Portage Engine will import its cutting edge Lincoln Nautilus from China to the U.S., the organization said Monday night.
At Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, the midsize crossover is currently manufactured for the United States. The automaker recently announced that it would invest approximately $1.3 billion (1.8 billion Canadian dollars) to transform the facility into a new hub for electric vehicles.
This is Lincoln’s first vehicle import from China to the United States.
Bringing in a vehicle from China to the U.S. isn’t phenomenal however can draw public and political analysis or kickback, particularly when strains between the two nations are high.
Among the most notable examples is General Motors’ importation of the Buick Envision crossover from China to the United States since 2016. More than 200,000 of the vehicles made in China have been sold by the Detroit automaker, which American union officials have dubbed the “Invasion” and “a slap in the face.”
Bringing in a vehicle from abroad to the U.S. can check out, nonetheless, for an organization like Passage.
S&P Global Mobility associate director of research Stephanie Brinley stated, “In this case, it’s a good use of resources.” Without importing, Lincoln does not get the product, and the brand needs products between now and when its EVs arrive.”
Brinley stated that Lincoln continues to produce the majority of its vehicles for the U.S. market in North America, so the decision to import the Nautilus does not suggest a fundamental shift in the company’s future offerings for the American market.
“Lincoln is a global brand that is growing,” a Lincoln spokeswoman said in an email. “As we execute our U.S. manufacturing growth plans, we think it makes sense to centralize Nautilus production in China for both markets (since we already produce Nautilus in China for the local market) which allows us to gain manufacturing efficiencies and retool our Oakville facility to get ready to build our next generation EVs.”
A week ago, Ford released a report stating that it was the top automaker in terms of the number of vehicles assembled, the number of hourly workers employed, and the number of vehicles exported from the United States to other nations.
The exterior of the new Nautilus will be redesigned, and the interior will be redesigned as well. The front seats will have screens that go almost from door to door. “Lincoln Rejuvenate” is a brand-new feature that it also provides.
Passage depicts Lincoln Restore as a “multisensory, in-cabin experience including lighting and digital scenting.” Last year, Lincoln unveiled the Star, a concept car with these features. However, the Nautilus is the first production car in the United States with these features. In China, the manufacturer has offered vehicles with the feature.
In a press release for the unveiling of the vehicle on Monday night, the company stated, “Lincoln Rejuvenate, a stationary experience, orchestrates specially curated sensory experiences tied to lighting, screen visuals, personal preferences such as seating position and massage options — allowing clients to recharge.”
Aroma cartridges to fill the vehicle’s lodge are housed in the middle armrest. The organization said fragrances that accompany the bundle include:
- “Mystic Forest, an earthy blend with woody, rich notes of patchouli.”
- “Ozonic Azure, a crisp blend of aromatic patchouli and traces of bright violet.”
- “Violet Cashmere, exotic white florals and trusted violet that are crisp and refined as fresh linen.”
A hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will power the vehicle. The vehicle is anticipated to go on sale in early 2024, with prices ranging from $51,810 to $75,860.
The redesigned Nautilus and the “Lincoln Rejuvenate” are released at a time when the once-prominent American luxury brand is making an effort to reenergize itself.
Deals of Lincoln vehicles were somewhere around 4% last year in the U.S. to less than 83,500 vehicles. That is down from a new pinnacle of more than 112,200 of every 2019.