In a relatively short timeframe, Ford pivoted from an aggressive EV transition mindset to a more balanced approach that includes a mix of gasoline, hybrid, and battery electric vehicles. That resulted in some major announcements in 2024, including completely throwing out plans for one particular plant that were essentially set in stone over four years ago. Here’s our guide to every Ford EV plant or model that met the axe or got pushed back this year.
Three Row Ford EV Program: Canceled
Perhaps the most shocking announcement of 2024 was the company’s decision to fully cancel development on its three row EVs. This Ford EV program would have likely spawned two vehicles: a fully electric Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, although at the time of this announcement, the automaker contacted us and said that the company had not officially stated that either SUV would have used either nameplate. Regardless, the company expects to take a minimum $400 million charge on the cancellation of the project, and cited battery costs as the chief reason why it decided to kill the program.
Before their cancellation, Jim Farley and Doug Field shed some light on what they would have offered customers. Field stated that the SUVs would be able to travel 350 miles on a single charge and have sleek styling, while Farley said that its styling might even alienate Explorer buyers. Farley also said that they would have Pro Power Onboard and a frunk.
Lincoln EV Ambitions: Canceled
This is directly related to the three row Ford EV program ending, as one of the SUVs in question was set to join the Lincoln lineup, either as an Aviator or something else. In any event, the decision to kill off its pair of fully electric three row vehicles simultaneously put the nail in the coffin for any type of Lincoln EV. Dianne Craig, president of Lincoln, confirmed as much when she flat out stated that the brand is not focused on electric vehicles. Instead, it’s extremely likely that the Lincoln lineup will pivot to hybrids, especially since half of its lineup is already partially electrified. When announcing the cancellation of the three row EV project, Ford said they would be replaced by hybrids. And the 2023 UAW contract revealed that the Lincoln Navigator will add a hybrid option by 2028, so that appears to be the game plan for now.
Oakville Electric Vehicle Center: Canceled
Once again, this is directly related to the decision by the Blue Oval to kill its three row Ford EV program. Although plans to convert the Ford Oakville Assembly plant to fully electric production were finalized in late 2020, the company never publicly disclosed exactly what EVs were expected to be built there. At one point, a whopping five EVs were planned before that shifted to the two three row EVs. This year, Ford completely threw that out the window in favor of extending Ford Super Duty production to Oakville. That allows the plant to come back online in 2026 – one year earlier than the revised timeline that the company presented in early 2024 – much to Unifor’s dismay at the time.
Low Cost Ford EV Crossover: Possibly Canceled, Possibly Delayed
This is a speculative entry, because Ford never mentioned production plans for this particular vehicle. But when Farley revealed that the company was working on a low cost Ford EV platform earlier this year, he subsequently suggested that the platform would initially be utilized as the basis for a compact crossover, so something akin to the Ford Escape. But in the expansive announcement that included Ford’s decision to kill its fully electric three row SUVs, the automaker revealed that a midsize pickup would be the first EV to utilize the new, low cost platform. As of this writing, reports suggest that the crossover may arrive after the pickup, possibly in 2028.
Next Generation Ford F-150 EV: Delayed
Our last entry is devoted to a vehicle delayed not once, but twice. Originally announced with a 2025 launch date, the second generation Ford F-150 EV (which may not utilize the Lightning name) is now expected to arrive in 2027, the same year as the midsize EV pickup. This is perhaps the future Ford EV that excites Jim Farley the most, as he previously compared it to the Millennium Falcon and stated that it’s better than the Tesla Cybertruck. In any event, prospective customers will have to wait a bit longer before they can see it for themselves.
Compared to 2023, this year’s EV news was a bit more shocking. Ford promised to further update the public in 2025 about its EV product roadmap, so this roller coaster ride may not be over yet.
Comments
The race ahead with EV’s looks more like a jog these days. Change happens slowly…it always has.
It’s pretty clear that Ford has a ‘flying by the seat of the pants’ approach to planning, with no long-term horizon and essentially defers to whatever way the wind is blowing from day to day as far as product planning and capital allocation is concerned. While essentially building recall after recalled junk. I have never seen such inadequate product planning or deficient long-term commitment to a strategy: in my view, truly a corporate-world embarrassment. This long-running fiasco, drawn out by the empty promises of “but, wait until you see what’s coming next”, which virtually never materialize, does not reflect well on the Board of Directors and the Ford family. I’d be taking a hard look at the CEO.
Totally agree. However, when your EVs are selling at less than 10,000 units a month and everything with batteries is changing daily, you have to pivot immediately. As a dedicated Ford buyer for decades from wagons, to PHEVs to my new Maverick, l could only wish that Ford had an EV for my family today. However, if the public is only going to buy a three row EV in minimal numbers (that 10k mentioned is so minimal), what’s the point for a company that needs to sell 100k, of a unit minimum, to be profitable on billion dollar investments? For today, they made the
right call.
What are they waiting for? $10/KWHr batteries?
Well, my Focus won’t last that long. I’ll be getting a Bolt or EV3.
No mention of an EV Puma in USA.
After January 20, 2025, the EV dream is gone. Incentives to buy from the government will dry up, along with all the government money for charging stations and infrastructure to support these.
Rivian is done once they lose their government “charity ” money, and no way the Chinese are going to build EV’s to import with 100 % tariffs. Tesla will be the only one left, and we will see how, many of these will be sold without the government incentive.
This whole EV push was a wet dream to start!
Farley and rest of the big three listened to Biden and his gang of losers, invested a pot of money into a black hole, and now they are scrambling to recover.
Farley should be forced out like the head of Chrysler just was for costing the company billions for nothing.
Question is now what are they going to do with these new battery plants they built? Lot of money sitting in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan!
Guess they can convert one of these to Maverick production to bring it out of Mexico once Trump enacts his tariffs!
Then sell the other two to whoever needs these for US production to avoid any tariffs coming!
I mostly agree with you except for all the blame on Biden. Joe has a LOT of California buddies but he hasn’t espoused on EVs that much. Mary Barra is worse. It’s Ford’s fault (and GMs) for not surveying potential buyers. And the tariff thing might last 6 months. The economy will collapse and Donald will then have to scramble to fix THAT. See my post below.
Seems like sticking with electric in combination with a small 5 to 7 gallon gas tank which would relieve the anxiety of being stranded on a trip is workable. It’s the same reason the maverick hybrid is so popular.
What you stated is a PHEV while the USA based Maverick is hybrid only. Tiw rating for hybrid Maverick aren’t good enough. A PHEV USA version would change this.
It’s interesting to see the EV projects that Ford has cancelled but don’t you find it strange that Ford is the ONLY major manufacturer that says NOTHING about upcoming vehicles? Well, except for the idiotic possibility of a Super Duty Ranger. Just shows how badly Ford predicted the EV bust by putting ALL of its eggs in that basket. And no management repurcussions? Ford is a MESS. So why don’t investors/Wall Street and the Ford Family see that? They must be all stoned and fast asleep.