Aug 7 (Reuters) - Ford Motor ( F ) is delaying the

launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts

focus to smaller and more affordable models, Automotive News

reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The automaker recently informed suppliers that a full-size

electric pickup, scheduled for production at its BlueOval City

assembly plant in Tennessee, will be delayed to 2028 from 2027,

the report added, citing three people familiar with the plans.

The truck is the long-awaited successor to Ford's F-150

Lightning electric pickup.

Chinese automakers have been driving down costs on electric

vehicle production and offering lower-cost models for shoppers.

In response to this pressure, Ford and other automakers are

focusing on producing affordable models on a streamlined

platform, with a focus on delivering smaller electric vehicles.

The timeline for an electric van, expected to be a

next-generation E-Transit, has been pushed back from 2026 to

2028 for production in Avon Lake, Ohio, the report added, citing

sources.

Ford, which has faced costly quality issues and leads the

industry in recalls, previously projected losses of up to $5.5

billion in its electric vehicle and software operations for

2025.

Last year, the company scrapped plans for a three-row

electric SUV, with CEO Jim Farley later stating that larger EV

models are not the company's primary focus as it develops future

battery-powered vehicles.