Ford Will Move Lincoln Production From China to the U.S.

Quick Summary:

• Return to U.S. Production: Ford is yanking U.S.-market Lincoln Nautilus production out of China, planning to onshore assembly at a domestic plant by 2030.
• Tariffs are to Blame: CEO Jim Farley made it clear that a crushing 52.5% tariff on Chinese-built vehicle imports forced the automaker's hand.
• How Production Moved to China: Nautilus assembly originally migrated from Canada to Hangzhou in 2021 before production went 100% Chinese for generation two in 2024.
• Could Bring Jobs to the U.S.: Onshoring could add thousands of American manufacturing jobs, backed by strong bipartisan support to keep Chinese tariffs firmly in place.

Ford Motor Company announced late Wednesday afternoon that production of Chinese-made Lincoln vehicles for sale in the U.S. will end by 2030. This move applies only to the midsize Lincoln Nautilus SUV, the sole vehicle sold in the U.S. by the Blue Oval that is manufactured at Changan Ford’s joint venture facility in Hangzhou, China. Chinese imports of gas-powered and electric vehicles (EVs) currently face a 52.5% tariff. While Ford has not announced a U.S. replacement facility, Lincoln vehicles are currently assembled at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville and the Chicago Assembly Plant.

What Caused the Shift?

In a joint Reuters interview with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ford CEO Jim Farley, Farley attributed the shift directly to the 52.5% tariff on Chinese vehicles imported into the U.S. He stated: “We made this decision as soon as the policy of the administration was set. We knew exactly what they wanted to do, and we knew exactly what it meant for Ford.”

In the official release from Ford, Farley added, “Lincoln is a quintessentially American brand, and Ford is America’s automaker. This wasn’t necessarily the easiest path. In fact, it’s a path most of our competitors aren’t choosing to take. But Ford builds in America because we believe in America, and we’re betting on that belief again.”

The History of Lincoln Nautilus Production

For the first generation of the Lincoln Nautilus, which spanned from 2018 to 2024, the luxury midsize SUV was built at the Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. In 2021, production expanded to Hangzhou Assembly in China as part of the Changan Ford joint venture. When the second-generation model launched in 2024, production at Oakville ended, leaving assembly of the Lincoln Nautilus entirely in China.

According to Ford, the automaker assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2025 alone and currently employs 56,300 hourly manufacturing workers domestically.

What the Shift Means for Ford and U.S. Workers

By shifting production from China to the U.S. for domestic Lincoln sales, Ford could add “thousands of direct and indirect” jobs stateside. However, the exact facility receiving those jobs remains unannounced ahead of the 2030 target date. Although tariffs on Chinese imports expanded under the Trump administration, strong bipartisan support exists within the Democratic Party to maintain them. Even if a new liberal-minded president takes office after 2029, the plan to onshore production will likely hold firm as Chinese trade policy remains unchanged. Tariffs of 100% on EVs from China originated during the first Trump term, and the Biden administration maintained those duties through the end of its term on Jan. 20, 2025.

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