Ford is making significant changes to its future product lineup. The company announced that it will expand production of super pickups in Canada, adding that the next generation of super pickups will feature "multi-energy technology," which means some kind of electrification. This was good news for employees at the Oakville assembly plant, as Ford was considering closing the plant.
The automaker said adding production at another plant would "bring multi-energy technology to the next generation of super pickups, give customers more freedom of choice, and support Ford's electrification plans." While the automaker hasn't shared much, this confirms that the new Super Duty super pickup will use a hybrid or plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
Ford has introduced a hybrid F-one hundred and fifty with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 47-horsepower electric motor. The total output is 430 hp and 773 Nm of torque, which is respectable.
EcoBoost is likely to be less suitable for overload, so existing V8s may adapt to electrified or plug-in technologies. A super pickup truck that is purely electric will be impractical. The battery pack needed to drag an F-450 around will be huge and will most likely add unnecessary weight to the pickup. Of course, Opportunity Ford is also considering hydrogen technology.
Jim · Farley said, "Super Duty is an essential tool for businesses and individuals around the world, and even if our Kentucky and Ohio assembly plants go all out, we can't keep up with demand. This is in the interest of our customers. ”
Ford initially planned to produce electric passenger cars, such as battery-powered SUVs, at the Oakville assembly plant. The automaker will now expand F-Series overload production to a Canada assembly plant, meaning three plants will start producing profitable pickup trucks next year. Initially, Ford estimated that the plant would be able to produce 100,000 pickup trucks per year.
All told, the Dearborn-based brand is spending about $3 billion to expand overproduction, with $2.3 billion dedicated to "installing, assembling and integrating stamping operations" at the Oakville facility. According to Ford, the move will secure about 1,800 jobs. Additional one hundred and fifty positions will be created at the Windsor engine plant to meet the need for additional overloaded V8 engines.
While Ford has made a big bet on electrification, this abrupt move shows that things have changed. Investing more money in large V8 pickups and delaying the production of electric vehicles suggests that Ford is adjusting its plans to meet current demand. The automaker may be second in the EV race, behind Tesla, but the reality is that things are a bit challenging for Ford.
In April, the automaker admitted it would lose a staggering $130,000 for every electric car sold. Happily, the brand's pickup trucks and hybrids are selling well, offsetting the relatively poor performance of all-electric vehicles. In the second quarter of 2024, Ford sold 199463 F-Series pickups, compared to 23,957 EVs sold in the same period. That said, Ford hasn't abandoned its plans to launch electric vehicles and launch electric vehicles for less than $30,000 to compete with Tesla and affordable Chinese alternatives.