Ford announced plans Monday to build a lower-cost, software-centered electric vehicle platform and said the first product will be a $30,000 midsize four-door electric pickup due in 2027.
The new architecture, called the Ford Universal Platform, comes from the automaker’s California “skunkworks” effort and is being designed as a software-defined vehicle (SDV). Ford says the platform supports a wide range of body styles — sedans, SUVs, vans and the showcased midsize pickup — with far fewer parts, lighter vehicles and greater manufacturing simplicity. Ford also claimed the pickup will offer more passenger space than a Toyota RAV4 (not counting the frunk or truck bed).
Ford described a new manufacturing approach, the Universal Assembly Process, that replaces a single-row assembly line with an “assembly tree.” Three subassemblies are built in parallel and later merged. The company plans to use larger castings to allow front and rear sections to be assembled separately and brought together, and to integrate a structural battery pack into the vehicle’s center. Ford says these changes will speed assembly and cut costs.
CEO Jim Farley framed the effort as a “Model T” moment for Ford and called the midsize pickup “the most universal car” and “more like the ultimate next-generation crossover.” He said the combination of the new platform and production process is how Ford expects to turn its EV business profitable starting in 2027.
Financial context: Ford’s Model e unit lost $5.1 billion last year, and the company expects similar losses in 2025. Ford sold 105,000 EVs last year, which the company calculates equates to a roughly $48,500 loss per EV sold. Farley said the Universal Platform will help reverse those losses by lowering costs across batteries and manufacturing. Ford claimed a 30% improvement in battery chemistry cost and said its battery usage would be about 20% more efficient than a BYD benchmark.
Additional comments and explanation
– Why the changes matter: Larger castings and an assembly tree reduce the number of individual parts and hand-offs in production, which typically lowers labor, tooling and quality-control costs and shortens cycle time. A structural battery pack replaces separate chassis members with the battery as part of the structure, which can reduce weight and part count and improve packaging and efficiency.
– Key challenges: Delivering a $30,000 electric pickup at scale requires consistent battery-cost reductions, high manufacturing yields with the new processes, supplier alignment for large castings and components, and strong software integration. Market competition from Tesla, BYD and legacy rivals will remain intense.
– Credibility check: Ford has been public about sizable EV losses to date, so its pledge to reach profitability by 2027 rests on executing the platform, battery cost improvements and production changes at scale.
Quick summary — key facts
– New platform: Ford Universal Platform (software-defined vehicle).
– First vehicle: Midsize four-door electric pickup priced at $30,000, arriving in 2027.
– Interior claim: More passenger space than a Toyota RAV4 (excluding frunk/bed).
– Manufacturing: Universal Assembly Process with an “assembly tree,” larger cast parts, separate front/rear subassembly joins, and a structural battery pack.
– Cost claims: 30% cheaper battery chemistry and ~20% more efficient battery usage vs. a BYD benchmark.
– Financial backdrop: Model e lost $5.1 billion last year; Ford sold 105,000 EVs in that period.
Hopeful perspective
If Ford can deliver the claimed battery and manufacturing improvements, a $30,000 midsize electric pickup would be a meaningful step toward wider EV affordability and could accelerate EV adoption by combining familiar vehicle form factors with lower price points. Successful execution would also help Ford close the profitability gap on its EV program and make its SDV strategy a competitive differentiator.
Suggested additions for publication
– Include a brief timeline graphic or list showing key milestones (platform announcement, production process rollout, expected production start in 2027).
– Add a short explainer on what “structural battery” means and why it matters for cost and range.
– Consider an expert quote or analyst comment on the feasibility of the claimed cost reductions to give readers context on risk and likelihood of delivery.