Ford will move production of some Lincoln vehicles, including the Nautilus SUV, from China to the United States beginning in 2030, becoming the latest automaker to shift production in response to U.S. government pressure over Chinese-made vehicles and technology.
Ford CEO Jim Farley told Reuters that the decision was difficult but necessary to strengthen the U.S. auto manufacturing base. The automaker plans to sell the U.S.-built Lincoln vehicles in the domestic market, although Ford has not yet disclosed which U.S. factories will produce the models.
Lincoln Nautilus Production Will Move to the U.S.
Ford’s decision follows a similar move by General Motors, which previously announced plans to transfer production of the Buick Envision SUV from China to the United States beginning in 2028.
Farley said Ford acted once the administration’s policy direction was established, explaining that the company understood what the policy would mean for its operations. He made the comments during a joint interview with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The Lincoln Nautilus currently faces a 52.5% U.S. import tariff, according to Ford. Farley said both the tariffs and restrictions under the Commerce Department’s Connected Vehicle Rule influenced the production decision. The rule prohibits certain Chinese technology and hardware from being used in U.S. models.
However, Farley identified the tariffs as the primary factor behind the move.
China-Made Nautilus Will Remain on Sale for Now
Despite the planned production transfer, Ford can continue selling the China-made Lincoln Nautilus in the United States for the time being. A company spokesman told Reuters on August 12 that the vehicle no longer requires authorization to remain on sale in the country.
Ford had previously said the Nautilus software was developed in the United States but installed into the vehicle in China. That arrangement had required government approval for the SUV to continue being sold in the U.S.
Nautilus Is Lincoln’s Best-Selling Model
The midsize Lincoln Nautilus luxury crossover sold 34,000 units in the United States last year, making it the brand’s best-selling vehicle ahead of the smaller Corsair.
The Nautilus is currently manufactured at a plant in Hangzhou through Ford’s joint venture with state-owned Chinese manufacturer Changan.
Ford began importing the Nautilus from China in 2024 after citing a lack of available production capacity in North America. With the company now committed to bringing production back to the United States, Ford will need to allocate new domestic capacity for the SUV.
That capacity requirement is likely one reason the production transfer is not scheduled until 2030, four years from now.
Lincoln’s Other Vehicles Are Already Built in the U.S.
The Nautilus is currently the exception to Lincoln’s domestic production footprint. The rest of the brand’s lineup is built in the United States.
The Lincoln Aviator is produced at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, while the Navigator is manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky. The Corsair, which is no longer in production, was also previously assembled in Louisville.
For Ford, the planned Nautilus production transfer represents a significant shift in how the automaker will supply one of Lincoln’s most important models to U.S. customers, while also reducing its reliance on Chinese production amid new trade and technology restrictions.
