Latest news with #E-Transit
USA Today
2 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford delays launch of next-gen F-150 Lightning and E-Transit EV to 2028
Ford Motor Co. is extending its delay in launching two next-generation electric vehicles as the Michigan-based automaker continues its focus on smaller and more affordable models that deliver profits, the company said. Ford informed suppliers and employees in June that a full-size electric pickup, which is to be the successor to the F-150 Lightning, will be delayed to 2028, a company spokesman told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Aug. 8. That's a delay of a few months longer than the initial delay set for late 2027. Prototypes for that vehicle will still launch in 2027. Ford plans to make that vehicle at its BlueOval City Assembly Plant in Tennessee. Additionally, Ford is delaying production of its E-transit van, to be built at its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, from 2026 to 2028. 'F-150 Lightning, America's best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today's customer needs," Ford spokesman Ian Thibodeau said in a statement. "We remain focused on delivering our Ford+ plan and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.' This is not the first time Ford has shifted its EV strategy, and it won't be the last. Ford's EV lineup consists of the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit EV. CEO Jim Farley teased the announcement as being "a Model T moment" for the company, a reference to Ford's historic early car that helped build the 120-year company into a mass-market carmaker. Ford, which leads the industry in recalls, has yet to make money on its EV sales. In fact, Ford has projected it will lose up to $5.5 billion in its EV and software operations for 2025. In the second quarter, Ford reported its Model e electric vehicle unit lost $1.3 billion in the quarter, a wider loss than the $1.1 billion it lost in the year-ago period. Farley has said Ford needs to look at the Chinese car companies as its main competitors going forward in the EV space. As the Free Press reported in June, Farley and Ford's executive leadership team went to China earlier this year with an agenda: to study every aspect of how Chinese auto companies operate, then apply those lessons across Ford in its other markets. That's because Chinese automakers have been driving down costs on EV production, selling high-quality, well-designed EVs at affordable prices in Europe and Asia. Ford and other automakers are now focused on also producing lower-cost, smaller EV models using cheaper-to-make batteries that sit on a streamlined platform. Automotive News was first to report the extension of the delays. The Detroit Free Press first reported Ford's initial move to delay the EV launches in August 2024. Ford said at that time that it is changing its EV strategy, canceling plans for an all-electric three-row SUV and delaying the launch of a full-size EV pickup. At that time Ford said it was making those changes so that it could prioritize the introduction of a new, all-electric commercial van in 2026 (now delayed to 2028). Then, a more affordable midsize EV pickup and the full-size pickup would launch in 2027 — an initial delay of about 18 months from the original plans. Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Ford Says Its New Midsize Pickup Will Aim For $30,000 Sticker
Ford announced Monday it will debut a new generation of affordable electric vehicles in 2027, led by a midsize four-door pickup truck with a target starting price of $30,000. The truck will be built at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant, where the company is investing nearly $2 billion to prepare the facility. The investment will retain at least 2,200 jobs at the plant, which currently produces the Escape and Lincoln Corsair. It's great news for autobuyers who've shaken their heads in recent years at the skyrocketing prices of new trucks. CEO Jim Farley said the move is aimed at matching the cost efficiency of Chinese automakers such as BYD, which produce EVs for $10,000–$25,000 through highly streamlined supply chains and manufacturing systems. While those models aren't sold in the U.S., Farley called them 'the standard' Ford must meet. 'I can't tell you with 100% certainty that this will all go just right,' he told employees in Louisville, according to Reuters. 'It is a bet. There is risk.' The pickup and other upcoming EVs are being developed by Ford's 'skunkworks' team in California, led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke and staffed with talent from Tesla and Rivian. The group operates independently from the broader company, to the point where Farley himself couldn't initially access its building. Ford will use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries made in Marshall, Michigan, with technology licensed from Chinese battery maker CATL, to help lower costs. The U.S. EV market averaged prices of $47,000 in June, according to J.D. Power, with affordability cited as a top concern by shoppers. The competition to offer cheaper EVs is heating up, too. Amazon-backed startup Slate is aiming for the mid-$20,000s for its electric pickup, while Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid are preparing lower-cost models in the $40,000–$50,000 range. Ford's shift to lower-cost EVs comes after scaling back earlier plans. The company canceled an electric three-row SUV, postponed its next-generation F-150 Lightning and E-Transit until 2028, and dumped a project to develop a more advanced electrical architecture. Losses in the EV and software division could reach $5.5 billion this year, after nearly $10 billion in combined losses from 2023–2024. However, Farley expects the new EV lineup to turn a profit within its first year. Currently, Ford sells three EVs in the U.S.—the Mustang Mach-E SUV, E-Transit van, and F-150 Lightning pickup—whose sales fell 12% in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, hybrid sales climbed 27%. Federal incentives are also shrinking, with the $7,500 consumer tax credit being phased out, emissions rules loosened, and charging-infrastructure funding reduced. Farley said Ford will focus on the segment where it sees the most opportunity: smaller, practical EVs for commuting and city driving. While General Motors built a dedicated EV platform for its lineup, Ford initially adapted gasoline-powered models to run on batteries, a move that allowed quicker launches but exposed the company to market volatility. Lessons from that experience, Farley said, will inform Ford's next phase of EV development.
