Latest news with #JohnLawler
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford future models 2025-2035
The frenzy of tariffs presently upending the plans of so very many car makers are just one among several major issues confronting Ford Motor Company. Demand for EVs is not what it had been forecast to be by now in North America, average MPG requirements are in flux in the US, mandates for electric vehicles have changed in Europe and may shift again, the Chinese market is shifting rapidly…and so on. What is any CEO to do? Ford is sticking with Jim Farley while CFO John Lawler remains too, both navigating some especially choppy waters worldwide. This company has previously survived multiple tricky periods and crises, and there is little reason to believe it won't thrive anew once the present turbulence dissipates. Or is replaced by some new challenge. It was ever thus in the global car industry. Nearly US$1bn profit in China For all the upset and concerns over North American operations as well as the financial hits in Europe and what to do about its overcapacity there, it's all too easy to forget that Ford remains a highly successful business. Take China as one example. Despite now selling only around 10,000 passenger vehicle a month in the world's largest market - about the same level as Hyundai, Volvo or Nio - John Lawler recently told analysts that pre-tax profit from Chinese operations was the equivalent of US$900 million in 2024. The investments in Chinese plants continue, the emphasis more recently switching to exports. Examples include the locally built Mondeo/Taurus, Equator, Equator Sport and Bronco being shipped to multiple other markets. And more electrified vehicles are coming though Ford chooses not to compete directly with the welter of cheap EVs being brandished by BYD, Geely, Chery Auto, Leapmotor and others. A return to India? Ford's presence in the world's most populous nation is also a subject that world headquarters in Dearborn continues to examine closely. Its exit from Indian manufacturing operations was a painful experience but the company keeps an open mind about a possible return. Having sold the Sanand plant to Tata Motors in 2022, its other factory - Maraimalai near Chennai - was instead idled. Local media claimed Ford had entertained bids from VinFast, SAIC and Tata before deciding to retain the site. The latest indications are that Maraimalai Nagar is to re-open not, as had been rumoured, to manufacture the Endeavour SUV, but as a powertrain complex. Specifically, engines and related components are supposedly to be made there for export. Negotiations towards a proposed agreement with the government of Tamil Nadu are reportedly ongoing. An official announcement is due later in 2025. Ford's next best seller now due in 2028 It may not be America's most popular car brand, Toyota taking the number one slot for the first quarter, but the F-Series continues to be the national best selling model series. In 2024, the RAV4 beat the F-150 but including the Super Duty trucks, Ford was able to boast yet again that it makes the nation's favourite model. Well, models. The next F-150 is still three years away and already some details have leaked. Generation fifteen, the code for which is P736, has been delayed, now being set to enter production in mid-2028 from the originally planned late 2027. P702, pictured above, dates to 2021 and was facelifted last year. A later-than-scheduled arrival means the second generation F-150 Lightning (project code: T3) will now arrive before P736 (as will the next Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra). At one time, the plug-in pick-up was set to premiere in 2025 but many US consumers' disinterest in EVs saw Ford change push back the launch date. This is also said to be due to a major ongoing effort of removing unnecessary costs from the programme. Now expected in the second half of 2027, the F-150 EV will be manufactured at BlueOval City's Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. Depending on how popular it may or may not prove to be, Dearborn Truck and the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center could also be deployed to add capacity commencing in 2028 or 2029. As for the life cycle, that would be seven years, so a freshening is scheduled for model year 2031 with generation three pencilled in for the 2035 model year. A third plant for Super Duty trucks There will be some news for the Super Duty trucks in 2026 which is when Ford plans to launch an updated series, supposedly adding a hybrid option for the F-250 and F-350. Also, presuming the present situation with tariffs can be resolved, assembly of both at the Oakville plant in Ontario should still go ahead. The fresh investment was announced in July 2024 a few months after the Canadian factory built its final Ford Edge. Oakville Assembly had been due for a refit to produce a pair of three-row electric SUVs but both models were cancelled. Instead, Ford has been busy retooling the site for 100,000 units per annum of Super Duty production. This will be in addition to Ohio Assembly and Kentucky Truck, both of which are at capacity. Essex Engine Complex, which makes the 5.0-litre Coyote V8, is also gaining investment via a new assembly line for the Super Duty's 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 diesel and 7.3-litre Godzilla gasoline V8. As Ford has not (yet) stated anything to the contrary, its US$3bn+ spend on truck and engine production in Canada is