Ford’s EV and Hybrid Push Continues, Manufacturing Expansions Underway
Ford Motor Company is refining its electric vehicle (EV) strategy while progressing with its hybrid vehicle offerings and solidifying its manufacturing base.
Ford continues its commitment to a comprehensive EV lineup and is boosting its hybrid vehicle inventory to meet current demand, Ford’s electric vehicle sales increased by 86% and hybrid sales rose 42% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Ford plans to provide a balanced range of vehicles, offering gas, hybrid, and electric options to fulfill various consumer needs. By the end of the decade, Ford anticipates providing hybrid powertrains throughout its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America.
Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, stated that the company is “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.” The company’s next-generation EVs will be designed from the ground up with software integration and evolving digital experiences and enhanced services.
Manufacturing Plant Updates
Ford is actively making adjustments to its production schedules and plant setups.
Ford’s transformation of the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, into an EV manufacturing complex is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of the year. The launch of the all-new three-row electric vehicles at this site is re-timed to 2027, from the previously planned 2025, giving Ford more time to adapt to evolving market trends and leverage future battery innovations to provide better customer value.
Ford is working cooperatively with Unifor concerning the manufacturing delay’s impact on the Oakville workforce. Bev Goodman, the President and CEO of Ford Canada, has stated that the alteration will ensure a future for the company, its employees, and its dealers.
The construction of BlueOval City, which encompasses the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center assembly plant, is going according to the plan. The installation includes nearly 4,000 tons of stamping equipment designed to produce sheet metal parts for Ford’s all-new electric truck, with customer deliveries targeted to begin in 2026. This plant will be Ford’s inaugural Industry 4.0 facility, integrating automation and connectivity to enhance both quality and effectiveness.
Ford is also expanding the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake to build a new electric commercial vehicle for Ford Pro customers, set to begin production in the middle of the decade. Construction is in progress, with tool installation scheduled for spring 2025. Like other Ford sites, this plant will employ wearable technology to enhance manufacturing quality and efficiency.
Future EV Development
A specialized team in California, dubbed a “skunkworks” team is working on a smaller, cost-effective, versatile EV platform capable of supporting multiple vehicles.
Meanwhile, development continues at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan and at the BlueOval SK batteries plants in both Tennessee and Kentucky.
