Ford delays next-gen electric truck and SUV, plans hybrids across lineup

The electric future will take a bit longer than originally promised at Ford.

On Thursday, Ford announced its next-gen electric truck, known as T3, will arrive a year later than planned while the unrelated three-row electric SUV will arrive two years later than planned. Subsequently, Ford said it plans to offer a hybrid powertrain in every gas-powered model it sells.

2023 Ford F-150 Lightning

T3 electric truck delayed

Ford's clean-sheet next-gen electric truck was supposed to arrive in 2025. The new electric truck, which Ford CEO Jim Farley has referred to as the "Millennium Flacon of trucks," will now arrive in 2026.

The truck is expected to be an «incredibly high volume» vehicle, Farley said in 2021. Ford also touted the truck as being «fully undateable, constantly improving, and support towing, hauling, exportable power and endless new innovations owners will want.»

Set to be built at Ford's new Blue Oval City in west Tennessee, the automaker committed to spend $11.4 billion on the 3,600-acre mega campus. That campus is set to include new vehicle assembly, battery production, and a supplier park.

In 2023, Ford and its battery partner, SK On, were granted a $9.2 billion government loan for the battery plant portion of the plans. Later in the year, Ford announced it was delaying its battery plant for these next-generation EVs, citing lack of demand. The first of the two plants remains on track to open in 2025, Ford spokesperson Martin Günsberg confirmed to Green Car Reports this morning.

Ford Gen 2 electric SUV after efficiency improvements

Electric three-row SUV delayed

Ford also announced on Thursday that the three-row electric SUV due in 2025 will now arrive in 2027. The three-row SUV is set to be built in the automaker's Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, which will undergo an overhaul to begin assembly during the second quarter of 2024 as planned.

Despite the plant overhaul, production of the next-gen electric SUV has been pushed back two years to «allow for the consumer market for three-row EVs to further develop and enable Ford to take advantage of emerging battery technology, with the goal to provide customers increased durability and better