Tag Archives: Ford

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Diplomacy on Four Wheels: Japan Might Buy a Fleet of Ford F-150s to Please Trump

In the strange theater of international politics, the next act might star an unlikely hero: the Ford F-150.

Ahead of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan later this month, Japanese officials are reportedly planning a gesture of goodwill that feels more like a scene out of Fast & Furious: Trade Negotiations. The government is said to be eyeing the purchase of more than 100 Ford F-150 pickup trucks—yes, the same all-American workhorses that define heartland driveways and job sites from Iowa to Texas.

The move follows a new U.S.–Japan tariff agreement reached less than two months ago and appears to be Tokyo’s way of addressing one of Trump’s favorite trade grievances: that Japan buys far too few American cars. And he’s not wrong about the numbers. In 2024, just 16,000 U.S.-built cars found homes in Japan, while Japanese automakers shipped an eye-watering 1.37 million vehicles to the States.

So, what do you do when your trade balance looks lopsided and the most powerful man in the world loves trucks? You buy a few dozen of them, of course—and maybe park one in front of the Akasaka Palace to make sure he notices.

A Symbolic Gesture on an Awkward Platform

There’s only one problem: Ford pulled out of Japan in 2016. There are no dealers, no service networks, and no official channels for parts. These F-150s, meant for road and dam inspections, will have to rely on independent mechanics and a lot of improvisation. Imagine a rural Japanese prefecture trying to source brake pads or a replacement infotainment unit for a 5.0-liter V8 Lariat—good luck.

Beyond the logistics, the bigger issue is that Japan simply doesn’t have a taste for trucks like the F-150. Narrow city streets, scarce parking, and sky-high fuel prices have kept large American vehicles off Japanese wish lists for decades. Even affluent buyers tend to favor compact SUVs or kei cars that can slip through Tokyo traffic without requiring a three-point turn at every intersection.

Cultural Curiosity Meets Market Reality

Still, the F-150 plan might not be entirely tone-deaf. Toyota’s own CEO, Akio Toyoda, recently floated the idea of importing American-built models like the full-size Tundra as a test case. If the Tundra and the F-150 can coexist, perhaps there’s a niche market—small, but curious—of Japanese buyers drawn to the exotic appeal of American brawn.

Realistically, though, this feels more like a symbolic import than a serious market shift. For Japan, it’s a polite diplomatic nod wrapped in 6,000 pounds of chrome and steel. For Ford, it’s an unexpected cameo in a country it left behind nearly a decade ago.

Whether this ends with a meaningful trade thaw or just a few confused government inspectors trying to park a SuperCrew on a Tokyo side street remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: when it comes to global diplomacy, few gestures are as unmistakably American as a brand-new F-150 idling in front of a palace.

Source: Reuters

News

Ford Pauses F-150 Lightning Production After Aluminum Plant Fire, Shifts Focus to Gas and Hybrid Trucks

Ford’s electric ambitions just hit a major speed bump. The Blue Oval confirmed that production of the F-150 Lightning will remain on ice “for the foreseeable future” following the devastating fire at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, New York—one of Ford’s key suppliers. The September 16 blaze heavily damaged the facility, and the fallout could cost Ford up to $1 billion as the automaker scrambles to reshuffle its production strategy.

In the wake of the fire, Ford is pivoting hard back to internal combustion. The company plans to boost gas and hybrid F-Series output by more than 50,000 trucks in 2026, a move it says will help “meet strong customer demand and recover production losses stemming from the fire.” The shift isn’t just about supply chain logistics—it’s also about profitability. Gas and hybrid F-150s “are more profitable” and “use less aluminum” than the Lightning, Ford says.

Reallocating Resources

The production pause means a major shake-up inside Ford’s manufacturing network. Workers at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, home of the Lightning, will be reassigned to a new third shift at the Dearborn Truck Plant, where the automaker builds gas-powered F-150s. That move alone will create up to 900 new jobs, as Ford ramps up its bread-and-butter truck output.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Truck Plant—another F-Series stronghold—will also see expanded operations. Ford is investing $60 million there to increase efficiency, enough to squeeze out one extra truck per hour, adding more than 5,000 additional units per year. The plant will also welcome 100 new employees to help support the higher volume.

