Ford Plans to Move Lincoln Nautilus Production from China Back to U.S. by 2030

On August 18, Ford Motor Company announced plans to shift production of the Lincoln Nautilus model back to the United States starting in 2030. This decision is driven by adjustments in U.S. trade policy toward China, including a combined import tariff of 52.5% on U.S.-branded vehicles assembled in China and exported to the American market, as well as new U.S. regulations on connected vehicles that will restrict certain Chinese software beginning in 2027 and impose stricter hardware requirements starting in 2030. Although the Nautilus’s software is developed by U.S.-based teams and final vehicle assembly occurs only in China, the model still faces compliance challenges and will require special authorization to continue sales in the U.S. Ford emphasized that China remains a key strategic market for Lincoln, and its Chinese plants will continue fulfilling orders for both the domestic market and other overseas regions.