Ford Motor announced Wednesday that it will increase production of its Lincoln vehicles inside the United States beginning in 2030 and phase out imports of the brand from China for the American market, according to CNBC.
The move reverses a 2023 decision in which Ford said its next-generation Lincoln Nautilus would be imported from China, marking the first time the brand had brought a vehicle from China to the U.S. market. Ford said the shift will generate thousands of direct and indirect American jobs, though the company did not specify an exact number.
CEO Jim Farley framed the decision as a deliberate choice rather than a forced one.
"Lincoln is a quintessentially 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."
Two Lincoln models are already assembled in the United States. The Navigator is built at a plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Aviator is assembled in Chicago. Ford said both will continue to be exported to international markets including Canada, Mexico and the Middle East.
The announcement comes as the company has been vocal about its U.S. manufacturing footprint, particularly as President Donald Trump's automotive tariffs and uncertainty around the USMCA North American trade agreement have reshaped industry decisions. Farley has previously stated that he believes Ford should be rewarded for its domestic production and that automakers relying heavily on imports, including General Motors and Toyota, should face greater penalties.
Ford reported that it assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the United States last year, more than any other automaker. That total included 311,000 units built for export to more than 60 international markets.
The 2030 timeline gives Ford several years to restructure its supply chain and manufacturing capacity for the Lincoln brand. The company did not specify which plants would take on the additional Lincoln production or provide details on capital investment tied to the expansion.