Beginning in 2030, Ford plans to phase out Chinese manufacturing for Lincoln models and bring all of its Lincoln production back to the United States in a move it says will “further strengthen Ford’s position as America’s No. 1 auto producer.”
Two models in Lincoln’s lineup are currently manufactured in the United States. TheAviatorcomes out of Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, and theNavigatoris built at its Kentucky Truck Plant. But the Lincoln Nautilus, the brand’s bestselling model in 2025, is manufactured in Hangzhou, China.
The Nautilus, which was manufactured in Canada for its first generation, moved to China in 2024. The Corsair recently ended production in the U.S. as Ford retools the Louisville Assembly Plant for the upcomingFathom electric truck, but Lincoln is now expected tostart importing the Corsair from China starting in 2027. It’s unclear what will happen to the Nautilus and Corsair after Chinese imports end.
The shift is undoubtedly influenced by federal backlash and increased tariffs on Chinese-produced vehicles in the United States. Automakers are already adjusting to software-relatedbans on internet-connected vehiclesthat took effect for 2027 vehicles, and they’re preparing for a hardware ban that’s set to take place in 2030 models.
If the Nautilus and Corsair remain in circulation after Lincoln halts U.S.-bound production in China, it’s unclear where the SUVs would be produced. Ford operates nine assembly plants in the United States. In China, it operates five.
Ford says expanding Lincoln’s production in the United States will generate thousands of new jobs. The Blue Oval finished 2025 with 56,300 hourly employees on payroll, which is more than any other automaker. It also holds the top spot for the highest U.S.-built vehicle output and exports, with more than 2 million vehicles rolling off assembly lines last year.
For the time being, however, Lincoln’s entry-level Corsair and mid-tier Nautilus will presumably continue to be imported from China until Ford phases out its Chinese production beginning in 2030.