On the Dash:
- Ford is investing $5 billion and adding 4,000 jobs for a new affordable midsize electric truck.
- The Universal EV Platform cuts parts and assembly time to boost efficiency and lower costs.
- The electric truck, priced near $30,000, will launch in 2027 to compete with Chinese EVs.
Ford Motor Company is investing approximately $5 billion to develop a new family of affordable electric vehicles (EVs), centered on a midsize electric pickup truck set to launch in 2027. The investment will create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs across Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, where the automaker will produce the vehicle and advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic batteries.
The midsize pickup will be assembled at the Louisville plant, which is receiving nearly $2 billion in upgrades, including a 52,000-square-foot expansion and enhanced digital infrastructure. Ford expects to retain at least 2,200 hourly jobs at the plant. The BlueOval Battery Park, part of the broader investment, will build the prismatic LFP batteries starting next year, strengthening Ford’s domestic supply chain with dozens of U.S.-based suppliers.
This new EV family rides on Ford’s Universal EV Platform, designed for efficiency, affordability, and scalability. The platform reduces parts by 20%, fasteners by 25%, and assembly time by 15% compared to typical vehicles. Its cobalt- and nickel-free LFP battery pack doubles as the vehicle’s floor, lowering the center of gravity for better handling and creating more interior space. The midsize truck is expected to offer more passenger room than the latest Toyota RAV4, with additional storage in a front trunk and truck bed.
Ford’s Universal EV Production System reimagines the traditional assembly line as an “assembly tree,” where three sub-assemblies are built simultaneously and then joined, significantly improving ergonomics and speeding production by up to 40%. This system aims to boost quality and reduce complexity, allowing Ford to manufacture the truck faster and at a lower cost.
Priced with a target starting point around $30,000, the midsize pickup is designed to compete with Chinese EV manufacturers, who have streamlined production to offer more affordable electric vehicles. Ford’s goal is to provide American consumers with a fun-to-drive, digitally advanced EV that can compete on cost and innovation. The truck aims for performance comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost with instant electric torque.
Ford has faced challenges in its EV transition, including recent losses totaling billions in its EV and software divisions, as well as production delays for some models. However, the company is betting on this new platform and production process to create a sustainable and profitable EV business, focusing on the U.S. market where small, commuter-friendly EVs are in rising demand.