presumed to be going ahead. And as for when the next generation of the Super Duty series arrives, that will be for the 2029 model year. Mustang sedan There aren't many cars left in the global line-up. The Mondeo/Taurus will be facelifted later in 2025 but there is no guarantee that Ford China will replace it. In North America, the company is instead betting on a four-door model around the same size, effectively a stretched and re-engineered Mustang. The 'Mach-4' will likely be revealed this year and new for the 2026 model year. Expanding the Mustang line to a third model is clever thinking, particularly as the Mach-E has done well in some countries but not so well in others. It should be facelifted for MY26 with a successor in the pipeline for CY2028. Whether or not generation two will be manufactured in Mexico - the current one has been built at Cuautitlán Assembly since 2020 - is presently under discussion. Ford of Europe shifted early into electric crossovers and SUVs, believing this would give it an advantage over competitors. Instead, many customers are still very keen on IC-powered models, the Puma being the best example. An electric version of this small crossover has just gone on sale. Both it and the petrol variants should be facelifted in 2026 and replaced in 2029. Europe: a new IC-powered SUV in 2027 The European division's two other main electric passenger vehicles are doing OK, not great. These, the VW-derived Explorer (CX740) and Capri (CX740L), are inherently first class designs but luke warm interest in EVs of this size is holding them back in many countries. Ford is due to facelift both in 2028 and launch successors in 2031. These should be linked to a smaller so-called 'multi-energy' model which will be made in Spain commencing in 2027. The next vehicle for the Almussafes (Valencia) factory is now two years away from launch, and should be a Kuga successor with HEV, PHEV and possibly EV options. Platform-wise, it will use one of Ford's own architectures, as should the next Explorer and Capri. This is of course presuming that the Niehl (Cologne) plant is not shuttered or at least loses a lot of capacity, which might well happen. Much depends on how CX740 and L fare during the next few years. Next Explorer: 2027 or 2030? Back in North America, the sixth generation of that region's Explorer still has three (potentially more) years of build remaining. The U625 series model dates to 2019 and was facelifted in 2024. A refresh of the existing CD6 platform will be the basis of the next model but there are conflicting reports of when exactly generation seven will debut. This could be as far off as 2030 should the rumours of a second facelift for U625 (in 2027) prove true. Chicago Assembly will remain the only manufacturing location in North America. Positioned above the Explorer, the largest SUV which Ford builds is also one of its newest models for the North American region. Expedition generation five, new for the 2025 model year, is the twin of the Lincoln Navigator, both also being available in extended form. They have been in production at Kentucky Truck (Louisville) since January. A hybrid option is likely to be added for the 2028 model year ahead of a facelift in CY2029 and successors in 2032. Despite all the uncertainty presently bedeviling Ford and its competitors, the so-called 'Affordable Electric Vehicle Platform' is said to be on-track for launch in 2027. Mainly for models manufactured in North America, the architecture will be the basis for a medium-sized pick-up. Ford should provide an update on this project and associated next generation vehicles within the coming months. "Ford future models 2025-2035" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford suspends exports of several vehicles to China amid tariffs
US-based Ford Motor has ceased the exports of several vehicle models to China in response to the retaliatory trade tariffs imposed by China, which have reached 150%, reported the Wall Street Journal. The suspension affects exports of the F-150 Raptor pickup truck, Mustang sports car, Bronco SUV, and Lincoln Navigator, which are manufactured in Michigan and Kentucky. The latest move comes after China implemented countermeasures to US import taxes, pushing tariffs on these vehicles as high as 150%. A Ford spokesperson was cited by the newspaper as saying: 'We have adjusted exports from the US to China in light of the current tariffs.' Last year, Ford exported approximately 5,500 units of the affected models to the Chinese market, a decline from an average of over 20,000 units annually in previous years. Despite the halt in vehicle exports, Ford continues to ship US-built engines and transmissions to China. The company is also maintaining imports of the Lincoln Nautilus from China to the US. Ford and other manufacturers have also seen declining sales in China, partly due to the growing dominance of domestic Chinese car brands. Ford's sales in China dropped to around 400,000 vehicles last year, compared to approximately 1.3 million in 2016. Ford vice-chairman John Lawler was cited by the news agency as saying that the company's operations in China generated an operating profit of about $900m last year. The company expects to increase the prices of its new vehicles if the tariffs remain in place, as suggested by an internal memo sent to dealers and seen by Reuters. Earlier this week, Trump hinted at the possibility of modifying the auto-related tariffs, suggesting that exemptions on current levies might be considered. Last month, Ford unveiled plans to invest up to €4.4bn ($4.8bn) into its German subsidiary, Ford-Werke, to revitalise and increase the competitiveness of its business. "Ford suspends exports of several vehicles to China amid tariffs – report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Al Arabiya
