(April 8, 2024) Ford said last week it is delaying plans for a new electric pickup and three-row electric utilities amid slowing demand for EVs. Meanwhile, it aims to offer hybrid variants on each gasoline-powered vehicle in its lineup by the end of the decade.

“As the No. 2 EV brand in the U.S. for the past two years, we are committed to scaling a profitable EV business, using capital wisely and bringing to market the right gas, hybrid and fully electric vehicles at the right time,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. “Our breakthrough, next-generation EVs will be new from the ground up and fully software enabled, with ever-improving digital experiences and a multitude of potential services.”

The automaker said it is postponing production at its under-construction Blue Oval City plant in Tennessee from late 2025 to 2026. Equipment installation is underway at the plant, Ford said, and construction of the overall manufacturing campus continues.

The automaker previously said Blue Oval City will have an annual capacity of 500,000 EVs and would employ 6,000 workers.

Ford also is delaying production of three-row EV utilities at a facility in Canada from 2025 to 2027. However, it plans to begin transforming its Oakville Assembly Plant into an EV complex on time this quarter.