GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, is changing up its electrification strategy. While FoMoCo originally planned to offer a series of fully electric three-row crossovers, the automaker has since announced that those plans have been canceled. Instead, Ford will offer hybrid variants of its upcoming utility models.
As covered by our sister publication, Ford Authority, the change in tack coincides with several other changes to the Blue Oval company’s electrification strategy, including a delay for the next-generation F-150 EV, which was pushed back to 2027.
Although an all-electric version of the Explorer, underpinned by the Volkswagen MEB platform, is already available in Europe, electrified variants of the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator have long been expected for North America. Both were originally anticipated to be built at the company’s Oakville Assembly plant, with plans to launch around 2025. The automaker later delayed those plans to 2027.
Now, it sounds as though the plans have been canceled outright. Instead, Ford plans to double down on its hybrid efforts amid growing demand. Although the refreshed 2025 Explorer and 2025 Aviator both lack a hybrid option, that’s expected to change sometime in the near future. In fact, FoMoCo aims to offer hybrid powertrain options across its portfolio by 2030.
This isn’t the first time that Ford has delayed its EV plans to refocus on hybrids. In fact, it was reported in May that the automaker lost roughly $100,000 for every EV that it sold in the first quarter of 2024.
Looking ahead, GM is shifting its electrification strategy as well, and now plans to reintroduce plus-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to the North American market by 2027. In addition, GM has already announced the Cadillac Vistiq, an all-electric three-row crossover, although similar three-row models have yet to be announced for the Chevrolet, GMC, or Buick brands.
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Comments
Hybrids are a viable alternative to EVs but PHEVs are too close in price and are not. Also, hybrids are fine if buyers still have an ICE alternative, which Toyota just announced won’t happen. It’s going hybrid-only, which is a terrible decision that I hope it regrets.
Why is hybrid only a terrible decision if Toyota is really good at them and that’s what people want?
Also, if a PHEV cost the same as an EV (which I don’t think they actually do) I think I’d still rather have the PHEV. I could plug in, drive it around the town I live in on electric, and also drive it on the highway like a normal car.
However, I don’t think less than 75 miles or so of range is worth bothering with, so I haven’t bought into it yet.
Great now GM can dominate this space with hundreds of sales per quarter!!!!!