Ford Delays T3 Electric Truck Development and Updates EV & Hybrid Plans

[jmc6020]

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...next-gen-evs--readies-manufacturing-plan.html

Press Release:


Ford Updates EV, Hybrid Plans, Readies Manufacturing Plants

• Ford continues to invest in a broad set of EV programs as it works to build a full EV line-up. In parallel, Ford is expanding its hybrid electric vehicle offerings. By the end of the decade, the company expects to offer hybrid powertrains across its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America
• Equipment installation is underway at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center assembly plant at BlueOval City, which aims to begin customer deliveries of Ford’s next-generation electric truck in 2026
• Expansion progresses at Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, to produce an all-new electric commercial vehicle for Ford Pro customers beginning mid-decade; construction progressing at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, and BlueOval SK joint venture battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky
• Ford reiterates commitment to its Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant as the company retimes the launch of its all-new three-row electric vehicles to 2027
• Design work continues on future EVs, including a flexible small and affordable EV platform by a skunkworks team in California

DEARBORN, Mich., April 4, 2024 – Ford Motor Company said today it is retiming the launch of upcoming electric vehicles at its Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant while continuing to build out an advanced industrial system to produce its next-generation electric vehicles, including greenfield construction and conversion of existing assembly plants.

The company continues to invest in a broad set of EV programs as it works to build a full EV line-up. These initiatives support the development of a differentiated and profitably growing EV business over time while Ford serves customers with the right mix of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles based on demand today. In parallel, Ford is expanding its hybrid electric vehicle offerings. By the end of the decade, the company expects to offer hybrid powertrains across its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America. In the first quarter of 2024, Ford’s electric vehicle sales increased by 86% and hybrid sales rose 42% versus a year ago.

“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 Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “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.”

Assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario

The transformation of Oakville Assembly Plant – a comprehensive overhaul of the plant from a gas vehicle assembly plant into an EV manufacturing complex – is set to begin in the second quarter, as planned.

Preparations continue for the market launch of Ford’s all-new three-row electric vehicles at the assembly complex in Oakville, Ontario, which the company said it will re-time to 2027 from 2025. The additional time will allow for the consumer market for three-row EVs to further develop and enable Ford to take advantage of emerging battery technology, with the goal to provide customers increased durability and better value.

“We value our Canadian teammates and appreciate that this delay will have an impact on this excellent team,” Farley said. “We are fully committed to manufacturing in Canada and believe this decision will help us build a profitably growing business for the long term.”

The company will work with Unifor to mitigate the impact the launch delay will have on its workforce at Oakville.

“We are committed to taking care of our valued Oakville employees through this transition,” said Bev Goodman, president and CEO, Ford Canada. “While this change requires a revision to the timeline, it will support a viable and growing future for our company, employees and dealers.”

BlueOval City

The creation of the BlueOval City campus – Ford’s new advanced auto production complex that includes the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center assembly plant – is progressing on track. In addition to paint shop and vehicle assembly equipment, installation is also underway for nearly 4,000 tons of stamping equipment that will produce the sheet metal stampings for Ford’s next all-new electric truck.

Ford plans to begin customer deliveries of the new truck in 2026 and gradually ramp up production to help assure quality. The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center will be Ford’s first Industry 4.0 plant, combining automation and connectivity to help elevate quality and efficiency.

Prospective employees can meet with Ford representatives at the new Ford Tennessee Discovery Center in Brownsville, Tenn., once it opens. The plant’s management team brings together strong leaders from around the world, including Ford veterans and talent from Tesla, Amazon, Meta, Toyota, FedEx and more. Community members also will be welcome to experience advanced manufacturing through virtual reality simulations at the Discovery Center.

Ohio Assembly Plant

Additionally, Ford continues its expansion of Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to produce an all-new electric commercial vehicle for Ford Pro customers beginning mid-decade.

Half of the structural steel is erected on the site, interior slabs are being poured, concrete walls are going up and masonry is beginning on interior walls. Ford expects to begin tool installation at Ohio Assembly Plant in spring 2025.

Employees at the plant, like at other Ford manufacturing facilities, will use wearable technology to support high-quality and efficient manufacturing.

Future EVs

Design work continues on Ford’s future-generation EVs. A skunkworks team in California is developing a smaller, low-cost, profitable, flexible EV platform capable of underpinning multiple vehicles at high volumes. Alan Clarke leads the growing team, which includes personnel from Auto Motive Power (AMP) following Ford’s acquisition of the EV energy management startup in late 2023.

In the meantime, construction is progressing at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, in Marshall, Mich., and at the BlueOval SK joint venture battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.

# # #

 

[Grumpy2]

Interesting and disappointing.

 

[bmwhitetx]

"The additional time will [...] enable Ford to take advantage of emerging battery technology, with the goal to provide customers increased durability and better value. "

As someone who just had a battery module failure, this statement hits home. Not complaining, I knew I was a first adopter and still love the truck. But 4% failure is not profitable.

