Ford Motor Company plans to expand U.S. production of Lincoln luxury vehicles beginning in 2030 and end vehicle imports from China for American customers, according to statements highlighted by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during an appearance on FOX Business’ “Kudlow.”
U.S. Manufacturing Expansion and Job Creation
The manufacturing shift is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the United States, according to comments made by Howard Lutnick during his discussion with host Larry Kudlow. While administration officials point to the move as evidence of domestic manufacturing growth driven by automotive tariffs, Ford has not yet disclosed the exact financial investment required or which specific domestic assembly plants will receive the additional production lines.
Ford maintains a substantial manufacturing footprint within the United States. According to company operational disclosures, the automaker assembled more than 2 million vehicles domestically in 2025 and employs approximately 56,300 hourly manufacturing workers across its U.S. facilities.
Phasing Out Chinese Imports for Lincoln
The upcoming production changes directly impact Lincoln’s vehicle import strategy. Lincoln’s current U.S. lineup includes the Nautilus, which is manufactured in China. Under the newly announced timeline targeting 2030, Ford will transition production to phase out imports from China for American buyers.
Workforce Training and Advanced Manufacturing
Discussing the broader impact of automotive tariffs and domestic factory investments, Howard Lutnick emphasized the necessity of preparing younger workers for highly automated industrial environments. According to Lutnick, future manufacturing roles require specialized training to support advanced technology integration inside American assembly plants.
The strategic shift aligns with broader administration policies concerning domestic production capacities, as officials continue to evaluate trade duties and tax provisions designed to encourage industrial investment inside the United States.