Lincoln Announces 100th Birthday and Plans to Electrify

One hundred years in business is cause for celebration for any company, especially for those operating in the sometimes-volatile auto industry. Lincoln is approaching its centenary, and to commemorate the occasion, it announced plans to electrify its entire lineup by 2030. The automaker’s first fully electric vehicle will debut in 2022 and mark the first in a series of EVs it will roll out through the remainder of the decade. 

Lincoln’s announcement joins a similar plan laid out by its parent company, Ford Motor Company. The Blue Oval’s EV roadmap includes a commitment to having its entire European lineup zero-emissions capable, all-electric, or plug-in hybrid by mid-2026 and a move to become all-electric on the continent by 2030. Ford’s pivot to electrification comes with a planned investment of more than $30 billion by 2025, including the development of Lincoln EVs. 

Lincoln says that its flexible battery architecture supports rear- and all-wheel-drive propulsion systems and will enable it to roll out four new EV models. The brand already offers plug-in hybrid versions of the Aviator and Corsair SUVs. 

Over-the-air updates will allow Lincoln to improve vehicles and add new features over time, in a shift it says will include a software-first approach that uses a vehicle’s electrical, power distribution, and computing systems. As Lincoln moves toward further electrification, it will use its Lincoln Way app to expand the number of connected services it offers. 

Some of this is already underway, as owners of the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus will begin receiving updates this summer related to the vehicle’s navigation, Apple CarPlay, and digital owner’s manual systems.

The silent effectiveness of an EV’s powertrain may be a notable departure from the norm for some automakers, but for Lincoln, it’s a natural and evolutionary step. The automaker’s focus on comfort and a peaceful driving experience fit well with the serene nature of electric vehicles.

Additionally, Lincoln notes that the Zephyr Reflection concept vehicle unveiled at Auto Shanghai earlier in 2021 is a good indication of the styling direction it plans to take. 

In addition to electrification, Lincoln is working to build a more tech-forward ownership experience. Pilot programs for Lincoln owners have included a fuel and vehicle spa service in Houston that relies on vehicle data to remind owners that it’s time to refuel or take the vehicle in for service. 

The company is also changing its dealership model to become less traditional (stressful) and more comfortable (relaxing). Called Vitrine dealerships, 28 of these new retail stores have already opened, and another 50 are in process.

Lincoln is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on June 16, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.