Business · Companies · 56 mins ago
Ford reopens Oakville plant to build trucks for North American buyers
Ford has reopened its Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant after closing it in 2024 for a two-year retooling.
About 2,000 workers are back, building large F-Series pickups such as the F-250 and F-350.
Most of the trucks are headed to U.S. buyers, where Ford’s Kentucky and Ohio plants are already running at full capacity.
The Oakville line made 3,488 trucks in October, after producing at about one-third of its annual capacity during early testing.
Ford switched from its cancelled electric-vehicle plan to truck production after U.S. demand for electric vehicles slowed.
The trucks use parts and engines made in Canada and Mexico, reflecting how closely linked North American auto production is.
U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made cars could raise costs, and the plant’s official launch is expected later in November.
Ford has reopened its Oakville, Ontario, plant to build large F-Series pickup trucks, most of which are intended for U.S. buyers.
About 2,000 workers have returned to the plant after it closed for retooling in 2024.
The factory produced 3,488 trucks in October and is adding capacity as Ford’s Kentucky and Ohio plants run at full capacity.
Ford’s earlier plan to make electric vehicles and battery packs at Oakville was delayed and then cancelled amid slowing U.S. demand for electric vehicles.
The plant’s reopening comes as the auto industry opposes U.S. tariffs on cars made in Canada and elsewhere.
- Who
- Ford Motor Co. has reopened its Oakville assembly plant, with about 2,000 workers back on the job.
- What
- The plant is making F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, most destined for U.S. buyers.
- When
- It reopened after closing in 2024; the official launch was scheduled for later in November.
- Where
- Oakville, Ontario, west of Toronto.
- Why
- Ford is adding truck production capacity while its plants in Kentucky and Ohio are running at full capacity.
U.S. President Donald Trump
North American auto industry
Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump
Trump says 25 per cent tariffs on cars made in Canada and elsewhere are intended to foster manufacturing in the United States.
North American auto industry
The industry opposes the tariffs as an unnecessary expense that undermines decades of supply-chain integration.
Ford’s Oakville plant closed for retooling.
The Oakville plant produced 3,488 trucks.
Ford’s official launch of the reopened truck plant was scheduled to take place.
- Workers back on the job
- About 2,000
- October output
- 3,488 trucks
- Plant location
- Oakville, Ontario
- Ford investment at the plant
- $5-billion
- Federal government grant
- $464-million
What people are saying
The United States doesn’t need Canadian automobiles.
This is a good news story
They have ramped up nicely
The F-Series is a tremendous product, with amazing customer loyalty and the ability to shrug off many of its would-be competitors