Ford Delays Next-Gen EVs, Considers Hybrid Option for Full Lineup

Ford is the latest automaker to delay the rollout of a major electric vehicle amid slower-than-expected market demand.

Ford announced Thursday that it is postponing major EV projects like its full-size pickup truck, code-named T3, and a long-awaited three-row SUV that may wear the Explorer badge.

This postponement will give Ford more time to develop vehicles while freeing up resources to allow Ford to add hybrid technology to its current lineup. This could include the Mustang, Bronco, and all F-Series models. Ford said Thursday that it plans to offer hybrid powertrains in its entire North American lineup by the end of the decade. Ford previously backed off plans to launch a hybrid Mustang by 2020, for example.

For the delayed EV, the T3 pickup is scheduled for 2026 instead of 2025 as originally planned; the T3 will be built at Ford's new BlueOval City assembly plant near Staunton, Tennessee, and preparations are already underway. Unlike the F-150 Lightning, which uses a platform originally developed for gas engine trucks, the T3 will use a dedicated EV platform, which Ford CEO Jim Farley previously described as "the Millennium Falcon of trucks."

Also facing delays is a three-row SUV that Ford had planned to produce at its Oakville, Ontario plant starting in 2025. According to Ford's announcement, production at the plant would begin in 2027.

Preparation of the electric SUV at the Oakville plant will begin in the second quarter of 2024, as originally planned; the SUV is rumored to be an electric Explorer, which would likely be paired with the Lincoln Aviator. Like the T3 pickup, the SUV is dedicated to the EV platform on which it will be based. Ford had previously promised a range of 350 miles, but the end result could be more.

Not all EV plans have been delayed. Electric commercial vehicles are expected to be available by the mid-decade. It will be manufactured at Ford's plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, and preparations are underway.

Ford is also working on developing a low-cost, flexible platform for affordable EVs in smaller segments. The identity and timing of the vehicle on this platform has not been announced.