Electric Momentum, Interrupted

The production pause comes at an awkward time for Ford’s EV division. Lightning sales were up nearly 40 percent in Q3 2025, with over 10,000 units sold in the quarter. Year-to-date sales for the 2026 model sit at 23,034, up a modest 1.0 percent compared to last year—but that’s still a small slice of the F-Series pie.

For context, Ford sold nearly 200,000 gas and hybrid F-Series trucks last quarter, and close to 600,000 through September, marking a 13 percent increase year-over-year. Those numbers make Ford’s decision to prioritize the traditional lineup look less like a retreat from electrification and more like a practical recalibration.

Outlook: A Pause, Not a Pullback

Ford hasn’t said when Lightning production will resume, and with the extent of damage at the Novelis plant still being assessed, it could be a long wait. Still, this isn’t the end of the electric F-150—just a pause while Ford regroups. The company remains committed to electrification long-term, but for now, customer demand, supply constraints, and profitability are steering the ship.

In other words: Ford’s making what the people want—and right now, that’s still a truck with a gas tank.

Source: Ford

News

Ford Recalls 1.5 Million Vehicles for Defective Rearview Cameras

If you drive an older Ford and your rearview camera’s been acting more abstract than useful—say, resembling a Picasso painting instead of the road behind you—there’s a reason. Ford’s recall saga rolls on, this time pulling in nearly 1.5 million vehicles whose backup cameras might show distorted images or simply refuse to work at all.

Not ideal when you’re trying not to reverse into the neighbour’s recycling bin.

The Recall Roll Call

The hit list reads like a time capsule of Ford’s lineup from the mid-2010s. The 2015–2016 C-Max, Escape, and Explorer are on the roster, joined by the 2019 Fiesta, 2015–2019 Flex, 2016 Fusion, and even the 2020 Mustang—because apparently, even muscle cars aren’t immune to a dodgy camera feed. The Taurus, Lincoln MKT, and MKZ round out the cast of concerned vehicles.

If you’ve been squinting at a fuzzy feed or seeing nothing at all, you’re not alone. Ford began sniffing around the issue back in February 2025, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) poked the Blue Oval with a polite-but-firm “Oi, something’s off.” The feds had received owner complaints across several model years, all pointing toward the same glitchy rearview problem.

Ford’s Investigation: The Long Rearview Look

Ford dug into the data—supplier records, warranty logs, customer complaints—and came back with the corporate equivalent of a shrug. The automaker said it was “unable to identify a defect related to motor vehicle safety across all vehicle populations equipped with this analog camera.”

Translation: “We can’t quite pin it down, but let’s play it safe.”

And play it safe they did. The recall is part of a broader agreement with the NHTSA, covering Ford’s rearview camera systems from 2015 to 2025. Vehicles are being split into two camps: those getting a formal recall and those receiving a 15-year extended warranty on the camera system. So whether your Ford’s getting a new lens or just a long-term promise, it’s at least something.

The Numbers Game

Ford’s recall report mentions a rather eye-watering 12,487 warranty claims linked to the issue—stretching all the way back to the first complaint in July 2014. The company also acknowledged five accidents possibly tied to faulty cameras, though thankfully no injuries have been reported.

The automaker’s already started mailing out “interim remedy” letters, essentially saying: “We’re on it, hang tight.” Owners will need to bring their cars into Ford service centers for inspection and—if needed—a camera swap. A proper fix, Ford says, should arrive by mid-2026.

Another Hiccup in the Mirror

It’s been a rough few years for Ford on the recall front, with millions of vehicles affected by various gremlins ranging from brake hoses to batteries. This latest one might not sound catastrophic, but in an era where cars rely more on cameras and sensors than actual visibility, a blank screen can be more than a minor annoyance.

Still, Ford’s transparency here (and willingness to play ball with regulators) shows lessons learned from past recall fiascos. And at least this one’s not catching fire or falling apart—it’s just a bit camera shy.

So, if your Ford’s reversing camera suddenly goes on artistic leave, don’t panic. Check your VIN, call your dealer, and maybe keep practicing those old-school shoulder checks. Looks like the analog age isn’t quite done haunting us yet.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration