Ford delays launch of electric truck, SUV as focus shifts to providing all-hybrid lineup by 2030

On Thursday, Ford announced that it would be delaying the launch of a new electric SUV and truck, opting instead to focus on providing an all-hybrid lineup to consumers by 2030.

CEO Jim Farley made it clear that while Ford was still committed to developing EVs, it just needed more time to prepare its infrastructure. The SUV is expected to be brought to market in 2027, while deliveries of the truck will commence in 2026.
 

In a press release, Ford said it was "retiming the launch of upcoming electric vehicles at its Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant while continuing to build out an advanced industrial system to produce its next-generation electric vehicles, including greenfield construction and conversion of existing assembly plants." 

The company added that it will "invest in a broad set of EV programs as it works to build a full EV line-up," noting that while EV and hybrid sales jumped 86 percent and 42 percent, respectively, over the past year, it will still offer customers "the right mix of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles based on demand today."

At the same time, Ford is working on expanding its hybrid vehicle lineup and said it "expects to offer hybrid powertrains across its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America" by the end of the decade. 

"As the No. 2 EV brand in the US for the past two years, we are committed to scaling a profitable EV business, using capital wisely and bringing to market the right gas, hybrid and fully electric vehicles at the right time," CEO Jim Farley explained. "Our breakthrough, next-generation EVs will be new from the ground up and fully software enabled, with ever-improving digital experiences and a multitude of potential services."

Ford revealed that beginning in the second quarter, its Canadian facility would undergo a "comprehensive overhaul" to transform it from a gas vehicle assembly plant to an "EV manufacturing complex."