 

[Pioneer74]

Wow. Oakville is going to idle for 2 years? They should have just extended the Edge production. Everybody that I know that has one loves it.

The ICE vehicles are being extended too. The next generation of the F150 is supposedly delayed a year. Maybe they will extend the current Lightning too.

 

[Newton]

A skunkworks team in California is developing a smaller, low-cost, profitable, flexible EV platform capable of underpinning multiple vehicles at high volumes

Meanwhile, Hyundai has released their sixth e-GMP vehicle which happens to be a three row SUV and is about to release two more. Jim Farley said something recently about not wanting to have a lot of "top hats" over a platform. I guess that has changed just like he has changed the focus from providing a "sub $40K EV pickup" to lamenting that customers "no longer want to pay a premium for EVs".

 

[Maxx]

Not trying to make this political but wondering if they are delaying stuff to see what happens in the next election or they think they already know.

 

[Zprime29]

Welp, so much for waiting on Ford's 3 row option.

 

[Pioneer74]

Not trying to make this political but wondering if they are delaying stuff to see what happens in the next election or they think they already know.

I doubt the election had anything to do with the decision. The capital investments are already made. The plants are being built, the machines and tooling are being delivered. Delay only extends the time Ford sees a return on the investment.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Ford plans to begin customer deliveries of the new truck in 2026 and gradually ramp up production to help assure quality.

Weird…..pretty sure I said this late last year and “an insider” said I was wrong…..

Makes me even more happy I bought the Lightning since we won’t see T3 until model year 2027 now. Not planning on swapping that soon, but the extra year or two will make it tempting

 

[Pioneer74]

Weird…..pretty sure I said this late last year and “an insider” said I was wrong…..

Makes me even more happy I bought the Lightning since we won’t see T3 until model year 2027 now. Not planning on swapping that soon, but the extra year or two will make it tempting

At the time, there was no indication that the program was delayed.

 

[intensifi]

@Ford Motor Company can thank Jim “Adam Osborne” Farley for pre-announcing the T3.

If you do not know who Osborne is, look him up. Osborne Computer could have been a major player!

And the proprietary Home Integration System (HIS) did not help. What Ford should have done is push the 240V 30A outlet in the bed as a backup solution for long term grid outages. Partnering with utility companies for meter collar based generator interconnects would provide a major benefit to those who suffer from adverse weather events. I explain to people how Ford sells one hell of a backup battery for your house. It’s way cheaper than equivalent batteries and it even has a truck wrapped around it for the times you need to visit the store!

Yes slow charging and a too small battery did not help the cause, but those are easy fixes given the work already completed on the next generation EVs.

Rant Over!

 

[Grease Lightning]

Yes slow charging and a too small battery did not help the cause, but those are easy fixes given the work already completed on the next generation EVs.

Slow to a point, but the charge curve flatness is amazing and is class leading. So yes the Cyberdookie can charge higher for a period it drops off.

Even Out of Spec appreciates the steady charge rate. I love that I know on a road trip I will be fully topped off in around 40-45 minutes.

Even if the Lightning could handle an average of 200 kW charging, you are only shaving off 10 minutes. Unless I am a commercial driver going coast to coast, I could care less about a possible 10 minutes every three hours when I need to pee, get a drink, stretch, and see what trending in the reels.

 

[intensifi]

Slow to a point, but the charge curve flatness is amazing and is class leading. So yes the Cyberdookie can charge higher for a period it drops off.

Even Out of Spec appreciates the steady charge rate. I love that I know on a road trip I will be fully topped off in around 40-45 minutes.

Even if the Lightning could handle an average of 200 kW charging, you are only shaving off 10 minutes. Unless I am a commercial driver going coast to coast, I could care less about a possible 10 minutes every three hours when I need to pee, get a drink, stretch, and see what trending in the reels.

I agree with your point.

However my family members do not like having to stop that long. Plus EA access on road trips has become problematic given increased EV sales (I know I know). Yes Supercharger access will help.

Luckily my Sierra EV Denali is due in June with it’s 400+ mile verified highway range.

 

[Grease Lightning]

I agree with your point.

However my family members do not like having to stop that long. Plus EA access on road trips has become problematic given increased EV sales (I know I know). Yes Supercharger access will help.

Luckily my Sierra EV Denali is due in June with it’s 400+ mile verified highway range.

Depending on the kids ages, might be cheaper to get the new family instead of the GMC

 

[Howard_Scott_Warshaw]

Just send my Tesla adapter please.

Aside, either we need better outreach and EV advocates, or we need to wait for the current generation to die off. I had a lengthy conversation with my ~70 year old uncle and the ignorance on display was mesmerizing. Granted it's new tech but even explaining the difference between a kW and a kWh was difficult for him to grasp. He was convinced you could not road trip with an EV because it takes 8 hours to charge.

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