Ford Motor Company will shift production of its Lincoln vehicles from China to the United States beginning in 2030, according to an official company announcement reported by CNBC and Reuters. The decision phases out Chinese imports for the American market and is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect domestic jobs, CEO Jim Farley stated.
Production Timeline and Domestic Facility Impact
According to CNBC, the manufacturing shift arrives after Ford previously stated in 2023 that its next-generation Lincoln Nautilus would be imported from China. That move marked the first time the brand brought a vehicle built in China to the U.S. market. Under the newly announced timeline reported by Ford Authority, the phase-out of Chinese imports will stretch toward 2031, ensuring the Nautilus remains available at U.S. dealerships during the interim.
The Lincoln Navigator and Aviator models are currently assembled at plants in Louisville, Kentucky, and Chicago, Illinois, respectively, according to CNBC. Both models will continue to be exported to international markets including Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East.
Strategic Rationale and Tariff Pressures
According to Ford Authority, current political policies and a 52.5 percent U.S. tariff on the Lincoln Nautilus heavily influenced the decision to bring production back to domestic soil.
“Lincoln is a quintessentially American brand, and Ford is America’s automaker,” Farley said in a statement published by CNBC. “This wasn’t necessarily the easiest path. In fact, it’s a path most of our competitors aren’t choosing to take. But Ford builds in America because we believe in America, and we’re betting on that belief again.”
U.S. Manufacturing Footprint Comparison
The announcement aligns with Ford’s broader efforts to emphasize its domestic assembly footprint. According to CNBC, Ford assembled over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, outpacing all other domestic and foreign auto manufacturers operating in the country. That total included 311,000 units exported to more than 60 international markets.
While competitors like General Motors and Toyota rely more heavily on imported vehicles from foreign plants, Farley has previously advocated for federal policies that reward automakers prioritizing domestic manufacturing operations, as reported by CNBC.
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