed with the first year bugs worked out.
Ford later denied the Escape was getting cancelled, it was a rumor that was started due to the misinterpretation of a poorly worded comment from one of their executives.
Also, other than the Maverick, they sell a hybrid F-150 and the Lincoln Nautilus.