So imagine double that price for gasoline and diesel, the calculations change on vehicle power choices Fuel economy on the highway becomes less important when drivers do a lot more surface road running at lower speeds or stop/start driving where fuel economy can take a real hit.

It is my understanding that the HF35 has had two successors, the HF45 and the HF55.  I believe that should be considered investment.

It’s more like a self imposed restriction to meet higher profit percentage. Imagine if Ford has proceeded with San Louis Potosi and made that a multi product C2 plant making LWB /SWB Ford and Lincoln Utilities. That would be four key products coming from a low cost location. Much the same way that GM moved new production over the border a few years back.

Yes and what I was saying is that Ford owns the IP which is the most important part as adapting existing plants is not as hard as it seems.

What more investment - Manufacturing capacity. I don't think Ford can merely snap its fingers and have the capacity it needs. I've (perhaps wrongly) been under the impression that Ford are capacity constrained in terms of engines, batteries, trannys, and the associated support plumbing for hybrid vehicles. They also have to reengineer some of the C2 based vehicles that are not currently hybrid 'capable' to utilize the C2 hybrid chassis. Perhaps the lead time needed to reengineer the vehicles to their new chassis 'homes' buys the time Ford will need to source, manufacture, and install the added drivetrain capacity that will be needed?

Unlike US or EU sources, they would be subject to restrictions on technology transfers and tariffs if the parts are imported from China. It could be easier to buy the tech from a non-Chinese supplier than to risk sourcing from China, which is why I ask what should/could be done to expand capacity in North America.

Thinking deeper about Ford’s change of plans, Ford also owns a lot of the IP being used in China, those vehicles funded by the Chinese market are easy grabs for other parts of the world if so desired. Either that  or use of the power trains and electrical systems come cheaply to C2.

That’s fair comment. The coming Q4 $19.5 billion write down shows a chastened Ford that is now prepared to focus on HEV to EREV projects, the key advantage it now has is battery supply. Arguably the main thing that held it back for years.   All that time used to develop electric motors, drives and controllers won’t go to waste either as a lot of that can be repurposed for EREV which  now seems to be a much better direction for Lightning and maybe a companion SUV.   Its ironic that the chiefs at Ford have been forced to face reality and start promoting electrification methods it was dismissing  a few years back, I look forward to the coming releases of how “we’ve listened to buyers” ……sure they have but I bet that $19 billion financial  “black eye” was the last straw…..  

Now you're just arguing to be arguing.  They said they were doing it and you have no proof they aren't or can't do it.