Ford said it is “retiming” launch plans for its new three-row EVs, setting 2027 as the new target date – a two-year delay. The automaker said it will continue development of EVs but also will be expanding development of conventional hybrids.
The company also said that while work on its Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center continues on schedule, retail deliveries of the “next-generation” electric pickup slated to be built there will now begin in 2026 instead of 2025. The truck, code-named the T3 (Trust the Truck) is expected to replace the F-150 Lightning after 2026, It will be built on a dedicated electric truck platform, unlike the Lightning, which is built on a modified conventional pickup platform.
The announcement comes as Ford, second only to Tesla in annual EV sales in the U.S., reported an 86% increase in its electric vehicle sales for the first quarter of 2024.
Despite that, Ford – along with many other EV makers – sees a slowdown in demand moving forward. Many industry observers believe the market for upscale EVs has been saturated and consumers are starting to hold back, waiting for more affordable electric vehicles to come to market.
In a statement, Ford said it “continues to invest in a broad set of EV programs” but that it also wants to provide customers “with the right mix of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles based on demand today.” In parallel with its EV work, the company said it is expanding its hybrid electric vehicle offerings and expects to be able to offer hybrid powertrains across its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America by the end of the decade.
The decision to slow introduction of large, three-row electric crossovers and SUVs affects Ford’s Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant, which is being reconfigured to produce large EVs and was to have started production in 2025.
To address consumer demand for smaller, more affordable EVs, Ford said it has a team working in California on a “flexible small and affordable EV platform.”