FoMoCo’s decision to delay the planned production start of the three-row Ford Explorer EV for North America at the Oakville Assembly plant was one that was understandably met with “extreme disappointment” from Unifor, the Canadian union that represents workers at that same facility. After all, following the end of Ford Edge production at the Oakville plant, those workers are now staring at roughly two years of downtime after the facility is retooled in Q2, not to mention additional impacts on suppliers, to boot. Ford and Unifor have been working on potential solutions for this issue for weeks now, and those talks are still ongoing, the union has announced.
Along with congratulating Unifor members for a successful run of Ford Edge production, the union’s Ford Council Vice Chairperson, Marc Brennan, noted that “the union leadership have continued to explore ways to lessen the impact on your pay and job security for this extended downtime – building on the protections negotiated with Ford in our 2023 collective agreement. We have met with the company on a regular ongoing basis.”
“Although conversations and negotiations have been challenging, progress is being made. A final resolve has not yet been agreed to, however, because of our ongoing discussions the re-canvass for the retirement incentive was initiated and the preferential hire employment opportunity at Windsor for those interested on a one-for-one basis is underway. Extended EV transition provisions will not replace the ability to come into work and build world class quality vehicles and earn a full paycheck. As a result, the Union, both National and Local are continuing to explore our options and seeking opportunities to shorten the retool timeline. Discussions with not only the Ford Motor Company, but also with multiple levels of the government are ongoing.”
Brennan added that he understands many Unifor members have concerns – understandable since Explorer EV production has been pushed back from 2025 all the way to 2027 – but added that what will soon be called the Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex “remains a key part of Ford Motor Company’s future EV and battery production plans.”
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Comments
The delay is because a vast majority of Americans have banned together against EVs. We decide what sells, the Government or Ford do not decide.
I guess there was something wrong with updating 2 perfectly good vehicles as the Edge Classic and Nautilus Classic using Hybrid And Plug In Hybrid tech which would have bought Ford a few more years, say 2027 or beyond! Forcing a consumer with new tech before it can be supported can be disastrous as is currently playing out with the push to EV’s!
Planning for turning the current Edge into a PHEV would have had to start about 3 years ago. But at the time, most vehicle manufacturers were at the peak of their all-EVs mass delusion.
Ford has had the hybrid technology since 2004 (albeit licensed from Toyota) as well as 8 other model lines over the past 20 years plus the hybrids they had in both Asia (various Ford/Lincoln cars and SUVs) and Europe ( Puma and Explorer PHEV ) The hybrid should have been added in 2019 with the Edge/Nautilus update!
I can’t figure out how Ford and GM figure they can make money running these low volume EV plants.
They can’t, our tax money is paying for most of it…at a complete financial loss.
Ford should’ve allowed the Lincoln Nautilus to be manufactured there with the potential of adding an electric variant with a ford counterpart in the future. But instead it’s manufactured in China and Americans hate that.