As Ford Authority reported last summer, the Oakville Assembly plant in Canada has been tabbed to produce the Ford Super Duty starting in 2026, following the discontinuation of the Ford Edge, as well as the departure of the Lincoln Nautilus, which is now built in China. That means the Ford Super Duty will soon be built at three locations – with Oakville joining the Kentucky Truck plant and the Ohio Assembly plant – though with the looming threat of tariffs on imported vehicles, it was unclear if this was still going to be the case. However, the Canadian union Unifor has confirmed that Oakville is still being retooled as planned.
In a letter recently sent from Kyle Cruji, plant manager at Oakville, workers at the plant were informed that the facility’s “transformation is well on its way, and the entire facility is being retooled.” Cruji noted that demolition is underway to make room for new equipment, adding that the stamping portion of the facility has already taken delivery of new pressing equipment, too, as excavation and foundation work has progressed there – with around 1,000 trucks worth of cement being poured thus far. Soon, construction of the physical structure will begin, and by this coming summer, Cruji notes that workers will be able to see the new building from the nearby highway.
“With our production and engineering leadership teams working diligently on finalizing the production line layouts, we are planning for additional details to come your way prior to year-end including information about potential job opportunities for those who are interested in changing roles,” Cruji added. “We’re all aware of trade talks and the recent announcements from the U.S and Canadian governments. The situation is dynamic, and the impacts of tariffs may be significant across our industry – affecting automakers, suppliers, dealers, and customers. Many capable people within Ford are supporting cross-border discussions to work through the various needs and interests.”
Previously, The Blue Oval revealed that Ford Super Duty production at Oakville will result in 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.
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