Ford to Shift Lincoln Nautilus Production from China to U.S. Starting 2030

Ford Motor Company plans to shift production of the Lincoln Nautilus from China to the United States starting in 2030. The vehicle is currently produced at a joint venture plant in Hangzhou between Ford and Changan Automobile and is the only Ford model imported from China for sale in the U.S. Ford CEO Jim Farley stated the move is primarily driven by the U.S. government’s established policy of imposing a 52.5% tariff on imported internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles from China. Additionally, the "Connected Vehicle Rule," which restricts the use of Chinese technology and hardware in vehicles sold in the U.S., also influenced the decision—but tariffs remain the main factor. Ford began importing the Lincoln Nautilus from China in 2024 due to a lack of available production capacity in North America at the time. The Canadian plant in Ontario, which previously assembled this SUV, has since been retooled to produce other models. A Ford spokesperson confirmed that the Lincoln Nautilus does not require special authorization to continue being sold in the U.S. Ford will expand Lincoln vehicle production within the United States, though the specific manufacturing location has not yet been announced. Currently, Lincoln assembles the Navigator at its Louisville, Kentucky plant and the Aviator at its Chicago facility, exporting both models to Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East. Ford said the production shift is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.