10:08 AM EDT, 04/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Ford Motor Co. ( F ) is delaying the start of electric vehicle production at its plant in Oakville, Ont., by two years, The Canadian Press is reporting Thursday.

It noted the U.S. automaker had planned to start production at the Canadian plant, which employs 2,700 workers, in 2025 and is pushing that back to 2027. Ford announced plans last year to spend $1.8 billion to transform its Oakville assembly plant into a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing including vehicle and battery pack assembly.

According to Thursday's report, Ford says work to overhaul the plant will begin in the second quarter of this year as planned, but the launch of the new three-row electric vehicles to be produced at the factory won't happen until 2027. The delay will give the consumer market more time to develop, the company said, and allow for further development of EV battery technology.

Some employees will remain on site during the plant transformation but there will be layoffs, Ford spokesman Said Deep said Thursday. He noted that employees are eligible for income security benefits for a period that varies with seniority levels.

The company said it will work with Unifor, which represents 3,200 workers at the plant, to mitigate the impact the delay will have on its workforce. Unifor said it wants Ford to consider all possible options to lessen the negative effects on workers from the "substantial delay" in the EV production launch at the Oakville plant.

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