Back in late September – a couple of weeks after the onset of the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against the Detroit Big Three automakers – the union walked out of the Chicago Assembly plant, which builds the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. The strike wound up lasting roughly one more month, meaning that production of the 2023 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer was suppressed in a major way over that timeframe, as one would expect, and that includes the month of October, according to the automaker’s most recent sales report.
As Ford Authority previously reported, last month, a grand total of 173 Ford Explorer crossovers were built at the Chicago Assembly plant, which is 22,623 fewer than September. The 2023 Lincoln Aviator didn’t fare any better, as just 28 units rolled off the same assembly line last month, which is a whopping 2,704 less than September.
Meanwhile, 2024 Lincoln Aviator production is currently scheduled to begin on January 2nd, 2024, and as Ford Authority previously reported, the crossover will carry over completely unchanged save for one major update – the plug-in hybrid Grand Touring model has been discontinued for the new year, though it’s possible the PHEV will make a comeback as part of the 2025 refresh, perhaps packing a different electrified powertrain. However, for now, it’s unclear if that’s the case, and we already know that the automaker is developing all-electric versions of it and the Explorer.
In the meantime, Ford Authority has spotted numerous refreshed Aviator models out testing over the past few months, many devoid of any sort of camouflage, revealing the model’s updated exterior styling, as well as some interior revisions – including the disappearance of its physical HVAC button array.
We’ll have more production numbers to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Lincoln news, Lincoln Aviator news, and comprehensive Ford news coverage.
Comments
We currently have the MKX (Nautilus) and consider the Aviator to be the likely replacement. We like the size of the Aviator but have no use for the third row seating. If we buy one, we would be paying for the seats which would be stowed all of the time. Cost is one thing, but worse is that over time, the hardware would begin to rattle. Mercedes offers the third row as an option in the same size model, and Audi has the Q8 which is the large body without the third row. It would be really swell if the third row was an option in the Aviator.
So what hybrid Lincoln Aviators are available for purchase in Texas and Virginia?
Time for change