For some time, the U.S. government has expressed concerns regarding the possibility that Chinese vehicles could one day reach American shores – which is a problem not only for competitive purposes, given how cheap that country’s EVs are currently, but also, due to the fact that they could be used to gather sensitive information and relay it back to that nation. The Biden Administration has long viewed connected Chinese vehicles as a potential security threat, and following its decision to increase tariffs on those models, a forthcoming ruling may even impact the all-new Lincoln Nautilus, it seems.
According to Reuters, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo recently revealed that the administration will issue proposed rules on Chinese connected vehicles this fall, citing concerns over data privacy. “The national security risks are quite significant,” Raimondo said. “We decided to take action because this is really serious stuff.” She added that those vehicles “have thousands of sensors, thousands of chips – they’re controlled by software, which is coming from Beijing in the case of Chinese-made cars. They know where the driver goes, what the driving patterns are, what you’re saying in your car. It’s a lot of data around U.S. persons that goes right back to Beijing.”
At this time, it’s unclear what the U.S. government might propose as a way to prevent this from happening, nor what vehicles it may ultimately impact. However, the all-new 2024 Lincoln Nautilus is produced in China at the Changan Ford Hangzhou Assembly plant and imported into the U.S. after production of the previous model was moved from the Oakville Assembly plant in Canada, so it’s possible that it may be impacted in some manner.
“It’s not totally different than the threat of TikTok, which Congress took action on,” Raimondo said. “You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled. We have to figure it out. It’s still in the process. We are going to do whatever we need to do.”
We’ll have more on the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Lincoln news, Lincoln Nautilus news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
…Same thing for the Buick Envision…
Besides questionable security risks, the root of the matter concerns manufacturers’ obvious intentions to move more and more vehicle production to China to lower their costs, without, of course, lowering MSRPs.
In an alternate timeline, what would have happened if US car manufacturers had moved their production to Germany or Japan in 1936 to lower their costs?
Ford already had a product designed and being built for the Chinese market, and decided at the last minute to import it since Lincoln would have been down to 2 products to sell if it didn’t.
Globalization wasn’t a thing in the 1930s either.
Blame Musk* while policies had some effect, market had more effect. Just like the focus and fusion going bye so did the Edge because of the perceived market for EVs. Now it’s too late to backtrack. But I wouldn’t expect a conservative to have the mental capacity to critically think so it’s okay.
We just traded in our MKZ and bought a Corsair. We would not even consider buying a Lincoln that was made in China!
Chinese stuff is crap and never lasts. Besides, they are an enemy just like Russia. I can live with the fact my Maverick was made in Mexico, but I wouldn’t buy any vehicle made in China.
“The Lincoln Corsair is also produced in Chongqing, China by Changan Ford.”
Shame on Ford for making an American car in China! I have been a life long Ford committed owner but decisions made at Ford over the last few years have me seriously questioning my loyalty.
All American auto manufacturers build cars in China specifically for the Asian market. In fact, several Ford models not sold in America are manufactured in China and other countries as well. There would be no Ford if they didn’t. There is no shame in that. Thousands of good paying American jobs depend on Ford surviving in a global economy.
Been driving Lincolns and Fords since the early 80’s when Chrysler products went to crap. If ford wishes to build vehicles in China for the Asian market more power to them. As for me, a Chinese Nautilus will never be part of my household nor any other Ford or Lincoln built in China. Ford can do anything they want but in the end it may affect sales. It’s a shame really as the new Nautilus is a sharp looking vehicle
I looked at the new nautilus and it is a beautiful car. But once they said it was made in China, I said absolutely not. The sales manager said almost everyone felt the same way. I would be willing to pay more if it were built in Canada or the US. Ford will regret this decision, IMO.
You would not need to pay more. Figure that Ford is paying a 25 percent on each Nautilus they bring in here (as well as gm’s Buick Envasion). The profit margin must be astronomical and it would not cost them a whole lot in profits to build it in the US or Canada.
My local Lincoln dealer said the same. I took my XT5 in to have a small warranty repair done and while waiting I went next door to the Lincoln dealer (same owner as the Caddy dealer) and the salesman there said the same thing. Many look at the vehicle, hear “Made in China, and walk right out. But the odd thing is, this phenomenon doesn’t seem to be the case with the Envision. I guess when people hit a certain price point Made in China is a non-starter. Which really makes me scratch my head at the decision by Lotus to build a $145k vehicle in China.
