Ford Commits $5B to Affordable EV Lineup

Ford is investing $5 billion in U.S. manufacturing to develop a new Universal EV Platform and production system aimed at creating affordable, scalable electric vehicles. The first vehicle on this platform will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck, targeted for a $30,000 starting price, with production slated for 2027 at the Louisville Assembly Plant. This initiative includes creating or securing nearly 4,000 jobs in Kentucky and Michigan. 

• New Platform:The Universal EV Platform is designed to streamline production, reduce parts by 20%, and assembly time by 15%, according to Ford. 
• Affordable Pickup:The midsize electric pickup will feature a frunk, a truck bed, and offer more passenger space than a Toyota RAV4, says Ford. 
• Job Creation:The investment will create or secure 4,000 jobs at the Louisville Assembly Plant and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. 
• LFP Batteries:The platform will utilize structural LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery packs, which also serve as a structural floor, improving handling and reducing costs. 
• Production System:Ford is implementing a new production system, referred to as an “assembly tree,” which involves parallel sub-assembly lines before joining together, according to MarketScreener.