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Ford's Secret EV Pickup: $30K & Radical Design
6 Feb
Summary
- Ford teased a new electric pickup starting at $30,000.
- The truck is built on a new global EV platform for affordable cars.
- It will be manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, creating thousands of jobs.
Ford is moving forward with an ambitious new electric vehicle project, despite potential changes to its F-150 Lightning. CEO Jim Farley recently unveiled details about a new electric pickup truck built on the automaker's Universal Electric Vehicle platform. This platform is designed to underpin a range of affordable EVs globally.
The initial vehicle from this platform will be a mid-sized electric pickup truck for the U.S. market. Production is scheduled to begin next year at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky facility, with a projected starting price of $30,000. Ford is investing significantly in this initiative, with $5 billion allocated, including $2 billion for the Louisville plant and $3 billion for the BlueOval battery plant.
Ford is focusing on technological advancements, particularly in aerodynamics and production efficiency. Farley highlighted efforts to optimize the truck's aerodynamics and noted that new unicasting techniques condense over 146 parts into just two, simplifying manufacturing. The company anticipates the expanded Louisville facility will create or secure nearly 4,000 direct jobs.
While specific details like the pickup's name and appearance remain under wraps, Ford suggests it will offer more interior space than a Toyota RAV4 and feature a low center of gravity for improved handling. Performance estimates include a 0-to-60 mph time comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost, around 4.5 seconds. Ford executives, including Farley, who has expressed admiration for advanced EVs like the Xiaomi SU7, are reportedly prioritizing tech-forward features for future electric models.
