EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Marsha Blackburn praises Ford's move to make gas-powered affordable trucks

Ford Motor Company announced a major strategic pivot this week, redirecting away from large electric vehicle (EV) programs toward gas-powered trucks, hybrids, and domestic manufacturing, a move that reflects a broader pullback from EV mandates amid changing regulatory and market conditions.

The automaker said it will repurpose its Tennessee EV facility into a truck production hub and hire thousands of workers in the U.S. in coming years, while expanding production of gas and hybrid models that continue to dominate consumer demand.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) praised the move and Ford, telling the Washington Reporter that Ford’s decision is a win for jobs and for affordable vehicles.

“President Trump has taken decisive action to reverse these harmful policies, and I’m pleased Ford is listening to their customers and giving them what they want by changing the EV factory at BlueOval City into a truck factory that will make gas-powered trucks Americans can afford,” she said. Blackburn is a 2026 gubernatorial candidate in Tennessee, and public polling shows her with a greater than 50-point lead for the race against her GOP opponents.

Ford executives framed the shift as a response to affordability concerns, slower-than-expected EV adoption, and recent changes in the regulatory landscape under the Trump administration.

“This is a customer-driven shift to create a stronger, more resilient, and more profitable Ford,” CEO Jim Farley said when he announced the move, emphasizing that the company is redeploying capital toward higher-return segments like trucks, vans, hybrids, and commercial vehicles.

Vehicle affordability has been a major concern of Republican lawmakers, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) announcing a hearing on vehicle affordability before the Commerce Committee early next year.

A Senate source told the Reporter that “affordability is the top issue for not just Americans, but for Republican primary voters, so it’s great to see major companies like Ford address affordability concerns by building cheaper gas-powered cars. Expect more companies to follow Ford’s lead as the Trump administration continues to remove the costly mandates that pushed automakers to make more expensive vehicles.”