Dive Brief:
- Ford Motor Co. plans to boost U.S. production of its luxury brand Lincoln vehicles beginning in 2030, the automaker announced in a press release.
- The plans include phasing out Lincoln brand vehicle imports from China to the U.S., which are currently subject to a tariff rate of 52.5%. That includes the midsize Nautilus SUV, which is currently assembled exclusively in China by Changan Ford, a 50/50 joint venture between Ford and Changan Automobile.
- The move is part of Ford’s goal of boosting domestic manufacturing. The company expects it will generate thousands of direct and indirect U.S. jobs.
Dive Insight:
Ford and Changan Automobile launched the Changan-Ford JV in 2012. The JV produces both Ford and Lincoln brand vehicles for the China market. The JV factory in Hangzhou, which opened in 2015, currently builds the Lincoln Nautilus, Aviator and Ford Explorer and Edge L SUVs, according to Ford’s website.
Ford’s other Lincoln models — the Navigator and Nautilus SUVs — are built in the U.S. and are currently exported to global markets, including Canada, Mexico and The Middle East. The Navigator is currently built at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, and the Aviator is assembled at the automaker’s Chicago Assembly Plant.
Ford says it assembled over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, more than any other OEM.
“Lincoln is a quintessentially American brand, and Ford is America’s automaker. This wasn’t necessarily the easiest path. In fact, it’s a path most of our competitors aren’t choosing to take, said Ford CEO and President Jim Farley, in a statement. “But Ford builds in America because we believe in America, and we’re betting on that belief again.”
Another factor for Ford phasing out Lincoln production in China is the Connected Vehicles Rule, finalized in January 2025. It restricts the import and sale of cars equipped with connected-vehicle technology linked to China. The Department of Commerce cites the potential security threats of external connectivity between Bluetooth, cellular or satellite technology and autonomous driving platforms.
In June, electric vehicle maker Polestar announced it was abandoning the U.S. market after the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security did not grant it authorization to sell vehicles from model year 2027 onwards, because of connected vehicle technology linked to China.
Ford’s announcement comes as its domestic rival General Motors announced this month that it extended its SAIC-GM China JV partnership with SAIC Motor to 2047. The two automakers plan to increase focus on the Buick and Cadillac brands in China and plan to launch at least 30 new energy vehicles in the local market by 2030.
Earlier this year, GM confirmed to WardsAuto that it will shift production of the Buick Envision SUV from China to its Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning in 2028. The current model is built at the SAIC-GM Jinqiao South plant in Shanghai and exported to the U.S.
Like the Lincoln Nautilus, the Envision was subject to heavy U.S. tariffs, which led GM to raise the price to help maintain profitability. The 2026 Buick Envision now costs around $5,000 more than the previous model due to tariff-related price hikes.
Last month, Ford also announced it will enter a joint venture with China-based Geely Auto to build cars at Ford’s assembly plant in Valencia, Spain, for the European market. Ford will launch a new member of the Ford Bronco family plus a multi-energy crossover, while Geely-branded production will include two electric SUVs, with production starting in 2028.
