*allegedly.......until they cancel it last minute     I don't understand - how would bringing another Chinese model solve the Nautilus assembly from China issue?

Sounds like cafe needs to be reevaluated. If it’s preventing companies from making smaller cars, then it’s doing the opposite of what it was designed to do

Ford EV Program Cancellation Cost Company $100 Million In Q1 2025   Last August, The Blue Oval announced that it was canceling plans to build a new pair of three-row, all-electric SUVs at the Oakville Assembly plant, which had previously been delayed from 2025 to 2027. At that time, Ford noted that this decision would result in a special non-cash charge of about $400 million for the write-down of certain product-specific manufacturing assets for those models, and the decision may also result in additional expenses and cash expenditures of up to $1.5 billion. Now, we’re learning that Ford wrote off a chunk of that loss in the first quarter of this year. Ford’s Q1 2025 financial reporting outlines a $100 million dollar loss in the first quarter for the line item dubbed “EV Program Cancellation,” which is not something that it absorbed in Q4 2024, it seems. However, there is a line item for “Extended Oakville Assembly Plant Changeover” that totaled $300 million in the final quarter of last year, which makes sense given Ford’s decision to pivot away from those two EV SUVs and go in a very different direction.

On a side note, I wonder if they'll end up stretching the mustang wheelbase by a few inches in the future to meet increasingly strict emissions standards. That would make the mustang look a lot better, while also making to easier to meet those targets. 

It’s not political, it’s pro consumer.

Maybe. My prediction is that the Courts will ultimately side with California for many Reasons and that California's right to control its own Air quality will last longer than this administration. After all this move is 100% political, and politics change. Senate revokes California emissions rules in blow to EVs : NPR    

There is already push back on pricing of vehicles-just take a look at the Charger RT EV-its going away because there is no demand for it. Its getting replaced by ICE products in a few months. Its going to take another 5-10 years before EVs can hit price parity and offer similar range in most conditions as an ICE/HEV product can. Keep in mind that older people don't like change and I'd say most people 50+ aren't really interested in EVs because they don't want to deal with charging and other things that come along with EV ownership. Also US automakers are international, so that is just an excuse from you. CN EVs might be impressive but I have my own concerns about long term ownership with them-they might be cheap just to force into buying a new car every 5 years or so. 

Why not just bring over the CN Market C2 Bronco that is in the other thread instead? It would be a better fit and if Ford loses some BOF Bronco sales to it, it wouldn't be a huge deal because of CAFE getting more onerous. Its not a commodity product either, since it would have similar off road prowess that the Bronco Sport has. Not to mention it helps solve the Nautilus assembly issue from China too. Not sure if using Explorer name do as well-if I was going to replace the Escape, IMO it would be a cross between an Explorer and Range Rover looks wise.  Apparently smaller vehicles (sub 185 inches or so) are going to be harder to meet with Hybrid/ICE powertrains in the future. but they are also better choice for an EV too.  

While I like the styling of the Mazda's and the new RAV4, Ford can't out Toyota, Toyota.  They need to stick with what they do well.  Making another CUV that looks like a RAV4, or even the Crown models, Ford won't beat their reliability.  So you have to make it unique.   New vehicle on C2 platform.  Give it the Explorer look and feel, but updated.  Call it Explorer Sport.  This fits in Fords mantra of "leaning on legacy models" they stated.  Make it Nautilus sized, roughly, 2 row.  Give it same power train options as the Nautilus.   But I also think Ford should drop the CD4 Explorer and bring over the Everest as the new Explorer.  So what do I know...

John Cater.