Ford announced a new Universal EV platform, which will support a variety of vehicles, starting with a mid-size electric truck in 2027.
The truck will be roughly the size of the current gas-powered Maverick, but Ford says interior space will match that of a Toyota RAV4.
The truck will start around $30,000 and be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost.
In July, Ford CEO Jim Farley promised a radical "breakthrough" electric vehicle, even going as far as to dub it a "Model T moment." Now Ford has shown its hand, announcing the new Universal EV platform and Universal EV production system, both of which will support the launch of a new mid-size electric pickup truck due to start production in 2027.
An Affordable Electric Truck
While Ford describes the truck as a mid-size vehicle, the company explained at a media briefing that the truck will actually have a footprint similar to that of the compact Maverick, but with increased cabin space thanks to the electric architecture. In fact, Ford claims the truck will have more passenger room than the Toyota RAV4, not including the cargo space afforded by the frunk and the bed.
While most details about the truck are still under wraps, Ford confirmed that the platform uses a 400-volt electrical architecture. While this will mean slower charging speeds than 800-volt EVs, Ford said it was the "right choice" due to the vehicle's size and the goal of a low starting price. The pickup will also be capable of over-the-air updates and will feature BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving assistance system.
The five-seat truck will start at around $30,000, Ford said, and that low cost is thanks to the Universal EV platform. Ford claims that the platform has 20 percent fewer parts versus a typical vehicle and 25 percent fewer fasteners. One key factor in minimizing complexity is the new truck's wiring harness, which Ford says is 4000 feet shorter and around 22 pounds lighter than the unit used in the Mustang Mach E.
Another way Ford will keep costs down is by using lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries, which the automaker says also save space and weight. The battery pack will form a structural sub-assembly that is also the floor of the vehicle. Ford touts a low center of gravity as a result of that design, promising engaging handling. The truck should also be fairly quick, with Ford targeting a zero-to-60-mph time on par with the Mustang EcoBoost, which we've tested at 4.5 seconds to 60 mph.
The pickup truck will be built at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky for both the U.S. and export markets. Production will start in 2027, so the truck will likely arrive for the 2028 model year. Ford predicts a lower cost of ownership for its electric pickup over five years than a three-year-old used Tesla Model Y.
Ford says the platform will spawn a family of "affordable, electric, software-defined vehicles." While Ford wouldn't go into too many details on what other vehicles are coming, a graphic showed a vehicle transforming through a variety of SUV, truck, and van shapes. The company also said at the briefing that it was working on "everything from vans to three-row SUVs down to B-segment vehicles."
Increased Production Efficiency
Along with a new EV platform, Ford is rethinking how it builds cars with the Universal EV production system, trading the traditional assembly line for an "assembly tree." The long, single conveyor system will be replaced by three sub-assemblies that run at the same time and eventually meet up further down the line.
Ford will also use large, single-piece aluminum unicastings, allowing the front and rear of the vehicle to be built separately and joined later. The front and rear subframes will be linked by the third sub-assembly, the aforementioned structural battery pack.
Ford says operators on the assembly tree will receive a kit that has all of the parts, fasteners, scanners, and power tools needed for their task, already set up in the correct orientation. This will create a quicker and more efficient assembly process, with the company claiming that it will require 40 percent fewer work stations and a 15 percent faster assembly time than the vehicles currently built in Louisville.
The new electric truck will see Ford invest almost $2 billion into the Louisville factory, securing 2200 hourly jobs. Ford acknowledged that the figure represents 600 fewer hourly jobs than what Louisville currently supports, but said those employees will either be offered a buyout or a transfer to another plant. The investment will see the Louisville facility expanded by 52,000 square feet. The battery for the mid-size truck will be built at the new BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, which was part of a previously announced $3 billion investment.
The introduction of the new electric pickup truck and Universal EV production system will result in the demise of Louisville's current products, the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair. Production of the two compact SUVs will conclude later this year, and Ford says there is enough inventory for sales to continue well into 2026.
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