I will not buy a car made in China. As simple as that . . . even if it’s a FORD vehicle. By the way, I have never owned anything but Fords my whole life. The people running Ford are not up to snuff. They are destroying the company. The Focus and the Fusion were excellent cars and selling quite well. THEY ARE GONE. I had to replace my second Fusion with an SUV and I am definitely not happy with that.
The Chinese market is keeping Lincoln alive. Ford is selling more vehicles there than in the US. All of you complaining about cars made in China will be the same ones complaining when Lincoln dies off, while you drive your German/Japanese imports.
If you really cared about Ford and Lincoln staying competitive then step up and commit to buying Lincoln for the next 20 years.
If Ford cannot find a way to make a profit on a $60k Lincoln by building it in the US as they used to, perhaps the brand should die.
Maybe you should buy a Lincoln.
When they make something I’m interested in and it’s made in the US I will consider it.
No excuses. Put your money where your mouth is and buy Lincoln.
When Lincoln builds something I want not made in China, when Ford starts honoring warranties rather than making excuses, and when my local Ford / Lincoln agency’s salesmen stop being hunched over their mobiles or watching sports on TV and greet me after I have been in the showroom for 20 minutes, I might buy one.
For the record: I wanted an Aviator so bad my teeth itched. No one wanted to sell me one. I went elsewhere.
The problem is that the Chinese market cannot be taken for granted as any wise investor would know not to put all your eggs in one basket. Tomorrow they decide to do a play on Taiwan and things turn for the worst geopolitically, Ford will lose that market or worst, the CCP can nationalize their assets. And then what? It amazes me that no one learned their lesson with the Ukraine war when Russia nationalized many western company assets in response to sanctions. What Ford should have been doing is diversifying their markets like everyone else including the Chinese are doing. But this country, the notion of national pride is so dead it was trampled over a strong desire for immediate returns at the expense of prosperity and personal security. Its like Lenin once said. “The capitalists will sell you the rope you can hang them with.”
Lincolin is dead, period.
You would rather Lincoln collapse and thousands of workers lose their jobs?
Like when Ford closed the Wixom Lincoln plant or when they moved the Nautilus from Canada to China?
Oh, please. I do not feel sorry for Chinese workers losing their jobs.
And, in a free market, I buy what I damn well please, as Americans have done for decades. Hudson is gone. Rambler is gone, Studebaker is gone, Hupmobile is gone. Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Mercury, Edsel, Moon, Willys-Knight, and countless others are gone. Why? The marketplace did not sustain them. Others went away by government orders.
Right now go into your kitchen and try to find something that is not made in China! If you old stuff it will read Ecko, Sunbeam or something else when they were made in the USA.
So f*** it then right? May as well send the rest of the holdouts to China while we’re here. Why resist with our wallets and demand to keep jobs at home? While we’re at it drop all tariffs and let the Chinese manufacturers come in and decimate our industries with product dumping. Anyways it doesn’t matter. The younger generation of this once great country that provided better lives and hope for a future for many leaving oppression (including many Chinese to this day) don’t even have an ounce of national pride or gratefulness for being able to poke fun at the likes of Trump or Biden (but go ahead and try it over in China and see if you will stick around for long).
I will never buy a Ford vehicle made in China and I question buying any Ford product with all the quality issues they currently have. It’s no surprise to me they have the quality issues because they purge every five years or so the engineers that have the knowledge to build a quality product.
Just another excuse from someone who never wanted to buy Ford/Lincoln in the first place.
Why should a person spend tens of thousands of dollars on a product they do not find desirable? There are far too many US-made choices out there to have to settle, Don’t blamed the consumer: blame the management that let the company decline.
I agree with the sentiment of not buying a ford/ Lincoln made in China, but let’s not put all this on Ford. The Buick envision is made in China also. Volvo is owned by the Chinese ( geeley) and some models are produc ed there, probably more every year. So this is not new. But, as others have said, I will not buy a car made in China.