TimesLIVE
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Ford hits brakes on electric pickup, van until 2028
Ford is delaying the launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts its focus to smaller and more affordable models, the company said on Thursday. The carmaker said it recently informed suppliers that a full-size electric pickup, scheduled for production at its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee, will be delayed from 2027 to 2028. In addition to the long awaited successor to the F-150 Lightning electric pickup, Ford also delayed production of its E-transit van in Ohio from 2026 to 2028. "F-150 Lightning, America's best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today's customer needs," the company said, adding it "will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability". Automotive News earlier reported about the EV delays. Chinese carmakers have been driving down costs on electric vehicle production and offering lower cost models for shoppers. In response to the pressure, Ford and other car companies are focusing on producing affordable models on a streamlined platform, with a focus on delivering smaller electric vehicles. "The pure EV market in the US seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town," Ford CEO Jim Farley told analysts on an earnings call last week. Ford, which has faced costly quality issues and leads the industry in recalls, previously projected losses of up to $5.5bn (R97,518,854,400) in its EV and software operations for 2025. Last year, the company scrapped plans for a three-row electric SUV, with Farley later stating larger EV models are not the company's primary focus as it develops future battery-powered vehicles. Ford is laying out plans for some of its upcoming EV models and technology at an event in Kentucky on August 11, Farley said.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ford delays electric pickup, van to 2028 as it chases smaller, affordable options
Ford Motor is delaying the launch of two next-generation electric vehicles as it shifts its focus to smaller and more affordable models, the company said on Thursday. The automaker said it recently informed suppliers that a full-size electric pickup, scheduled for production at its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee, will be delayed from 2027 to 2028. In addition to this long-awaited successor to the F-150 Lightning electric pickup, Ford also delayed production of its E-transit van in Ohio from 2026 to 2028. "F-150 Lightning, America's best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today's customer needs," the company said, adding that it "will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability." Automotive News earlier reported about the EV delays. Chinese automakers have been driving down costs on electric vehicle production and offering lower-cost models for shoppers. In response to this pressure, Ford and other car companies are focusing on producing affordable models on a streamlined platform, with a focus on delivering smaller electric vehicles. "The pure EV market in the U.S. seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town," Ford CEO Jim Farley told analysts on an earnings call last week. Ford, which has faced costly quality issues and leads the industry in recalls, previously projected losses of up to $5.5 billion in its electric vehicle and software operations for 2025. Last year, the company scrapped plans for a three-row electric SUV, with Farley later stating that larger EV models are not the company's primary focus as it develops future battery-powered vehicles. Ford is laying out plans for some of its upcoming EV models and technology August 11 at an event in Kentucky, Farley said.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford delays electric pickup, van to 2028 in shift to more affordable EVs
Ford Motor Co. is again delaying two of its next-generation electric vehicles as it switches its focus to smaller, more affordable offerings. The automaker in recent months told suppliers that a full-size electric pickup set for its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee has been delayed to 2028 from 2027, according to three people familiar with the plans. Separately, an electric van — expected to be a next-generation E-Transit — slated for 2026 production in Avon Lake, Ohio, also is delayed until 2028, the sources said. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You Both vehicles already have been pushed back before. The van, first announced in 2022, originally was expected 'mid-decade,' while the pickup, known internally as 'T3,' initially had been promised by this year. Ford confirmed the delays Aug. 7 in response to a request for comment from Automotive News, saying it informed suppliers and employees of the new timetables in June. 'F-150 Lightning, America's best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today's customer needs,' a Ford spokesperson said in a statement. 'We remain focused on delivering our Ford+ plan and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.' Future Product Ford future product Find our what powertrains, redesigns and freshenings are planned for the next four years. View the list Brand future product timelines The delays come as Ford pivots its focus to a low-cost EV platform designed to underpin a handful of smaller models, starting with a small pickup in 2027. The automaker is expected to share details on those plans Aug. 11 at its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. 'The pure EV market in the U.S. seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town, so to speak,' CEO Jim Farley said on Ford's second-quarter earnings call. 'And commercial … we think that's going to be a robust business, but we want to shrink the number of top hats. We're going to have just a few. And we've made the adjustments in timing, we think, and to be in segments where we can actually make money on EVs.' Ford last year canceled a pair of three-row electric crossovers it planned to build in Oakville, Ontario. Instead, Ford is transforming the Canadian plant to make Super Duty pickups. 'We are moving from being the dominant player in truck hybrids in the U.S. to offering EREVs, PHEVs, and a full range of hybrids across our lineup, especially our bigger vehicles,' Farley said on the second-quarter earnings call. 'We think that's a much better move than a $60,000 to $70,000 all electric crossover. We think that that's really what customers are going to want long term.' Sign up for the quarterly Automotive News U.S. Sales report to get data and news sent to your inbox as soon as it's compiled. The T3 pickup, a full-size model expected to eventually replace the F-150 Lightning in Ford's lineup, is to be the centerpiece of a $5.6 billion investment that Farley has described as a 'seminal moment' for the automaker. The BlueOval City assembly plant near Memphis will have the capacity to churn out 500,000 trucks a year, Ford has said. A year ago, Ford said it was postponing the start of production to late 2027 so it could 'utilize lower-cost battery technology and take advantage of other cost breakthroughs while the market continues to develop.' Farley has said the pickup will be a 'marvel of simplification' which will be offered in significantly fewer configurations than current models. The Ford spokesperson on Aug. 7 confirmed that, although production has been delayed, BlueOval City still is expected to start making prototypes in 2027. A battery plant on the site originally was expected to begin production in 2025, although a spokesperson for the project in June told Automotive News that the timetable had been delayed. 'Market demand and customer orders will determine when we start making batteries at the BlueOval SK battery plant at BlueOval City,' the spokesperson said. The automaker also plans two battery plants with SK Innovation in Kentucky. One is scheduled to open this year, while the other has been delayed indefinitely. Send us a letter to the editor Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
