Operations at the Ford Oakville Assembly plant in Canada have changed substantially over the last year. Initially, the plant was slated to be the likely birthplace of the Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV, but both models have since been axed, prompting The Blue Oval to set its sights on turning Oakville Assembly into a Ford Super Duty production facility. Now that a more solid roadmap is in place, plans are right on track and things are progressing on schedule.
According to the Unifor Local 707, a statement from Ford Council VIP Vice Chairperson, Marc Brennan, indicates that demolition at Oakville is complete, clearing the path for further retooling efforts. This includes civil work, installation of IT infrastructure, repairing the floor where required, and painting. Additionally, the area that will become the new stamping plant has been cleared and is awaiting groundbreaking. Notably, the Ford Oakville Assembly retooling still utilizes skilled workers who have been displaced by the process.
Starting in 2026, Ford Super Duty production will begin at the Oakville plant, with an expected output of up to 100,000 units annually. The automaker will invest $3 billion to make this happen, with $2.3 billion of that sum going toward retooling the Oakville plant for Ford Super Duty production, including the installation of both assembly and stamping equipment. This move will also add around 1,800 jobs at the Oakville plant, with 150 more joining the ranks at the Windsor Engine Complex to build V8 engines for the Super Duty as well.
Notably, this pivot will create 400 more jobs than the planned EV restructuring would have provided. On top of that, Unifor workers will be able to return to work a full year earlier than initially expected.
Once production is underway, the Oakville plant will become the sixth Blue Oval facility to produce the Ford F-Series line, joining the Dearborn Truck Plant, the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, the Ford Kansas City assembly plant, the Kentucky Truck Plant, and the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant.
Comments
Very glad this is proceeding, but I really wish OAC was building the next-generation Edge and Nautilus.
Agreed.
Oakville built their last great car 30 years ago. Everything since has has a abysmal quality. Let’s hope this changes that.
Yeah, same. It’s a shame the Nautilus and new Edge are built in China
Really incredible to see this drastic of a reset based mostly on common sense.
1. This is not 400 more jobs than the EV plan initially had.
2. Only 1800 of the original 3600 laid off will get their jobs back
3. The two vehicles Oakville made before this retooling are now being made in China
4. Would be nice if Unifor have updates to their membership worrying about getting their jobs back. Since they seem more interested in helping Ford more than the workers that pay them