Ford Shifts Production of Super Duty Trucks to Oakville Assembly Plant

Ford announced today that the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, will assemble Ford Super Duty pickup trucks starting in 2026. This shift indicates a significant change in strategy, as the Oakville plant—previously designated for building electric vehicles (EVs)—is now focusing on these robust trucks. Last year, Ford had big plans for the Oakville site, aiming to transform it into a next-generation EV campus, with intentions for production to begin in 2025.

However, this plan has changed, as Ford announced it would delay the production of EVs at Oakville until 2027, leading to layoffs in the interim. This reversal comes amid a broader restructuring at Ford, shifting focus from an array of three-row EVs to a more affordable model aimed at competing with Tesla, plan estimated to be priced around $25,000 to $30,000. Despite the uncertainty surrounding EV production, Oakville is redirecting efforts towards Super Duty trucks.

Consequently, Ford will retool the Oakville facility to produce up to 100,000 Super Duty trucks annually. This move is in line with Ford’s current emphasis on truck production, both electrified and traditional. Interestingly, Ford plans to introduce what they refer to as “multi-energy technology” to the Super Duty lineup. While the terminology may be vague, it strongly suggests the integration of electrification within their heavy-duty truck offerings.

Furthermore, Ford’s multi-engine technology initiative aims to provide customers with greater choice, allowing for both electrified and non-electrified internal combustion engine options. This transition is expected to preserve more jobs than the original EV production plan—matching 400 additional roles—moreover, workers impacted by layoffs could return sooner than initially anticipated.

In this latest update regarding Super Duty, Ford hints that three-row EVs remain on the agenda but lacks concrete timelines for their introduction. This strategic pivot illustrates that Ford is not waiting for its complete EV plans to materialize, instead opting to leverage the success of the Super Duty lineup, a notably lucrative and competitive segment.