ford‘S electric three-row SUV which was postponed earlier this year is now officially canceled. It is just one of Ford’s EV and hybrid vehicle announcements today.
In addition to killing off the SUV before launch, Ford said it is continuing production of its next-generation electric pickup, built on the T3 platformThis one would be Lightning successor (built on a dedicated EV platform rather than a modified F-150 one) is expected to be delayed by approximately 18 months to late 2027. A medium-sized truck Scheduled for launch in 2027, it is being developed by a Ford “skunkworks” team in California (with the goal of affordability).
Instead of the three-row electric SUV, Ford says it is focusing on hybrid vehicles for future three-row offerings. There’s no timeline, but Ford’s statement says you’ll get “breakthrough efficiency, performance benefits and emissions reductions compared to pure gas vehicles and increase vehicle range road trips relative to pure electric vehiclesFord also indicated it would provide an update on the company’s electrification plans in the first half of 2025, so we may know more next year.
That said, Ford remains committed to updating and developing its current electric vehicles, the Mustang Mach-E And F-150 LightningThe company also plans to begin production of a next-generation commercial vehicle in 2026 at its Ohio Assembly plant. And while Ford was originally set to begin assembling vehicles at its massive Tennessee manufacturing facility next year, it now only plans to battery cell production there in 2025.
These moves will cost Ford financially, as the company says it will take “a special non-cash charge of approximately $400 million for the write-off of certain product-specific manufacturing assets for the previously planned three-row all-electric SUVs.” Ford also says such actions could result in additional costs and cash outlays of $1.5 billion. In terms of total spending, Ford says it will reduce its annual cash outlay on EVs from 40% to 30%. Ultimately, Ford believes these steps today will help it deliver a profitable EV business in the future.