Ford Motor Company has ceased exports of several models to China due to retaliatory tariffs resulting from ongoing trade tensions under the Trump administration, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. These models include the F-150 Raptors, Mustangs, Bronco SUVs, and Lincoln Navigators. "We have adjusted exports from the U.S. to China in light of the current tariffs," the firm said in a statement. The export suspension is due to rising tariffs, with China targeting US auto imports in reaction to US trade measures.
Ford's China export division has been a profitable venture for the company, according to the WSJ. The carmaker began introducing some of its most well-known models to China roughly ten years ago, with the goal of enhancing its reputation among Chinese consumers. Ford Vice Chairman John Lawler revealed at a recent conference that the company's China operations generated nearly USD 900 million in operating profit last year.The carmaker plans to continue exporting US-built engines and transmissions to China, despite the suspension of assembled car exports. The company also intends to keep shipping its Lincoln Nautilus model, which is built in China, to the US market, even with high tariffs. For the record, Ford shipped around 20,000 vehicles yearly to China over the past ten years. However, in 2024, this number significantly dropped, with only 5,500 Broncos, F-150s, Mustangs, and Navigators shipped. Sources familiar with Ford's business operations state that while the company has ceased exporting assembled cars to China, it continues to ship US-made engines and transmissions.
