(Reuters) -Ford Motor is delaying the launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts focus to smaller and more affordable models, Automotive News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The automaker recently informed suppliers that a full-size electric pickup, scheduled for production at its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee, will be delayed to 2028 from 2027, the report added, citing three people familiar with the plans.
The truck is the long-awaited successor to Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup.
Chinese automakers have been driving down costs on electric vehicle production and offering lower-cost models for shoppers.
In response to this pressure, Ford and other automakers are focusing on producing affordable models on a streamlined platform, with a focus on delivering smaller electric vehicles.
The timeline for an electric van, expected to be a next-generation E-Transit, has been pushed back from 2026 to 2028 for production in Avon Lake, Ohio, the report added, citing sources.
Ford, which has faced costly quality issues and leads the industry in recalls, previously projected losses of up to $5.5 billion in its electric vehicle and software operations for 2025.
Last year, the company scrapped plans for a three-row electric SUV, with CEO Jim Farley later stating that larger EV models are not the company’s primary focus as it develops future battery-powered vehicles.
(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
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