With less than six weeks before retooling begins at the plant, the lack of dialogue “is extremely concerning,” Brennan said, adding the union hasn’t received “official” word from Ford regarding the $1.8-billion upgrade since November 2023.
At the time, Ford “indicated that the plant would start demolition, facility upgrades and equipment re-tooling, transforming our plant into a modern, high-efficiency and high-volume facility building Ford’s next-generation electric vehicles,” Brennan said.
The three-row EVs, to be built at the planned Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, were expected to go on sale in early 2025. Instead, Ford is shifting to launch an affordable EV on a small vehicle platform as early as late 2026, according to sibling publication Automotive News.
The March 19 report cited sources said the vehicle would be built at Ford’s plant in Louisville, Kentucky.
A Ford Canada spokesperson told Automotive News Canada that the company “does not comment on speculation.”
In a Jan. 20 updates to its members, the union said it was informed by the automaker that Ford Edge production at the plant was scheduled to end April 26, clearing the way for the retooling project.
While Edge production “could be extended by a few months, the chances of a significant extension at this late point are doubtful as suppliers have plans to wind down parts output and some may have already stopped, said Sam Fiorani, vice-president, global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, a US-based industry consultancy.