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Al Arabiya
Ford ‘adjusts' some exports to China due to tariffs
Citing the US-China trade conflict, Ford said Friday it has 'adjusted' its exports to the country, where the US auto giant operates manufacturing jointly with local partners. 'We have adjusted exports from the US to China in light of the current tariffs,' Ford told AFP without specifying the models affected. The US auto giant halted Michigan-made shipments of the F-150 Raptor, Mustang and Bronco sport utility vehicles, according to a Wall Street Journal report Friday. Also affected was the Lincoln Navigator, which is built in Kentucky, the newspaper said. Over the last decade, Ford has sold around 240,000 vehicles in China exported from the United States. But volumes fell sharply in 2024 to around 5,500. The move is the latest ripple effect from an escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington. Despite pulling back on many other tariffs, President Donald Trump has stuck firm to US duties on Chinese goods and raised them to 145 percent. In turn, China has increased tariffs on US exports, including cars, to 125 percent. Overall, Ford sold 442,000 vehicles -- made in the United States and elsewhere -- in China in 2024, comprising 1.6 percent of the market, according to the carmaker's latest annual report. The US company operates a number of manufacturing joint ventures in China with Chinese companies, producing vehicles under both the Ford and Lincoln brands. Some of Ford's production in China is exported to other markets. One of these vehicles, the Lincoln Nautilus, is now subject to hefty US tariffs, according to the Wall Street Journal. Ford's Chinese ventures resulted in 2024 operating profits of around $900 million, Ford Vice Chairman John Lawler said this week at a financial conference.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford 'adjusts' some exports to China due to tariffs
Citing the US-China trade conflict, Ford said Friday it has "adjusted" its exports to the country, where the US auto giant operates manufacturing jointly with local partners. "We have adjusted exports from the US to China in light of the current tariffs," Ford told AFP without specifying the models affected. The US auto giant halted Michigan-made shipments of the F-150 Raptor, Mustang and Bronco sport utility vehicles, according to a Wall Street Journal report Friday. Also affected was the Lincoln Navigator, which is built in Kentucky, the newspaper said. Over the last decade, Ford has sold around 240,000 vehicles in China exported from the United States. But volumes fell sharply in 2024 to around 5,500. The move is the latest ripple effect from an escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington. Despite pulling back on many other tariffs, President Donald Trump has stuck firm to US duties on Chinese goods and raised them to 145 percent. In turn, China has increased tariffs on US exports, including cars, to 125 percent. Overall, Ford sold 442,000 vehicles -- made in the United States and elsewhere -- in China in 2024, comprising 1.6 percent of the market, according to the carmaker's latest annual report. The US company operates a number of manufacturing joint ventures in China with Chinese companies, producing vehicles under both the Ford and Lincoln brands. Some of Ford's production in China is exported to other markets. One of these vehicles, the Lincoln Nautilus, is now subject to hefty US tariffs, according to the Wall Street Journal. Ford's Chinese ventures resulted in 2024 operating profits of around $900 million, Ford Vice Chairman John Lawler said this week at a financial conference. elm-jmb/sla/bfm Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford vice chair warns that fast-moving, advanced Chinese automakers threaten US industry
Ford vice chair warns that fast-moving, advanced Chinese automakers threaten US industry Show Caption Hide Caption Auto industry could get exemptions from tariffs, Trump says President Donald Trump said he's considering temporary tariff exemptions for automakers amid attempts to move manufacturing back to the U.S. Lawler reiterated that tariffs would eviscerate automaker profits. China's best-selling auto brand BYD Co. outsold all Detroit 3 automakers in the first quarter. Ford's China business made $900 million in earnings before interest and taxes last year. Ford executive John Lawler identifies China as the biggest threat to the U.S. auto industry, not tariffs. Chinese automakers are rapidly innovating, leading in electrification and boasting lower costs. Lawler suggests U.S. automakers need partnerships and consolidation to compete with China. While tariffs pose challenges, Lawler believes Ford is well-positioned to handle them. Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to correct information, including assertions about tariffs incorrectly attributed to John Lawler. While tariffs present a fresh headwind to the North American automotive industry, for John Lawler, Ford Motor Co.'s vice chair, they are not the greatest threat. The real threat right now is China, he said. 