Ford Motor Co. said on Monday it will invest about $5 billion and create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs in the United States to launch a new electric vehicle platform, a reimagined production process and a midsize electric pickup, aiming to boost affordability and efficiency in the EV market.
The automaker said the investment will be split between its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, where it plans to produce prismatic lithium iron phosphate batteries.
The first vehicle from the new platform, a four-door midsize electric pickup starting at about $30,000, is expected to launch in 2027.
New Platform Targets Lower Costs, Higher Efficiency
Ford’s “Universal EV Platform” is designed to underpin a family of affordable, software-defined EVs with over-the-air update capability.
Chief Executive Jim Farley said the platform reduces parts by 20 percent compared to a typical vehicle, uses 25 percent fewer fasteners, requires 40 percent fewer workstations in the plant and enables assembly to be completed 15 percent faster.
The truck’s wiring harness will be 4,000 feet shorter and 10 kilograms lighter than that in Ford’s first-generation electric SUV.
The LFP battery pack, which is cobalt- and nickel-free, doubles as the vehicle floor, lowering the center of gravity, freeing interior space and improving handling.
Ford said the pickup will offer more passenger room than Toyota’s RAV4, along with a lockable bed and front trunk.
Performance targets include a zero-to-60 mph time similar to the Mustang EcoBoost and increased downforce for stability.
Assembly Line Reimagined as ‘Assembly Tree’
The company also unveiled the “Universal EV Production System,” which replaces the traditional moving assembly line with three sub-assembly lines that merge into the final vehicle.
Large single-piece aluminum castings for the front and rear will be built separately before being joined with the structural battery unit, which will be pre-fitted with seats, consoles and carpeting.
Parts will arrive at workstations in pre-organized kits to reduce employee strain and improve quality.
Ford said the process could cut assembly time for the midsize pickup by up to 40 percent, with some time reinvested in insourcing and automation, ultimately resulting in a net 15 percent speed gain.
Balancing Affordability and Profitability
Farley said the project is aimed at delivering not just affordable EVs but also a sustainable business model. “We have all lived through far too many ‘good college tries’ by Detroit automakers to make affordable vehicles that end up with idled plants, layoffs and uncertainty,” he said.
The company did not release details on range, battery sizes or charge times, saying specifications will be announced closer to the vehicle’s debut.
