Ford Ending Production of Certain Gasoline SUVs to Focus on Affordable Electric Vehicle Models
Ford Announces New Affordable Electric Vehicle and Retooling of Louisville Plant
Ford Motor Company has unveiled plans to launch a new affordable electric vehicle (EV) starting in 2027, with a midsize electric pickup truck priced around $30,000 as the initial offering [1][2][3]. This move is part of a $5 billion investment in manufacturing and battery production facilities, aiming to create thousands of American jobs [4].
The new EV, based on Ford's Universal EV Platform, is designed to reduce parts, assembly time, and cost, enabling the production of a family of affordable EVs at scale with lower ownership costs and US-made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries [1][4][5].
The decision to discontinue the Ford Escape SUV after 2026, along with the Lincoln Corsair and the Ford Bronco Sport, may be linked to this new initiative. The introduction of a more cost-efficient EV platform and affordable EVs could create internal competition within Ford’s lineup, potentially leading to competitive adjustments or eventual EV replacements for models like the Escape and Corsair [1].
The compact Maverick small pickup, related to the Bronco Sport and Escape, has seen steady price increases over the years to near-midsize MSRPs. The new EV and its spin-offs, expected to include at least two SUVs on the same platform, are anticipated to be more affordable [1].
The new electric vehicle and its spin-offs will be produced at one of Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, plants, which will undergo retooling for the production of the new cheap electric trucklet [1]. This shift in focus is expected to raise entry-level prices for Ford and Lincoln SUVs.
While none of the sources directly address specific pricing or production changes for the Escape and Corsair, the new EV platform's efficiency and lower costs may set new benchmarks for affordability and scale, potentially influencing pricing and production decisions for these models.
The new EV and its spin-offs are expected to be electric vehicles, and the move is generating significant attention, making headlines in the automotive industry. The least-expensive SUVs Ford will sell after 2026 will be the Bronco Sport and larger Bronco, while the least-expensive Lincoln SUV will be the pricier midsize Nautilus [1].
Ford's decision to focus on affordable EVs may be a response to growing consumer demand for electric vehicles and a more sustainable future. The company's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and investing in innovative technologies is evident in this new initiative.
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/28/ford-unveils-new-affordable-electric-vehicle-called-the-f150-lightning-pro.html [2] https://www.autonews.com/electric-vehicles/ford-unveils-new-affordable-electric-vehicle-based-universal-ev-platform [3] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/ford-unveils-new-affordable-electric-vehicle-based-universal-ev-platform-2022-04-28/ [4] https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-unveils-affordable-electric-vehicle-platform-universal-ev-pickup-truck/ [5] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/28/ford-unveils-new-affordable-electric-vehicle-called-the-f150-lightning-pro.html
- Ford Motor Company has announced plans to launch an affordable electric vehicle (EV) in 2027, with the midsize electric pickup truck priced around $30,000 as the initial offering.
- This move is part of a $5 billion investment in manufacturing and battery production facilities, aiming to create thousands of American jobs.
- The new EV is based on Ford's Universal EV Platform and will be designed to reduce parts, assembly time, and cost for the production of a family of affordable EVs.
- The decision to discontinue the Ford Escape SUV after 2026 may be linked to this new initiative, as the new EV platform and affordable EVs could create internal competition within Ford’s lineup.
- The new EV is anticipated to be more affordable than the compact Maverick pickup, and will be produced at one of Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, plants, which will undergo retooling for the production of the new electric trucklet.
- The move towards affordable EVs is generating significant attention in the automotive industry, with the least-expensive SUVs Ford will sell after 2026 being the Bronco Sport and larger Bronco.
- Ford's focus on affordable EVs may be a response to growing consumer demand for electric vehicles and a more sustainable future, as the company works to reduce its carbon footprint and invest in innovative technologies.
- With the introduction of an affordable EV platform, Ford's pricing and production decisions for models like the Escape and Corsair may be influenced by the new EV's efficiency and lower costs.
