Ford Expand Super Duty Truck Production In Canada

(Source-www.powernationtv.com)

Ford announced a significant shift in its production strategy on Tuesday, revealing a plan to Ford expand super duty truck production to the Oakville Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. Initially slated for a $1.34 billion transformation into an electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant, the Oakville facility will now focus on producing F-Series Super Duty pickups starting in 2026. This move is set to increase the plant’s capacity by approximately 100,000 units annually. As a result, the production of a three-row electric vehicle, originally scheduled to commence at Oakville in 2027, will be further delayed.

The expansion at Oakville is part of Ford’s broader plan to invest around $3 billion in increasing Ford expand super duty truck production across three North American plants. Of this, $2.3 billion will be allocated to install assembly and integrated stamping operations at the Oakville Assembly Complex, a facility with a history dating back 71 years. This investment will also enable the introduction of a “multi-energy” platform, suggesting that an electrified version of the Super Duty truck is on the horizon, though Ford has not specified a timeline for this development.

Broader Investment and Job Creation

In addition to the Oakville expansion, Ford will invest in its Kentucky Truck Plant and Ohio Assembly Plants to boost Super Duty production. This initiative is expected to create 1,800 jobs at the Oakville Assembly Complex, which is 400 more positions than initially planned for the three-row electric vehicle production.

Back in April 2023, Ford announced plans to invest $1.34 billion to convert the Oakville facility into a next-generation EV assembly plant. This transformation was set to include a massive modernization and expansion of the campus, originally opened in 1953, with a new name: Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex. The overhaul was scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024 and would have marked Ford’s first complete retooling of an existing plant for EV production in North America.

Ford expand super duty truck production underscores the company’s commitment to its profitable gas-powered truck line, especially for commercial customers. This move highlights the importance of the F-Series pickup line to Ford’s financial performance, despite CEO Jim Farley’s recent comments advocating for a societal shift towards smaller, more efficient vehicles.

Future of Ford’s Electrification Efforts

Despite this pivot, Ford remains committed to its electrification goals, with a focus on increasing hybrid options and developing next-generation EVs. Ford’s Skunkworks team in California has been instrumental in designing a new EV platform, although the company is still determining its next steps for this initiative. In a recent interview, Farley emphasized the distinctiveness of the new platform compared to Ford’s first-generation EVs and those of competitors.

Farley hinted at the challenges ahead, noting the importance of making strategic decisions to ensure the company’s success in the evolving automotive landscape. He pointed to the Tesla Model Two and emerging Chinese manufacturers like BYD as benchmarks for evaluating the fitness of Ford’s upcoming EVs.