Stunning blow to electric car industry as leading manufacturer announces it's diverting $1.3bn earmarked for EVs to gas-powered trucks instead

Ford has decided to repurpose an Ontario accumulation works it had primitively intended to usage solely for electrical vehicles.

Instead, nan automaker's Oakville assembly analyzable will pivot to nutrient large, gas-guzzling Super Duty trucks, which, depending connected nan model, measurement between 13,800 and 22,000 pounds.

The move will besides spot nan institution put immoderate $2.3 cardinal into nan Super Duty motortruck production, while welcoming 1,800 workers to works a twelvemonth earlier than expected.

It will besides adhd 400 caller jobs location specifically, on pinch 150 astatine nan nearby Ford Motor Co. Windsor Engine Plant.

Once vanished successful 2026, nan installation will go nan Ford's 3rd assembly works successful nan Americas reserved for this benignant of production, officials said - adding that nan determination simply has to owed pinch accrued user demand.

'There is durable request for Super Duty from Ford Pro customers arsenic spending connected infrastructure and related building activity remains high,' explained Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis successful a statement.

 'Many unit customers person not been capable to get their trucks accelerated capable because of our accumulation constraints,' he went on.

'Unlocking Super Duty measurement will besides support businesses and tradespeople who trust connected these trucks and first responders who service their communities.'

Currently, nan motortruck is utilized mostly by commercialized and business clients, and is manufactured astatine plants in in Ohio and Kentucky.

'Super Duty is simply a captious instrumentality for businesses and group astir nan world and, moreover pinch our Kentucky Truck Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant moving level out, we can't meet nan demand,' said Ford CEO Jim Farley successful a release. 

'This move benefits our customers and supercharges our Ford Pro commercialized business.' 

The $58 cardinal car manufacturer's erstwhile plans to put $1.3 cardinal into nan Oakville works for EV accumulation person now been put connected pause, nan merchandise said - near successful limbo until astatine least 2027.

As mentioned, nan displacement comes arsenic galore - peculiarly Canadians - awkward distant from nan thought of owning an electrical vehicle.

A caller study from J.D. Power recovered much than half of nan state was very 'unlikely' to see an EV for their adjacent vehicle, fto unsocial costly ones for illustration nan Ford F-150.

They scope from $54,995 for an entry-level Pro model, to $92,995 for ones boasting nan premium Platinum Black trim. 

Despite being electric, nan car boast front- and mid-motor, all-wheel-drive, and room for 5 passengers - and is each spot a pickup arsenic its non-EV counterpart.

But arsenic Farley pointed retired conscionable past week, different parts, specifically nan battery, are astir conscionable arsenic costly by themselves. 

'[EVs] are ne'er going to make money,' nan exec said successful an interview. 'The artillery is $50,000. The batteries will ne'er beryllium affordable.' 

Meanwhile, connected Thursday, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development Victor Fedeli said nan 'Ontario authorities was thrilled' pinch nan 'great news', and was eager for nan repurposed works to supercharge nan user economy.