Ford was able to make money when GM and Chrysler needed a bailout why can’t they do that now without going to CHINA now.
I would NEVER buy a Lincoln again from China ! The last Town Car in 2005 was built in Wixom, Michigan ; not in China ! Ford is going down the tube ! This is my last Ford vehicle ! Goodby Ford ! Henry Ford is crying in his grave !
This old man is waiting for the next time the (alleged) US manufacturers go hat in hand to Congress for a bailout. I am hoping just one member of congress (in either house) asks why they should be bailed out? GM did pay back all their loans on or before-time and I believe Chrysler did the same. But it was still a bailout; something never offered Packard or Studebaker*.
GM thanked us by making most non-truck Chevies in Korea, Buicks are from Korea or China. Chrysler thanked us by allowing themselves to be absorbed by no less than three different entities in less than 20 years, and has virtually no real product lines left. Ford? They may not have had a bailout, but were/are sunk deeply in debit and have QC issues that make the other (alleged) US makers look like they are hand-built.
As for where a car is made: I had a funny incident the other day. Some old man about my age took me to task for driving a Kia. He “bought American”, by buying a Buick I pointed out that his “Buick” was Chinese-made, while my Kia was made (except for the transmission) in far away and exotic West Point Georgia. The profits may go back to Korea, but meantime, thousands of Americans just down the road from me have good-paying jobs while Buick contributes nothing to the economy but dividend checks.
*Studebaker actually remained in business; they just stopped making cars. They had more than 30 other divisions that – unlike the car division – were profitable.
I have been a Lincoln owner for many years. However my current 2019 Nautilus will be my last Lincoln . I would not consider purchasing a vehicle manufactured in China. In my view a poor decision by Ford.
I agree. It is a shame that so few people care.
Not you Pam. I was referring to Jay above.
A P O E like you would know the tail end of the digestive track well.
I wasn’t about to buy a Nautilus made in china.NEVER. So now I have a new 2023 Nautilus. Shame on FoMoCo bad bad idea. I have owned Ford and Lincolns since 1964. china is not our frend
I own a 2024 nautilus and love it! But what will happen after the election? Maybe I need to return it now lol
Get out and vote. Are you voting for Mandates or Freedom. Dump the Mandate people.
Now they care when it is a car. Oh and ironically Ford pushed all kinds of funds to get this administration in place because the previous one made sure they would produce most vehicles here in the states. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Ford you are so dumb. China actually is a threat and you don’t care because you don’t care about people or product you just care about the Almighty yuan (used to be dollar but you stopped that of it’s worth a long time ago).
People commenting “Ford should never build cars in China” using phones made in China or Korea. Comical.
Phones made in China et al because there are none made in the US anymore. Also there’s quite a difference between a $500 phone and a $80000 vehicle.
It is interesting to see Foxconn is closing factories in China as iPhone production moves elsewhere. Apple had long operated its production in China, but in recent years it has been shifting away slowly. Ford needs to put their finger up to teh wind and see which way is is ACTUALLY blowing.
When you look around you find that more and more electronics/devices are moving manufacturing to South Korea, Vietnam, India, Brazil, and Indonesia. And, some of what was made in CHina that teh US consumes is moving to Mexico (there should be more of that.)
Have a 2022 Aviator (not built in china) and I absolutely love it! traded my 3rd MKT (also not built in china) which I loved as well. I don’t exactly know why it is but many industry organizations that review and rank autos seem to have a grudge against Lincoln’s. I guess I don’t care because I benefit from the lower price to pay, compared to competitors in their class. Lincoln usually does this by many of the options come standard where as your Audi, BMW, Mercedes , Lexus and more keep a low starting price with very few options included. This Aviator is one hell of a ride and a real head turner on the road.
Meh, it sucks that this has to happen, but everyone is leaving China anyway, so the sooner Ford does it the better. Ford would be smart to start dismantling teh factory and if needed sabotaging teh equipment they cannot get out of China. This ain’t 1999 anymore, there is no windfall profit from opening up China; Ford need to suck it up that they spent billions in China and the Communist Party soured their economy, ruined their infrastructure, and through corruption and stupidity. Is Ford waiting until CHina sinks a US Navy ship? Are they waiting until the whole economy collapses?