CAF Hangzhou Plant Celebrates 2026 Model Year Lincoln Nautilus for Export OKTB!

中文版本：《又一个高光时刻！2026款林肯航海家出口车型开始交付！》

On September 15th, Changan Ford's Hangzhou Branch marked a pivotal moment with the 2026 Model Year Lincoln Nautilus for export rolling of the line. This achievement signifies a new phase for the project, demonstrating resilience in overcoming challenges such as tariffs since the Lincoln Nautilus began exporting to North American and other markets in late 2023.

Team at the port for the first batch of export Lincoln Nautilus

Branch General Manager Bai Longbin and Plant Manager Julie Chu presided over the ceremony. In her address, Julie Chu extended her profound gratitude to the dedicated teams and employees whose collective efforts ensured the seamless execution of the OKTB process and the successful development of the vehicle.

Julie Chu, Plant Manger CAF HZ Plant

Julie highlighted that the successful OKTB of this export model unequivocally underscores the Hangzhou Plant's commitment to high-quality manufacturing and efficient collaborative practices. Furthermore, she expressed optimism that this achievement paves the way for a greater volume of premium models to be launched from the Hangzhou facility into global markets, thereby bolstering Changan Ford's sustained growth and market leadership.

To meet the specific demands of local consumers, the Nautilus exported to the United States also introduced a more sporty optional package, the Jet Appearance Package. This package has been highly favored by local consumers, accounting for 30% of the export volume. However, while enriching the product line, its introduction presented significant production and manufacturing complexities.

Moreover, differentiated requirements such as emissions standards and regulations across various markets necessitated over 100 distinct production permutations. "Our objective is not to eliminate or overcome this complexity, but rather to systematically implement error-proofing at every level," stated Launch Manager Zhao Dongxun. He believes that the production of the Lincoln Nautilus represents a pivotal innovation for the Hangzhou plant and vividly exemplifies the principles of intelligent manufacturing.

For instance, the Hangzhou plant utilizes the FAI visual inspection system, which employs artificial intelligence technology and 13 high-definition cameras coupled with deep learning software. This system performs vehicle exterior inspection and error-proofing with 99.99% accuracy, guaranteeing the high quality of vehicles leaving the factory.

Despite the Nautilus's production schedule overlapping with other popular models, the production rhythm has remained consistently stable – complex yet orderly. This success further validates the Hangzhou plant's mature mixed-line production model and robust organizational capabilities.

The product development team at Nanjing REC also deserves significant credit for their contributions. Furthermore, in the 2024 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety tests in the United States, the Lincoln Nautilus distinguished itself by not only achieving top ratings in all crash tests but also earning the coveted "Top Safety Pick+" award. It is also notable for simultaneously achieving five-star certifications from both China's C-NCAP and the US's US-NCAP.

The collective efforts of the team have garnered widespread recognition from media and customers both domestically and internationally. The Lincoln Nautilus has received over 30 awards, including the prestigious 2025 SUV of the Year award from the globally renowned media outlet MotorTrend. This also marks the first time a China-made vehicle has won this esteemed award since its inception in 1949.

Just last month, Ford China CFO Ryan Anderson visited the Hangzhou Branch to personally present this trophy to the team. This prestigious award adds a significant highlight to this important model's journey to international markets.