Ford has decided to stop producing Lincoln in China for vehicles intended for American buyers. The relocation will begin in 2030, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced. However, the company has not yet named the specific plants where future models will be manufactured.
The main problem model was the Lincoln Nautilus. Currently, the crossover is assembled in China and supplied from there to the US. The cumulative US tariff rate for this model reaches 52.5%, which significantly increases the cost of the car even before it is sold by the dealer.
There is also a technological factor. American Connected Vehicle Rule regulations restrict the use of certain Chinese components and technologies in vehicles intended for the US market. Ford considered obtaining a special permit for the Nautilus, but after negotiations with authorities, found that this specific model no longer requires such a permit.
The relocation of production will simultaneously strengthen Lincoln's American manufacturing base. Currently, the Navigator is already produced in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Aviator at the Chicago plant. Both vehicles are also exported to other countries.
For Lincoln itself, the decision means returning most of its production under the control of American enterprises. Ford expects to increase the production of the brand's vehicles in the US and utilize existing manufacturing infrastructure.
However, Chinese production will not disappear completely instantly: until 2030, Ford will continue to produce vehicles intended for the US in China. Therefore, buyers will still receive Chinese-assembled Nautilus for several more years.