'I don't think we can say no, they're not going to come to the U.S.,' he said, despite current policies blocking Chinese-made vehicles from the U.S. market. 'The Chinese are coming, and they are a force to reckon with.' Make America gas again: How Trump's trade war with China impacts the global EV race Profits drying up China once served as a haven for global automakers to lower costs and generate enough capital to fund costly innovation projects in the U.S. But both Ford and its crosstown competitor General Motors are working to restructure Chinese operations. GM said it is shuttering facilities and taking on $5 billion in restructuring costs. Global automakers enjoyed a large chunk of $80 billion in profits from the Chinese auto market, Lawler said, but over the past three years, profits there slid 40%. Ford's China business made $900 million in earnings before interest and taxes last year, a figure that includes exported vehicles. But not only is the money drying up — the same competition eating Detroit automakers' profits is coming for their American buyers as well. Lawler most recently served as chief financial officer at Ford, and took on his new role focused on strategy, partnerships, alliances and corporate development in late February ahead of the company's last earnings report. He has been on the road ever since, he said on the call, touring Europe and Asia to see for himself the progress Chinese automakers made in recent months. The transformation of the industry is accelerating, he said. Not only are the Chinese leaders in electrification, but the pace of change in product development at Chinese automakers is 'unbelievable.' 'From concept to market, two years, maybe less? And that's shrinking,' he said. 'They're leaders in battery technology, they're leaders in development, they have the lowest cost structure in the industry. All of that's coming together.' China's BYD is growing rapidly China's best-selling auto brand BYD Co. saw global sales rise 58% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the year before, as the automaker delivered 986,098 vehicles, of which 416,388 were all-electric. The company, chaired and operated by its founder Wang Chuanfu, recently revealed an ultrafast charging system that can add 400 kilometers of range in just five minutes. Headquartered in Shenzhen, BYD aims to sell 5.5 million vehicles in 2025, exporting 800,000. BYD doesn't sell passenger cars in the U.S. for two reasons: high levies imposed on China-made vehicles and a ban on what it calls smart driving EV technology. Since 2022, BYD produces only EVs and hybrids. On April 1, BYD also posted record net income and full-year revenue over $100 billion. Comparatively, Ford sold 501,291 vehicles in the first quarter. Its larger cross-town competitor GM sold 693,363 vehicles, while Stellantis sold 293,225. 'With the shifts that are happening in the industry, we believe we need to be a global player. The competitive nature of where the Chinese are heading, they're looking to dominate around the world. If we get pushed back into just operating here in the U.S., and being a U.S. automaker, large profit, but where does that put us as a company in 10, 15 years? We have to compete, and we have to compete globally against the best that are out there.' Tariffs eat profits Meanwhile, uncertainty over tariffs has largely consumed the North American auto industry. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to implement a 25% tariff on foreign-built vehicles built starting April 3, with a few key auto parts subject to a tariff starting May 3. Reciprocal tariffs, also announced April 2, started at 10% on U.S. trading partners. Exactly one week later, he paused most of them for 90 days. Even without looming tariff threats, Lawler said not one automaker in the U.S. can afford the changes needed to compete with the Chinese on its own. It takes serious financial and human capital to improving advanced digital architectures, software-defined vehicles and multienergy powertrain options to meet companies like BYD, and whoever can bring cost-structure and supply structure outside of China will 'win.' 'It's only going to get tougher. How are we going to replace that to fund all of these things coming at us?' he asked. 'We have to think about the industry differently. We have to think about joint ventures, we have to think about partnerships. Maybe there'll be consolidation. But if something doesn't change, all of us can't do all of this on our own, especially with what has been one of the largest profit generators in this industry over the last 10 to 12 years drying up.' Lawler reiterated that tariffs would eviscerate automaker profits, as Ford CEO Jim Farley has repeatedly outlined, even though he said Ford is among the best positioned to weather the storm. Ford asserts that it is more shielded from tariff threats than many competitors and has touted its manufacturing process as the 'most American' of the Detroit automakers in recent advertisements to customers. Lawler said the company will reveal more information about how it is handling tariffs at its earnings call early next month. 'We assemble more vehicles than anybody else, we have the most hourly workers, and we export the most vehicles from the U.S.' Lawler said. 'Are there going to be headwinds as this thing unfolds? There will be.' This story has been updated to correct an error and update headlines. Senior autos writer Jamie L. LaReau contributed to this report. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@
