Ford Motor Co. announced that it will increase domestic production of its Lincoln luxury vehicles in the United States beginning in 2030, according to CNBC. As part of this strategic shift, the Dearborn-based automaker will phase out importing Lincoln vehicles from China for the U.S. market.
Ford Motor Shifts Lincoln Production From China to U.S. by 2030
The move affects models such as the Lincoln Nautilus, a two-row SUV that Ford currently builds at its plant in Hangzhou, China, and sells in North America and China. Ford reported selling about 34,000 Nautilus vehicles in the U.S. last year, and noted that the model is subject to a 52.5% tariff.
Tariffs and Regulatory Pressures Drive the Decision
Ford CEO Jim Farley stated that tariffs were the driving factor behind the decision, alongside regulations such as the Connected Vehicle Rule, which bans certain Chinese technology and hardware in U.S. models.
We made this decision as soon as the policy of the administration was set,
Farley said, referring to the tariffs according to Reuters. Farley discussed the decision in a joint interview with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who stated, Ford’s got an edge. Domestic manufacturing has an edge.
Additional cost pressures stem from broader trade policies, including President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on all imported vehicles and car parts implemented in March 2025. Those tariffs resulted in a roughly $2 billion expense for Ford. From January through the end of July, Ford sold 20,050 Lincoln Nautilus cars, representing a 5.7% decline from the same period a year earlier, though it remains Lincoln’s top-selling vehicle this year.
U.S. Manufacturing Footprint and Existing Models
Ford did not disclose which specific plants will receive the extra production or where the U.S.-made Lincolns will be built. However, the automaker stated that the expansion is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect U.S. jobs.
Current Lincoln models assembled domestically will maintain their production locations:
- Lincoln Navigator: Assembled at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville
- Lincoln Aviator: Assembled at the Chicago Assembly Plant
Both the Navigator and Aviator will continue to be exported to international markets, including Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Ford also builds the midsize luxury sedan Lincoln Z in China through its Changan Ford joint venture, though it is sold exclusively in China, and it remains unclear whether that production will continue.
Industry Context and Competitor Movements
Ford’s announcement builds on its existing domestic manufacturing base. In 2025, Ford was the top automaker in U.S. vehicle assembly and U.S. vehicle exports, assembling over 2 million vehicles domestically—including 311,000 units exported to more than 60 international markets—and employing 56,300 hourly manufacturing workers in the United States.
Competitors are also adjusting their domestic footprints. Crosstown rival General Motors announced plans to move production of its Buick Envision to the U.S. from China starting in 2028 according to the Detroit Free Press.
Lincoln is a quintessential American brand, and Ford is America’s automaker,
Farley said in a statement. 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.
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