Ford Ends Escape, Lincoln Corsair Production Ahead EV Shift

Ford Motor Company is ending production of its popular SUVs, the Escape and Lincoln Corsair, by the end of 2025 to retool the Louisville Assembly Plant for a new Universal EV Platform family. This platform aims to support multiple body styles and drivetrain layouts, focusing on affordability and efficiency, with a potential range of around 300 miles and a starting price below $45,000. Ford plans to continue selling existing Escape and Corsair inventory into 2026 while transitioning to electric vehicles, including a midsize electric pickup truck set for 2027. The move reflects Ford's strategic shift toward electrification and cost reduction, described by CEO Jim Farley as a “Model T moment.” Meanwhile, Ford is also recalling 213,121 Explorers and Aviators due to defective body control modules that can cause taillight failures and other electrical issues, with replacements scheduled based on mileage. Volkswagen, meanwhile, unveiled a new second-generation T-Roc SUV featuring a hybrid drivetrain, though the company has hinted that its previously announced plans to cease petrol models depend on market conditions amid a slowdown in EV demand.