The Ford F-150 is a sales juggernaut, making it the automaker’s most important model and one that it relies on for consistent revenue generation. As such, Ford has rolled out timely updates for the truck, with a new generation coming every few years with a refresh in between, but that cadence appears to be changing. The Blue Oval recently told suppliers that it was delaying the next-generation F-150 until at least mid-2028, extending the current pickup for another year.
While a Ford spokesperson would not confirm the move, saying, “We do not comment on speculation about future products,” three suppliers told Crains Detroit Business about the decision. Ford hasn’t detailed its reasoning behind the delay, but it’s reasonable to assume the change is related to shifting trade and political conditions between the U.S. and its two closest partners, Canada and Mexico, where Ford and its suppliers have significant manufacturing and logistics footprints.
We’ve seen plenty of delayed vehicle launches over the last few years, but they typically don’t involve models with the F-150’s level of importance. Trucks are the lifeblood of American automakers, so they are generally prioritized over other vehicle launches. The delay would help Ford avoid higher costs on new supplier contracts, letting it ride for another year under old agreements, but the reality is that no company has much of an idea of how the world will look by the time of the next F-150’s debut.
[Images: Ford]
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