Electric Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator Still Delayed
Ford is once again delaying the marketing of its electric mid-size utility vehicles, the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. Production will not start for another 3 years, in December 2024.
Ford’s management has to cringe when it comes to their marketing strategy for electric mid-size sport utility vehicles. Nothing seems to be going in the right direction. Initially, Lincoln was to get its piece of the pie following Ford’s $ 500 million funding in Rivian.
However, the deal did not work, and Lincoln was left with nothing to do with it. Ford pulls himself together and decides to go it alone. Until then, intentions are good, and it is even argued that production could be done jointly at the plant where the Mustang Mach-e is currently manufactured.
18 months later
the Lincoln Electric Aviator was to hit the market in 2023 and be closely followed by its cousin the Ford Explorer in electric version. Unfortunately, according to the publication Automotive NewsOnce again, things are getting complicated for the design and manufacture of these products.
The Editorial staff maintains that a press release was sent to equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the effect that production would not start before December 2024. Therefore, if we are to rely on the initial announcement, we are talking about a additional period of 18 months.
The overly popular Mustang Mach-e
Who’s to blame this time? She returns to Ford production. Due to the popularity of the Ford Mustang Mach-e, it would be difficult to fit two additional vehicles into the assembly line. Currently, the Mach-e is mostly built in the Cuantitlan Stamping facilities in Mexico City.
Always according to Automotive News, Lisa Drake, North American production manager, affirmed that the Cuantitlan plant will now be entirely dedicated to Mach-e, where an annual production of 200,000 units is even targeted. This then raises the question of where the electric Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer should be built.
We will have to wait, but one thing now seems to be very clear: this first electric Lincoln will probably not be unveiled on February 22 to mark the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s passage in the bosom of Ford.
