Ford has announced a delay in the release of its electric three-row SUV until 2027, with the company also planning to introduce hybrid options for every model it currently produces. The decision to delay the release of the SUV until 2027 was based on the desire to wait for the three-row SUV market to mature before introducing their own model. The company aims to take advantage of emerging battery technology to provide customers with increased durability and better value. While there are over 100 electric models available for sale in the US, very few of them are three-row SUVs, despite their popularity with families.
The unnamed electric SUV was originally scheduled to go into production in 2025 at Ford’s plant in Oakville, Ontario, which is currently transitioning from gas-car production to EVs. The delay in production will allow Ford to further develop the consumer market for three-row EVs, as well as take advantage of emerging battery technology. Ford also announced a delay in the production of its next-generation electric truck until 2026 at the BlueOval City Campus in Tennessee. The campus is currently under construction and will feature a paint shop and stamping equipment for Ford’s next all-new electric truck.
Ford is also expanding its assembly plant in Avon Lake, Ohio to produce a next-generation electric commercial vehicle by mid-decade. These electric truck and SUV models were intended to represent Ford’s second-generation EVs, following its first-gen models such as the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit van. Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed confidence that these second-gen EVs will be profitable within the first 12 months. Despite the delays in their next-gen vehicles, Ford is still working on their next-next-generation EVs, with design work on a new lineup of affordable EVs underway at their skunkworks lab in California.
Ford, like other global automakers, is working to develop profitable electric vehicles and announced plans to slow down the pace of money spent on EVs to better match customer demand. The company’s Model e unit, which oversees EVs and software products, reported a loss of $1.6 billion in the last quarter of 2023. However, Ford reported positive sales figures for the first quarter of 2024, with a significant increase in hybrid vehicle sales compared to the previous year. The company’s gas-guzzling SUVs also had a strong quarter, with overall EV sales seeing an 86 percent increase year over year. Ford continues to focus on expanding its electric vehicle lineup and improving profitability in the EV market.
In conclusion, Ford has announced delays in the release of its electric three-row SUV and next-generation electric truck, as the company focuses on perfecting the formula for profitable electric vehicles. Despite the delays, Ford is continuing to work on their next lineup of affordable EVs and expanding their electric vehicle production capabilities. The company is also reporting positive sales figures, with a significant increase in hybrid vehicle sales and overall strong performance in the EV market. Ford is working to align their EV production with customer demand and remains committed to expanding their electric vehicle lineup in the coming years.