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Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ford bets big: To invest $2 billion in EV hub in Kentucky's Louisville; aims sustainable, profitable electric line
The Ford Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. (Picture credit: AP) Ford Motor Company is set to spend nearly $2 billion converting its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky into an electric vehicle (EV) production hub, marking a major shift after seven decades of making petrol-powered models there. Speaking to workers on Monday, CEO Jim Farley called the project a once-in-a-career moment. 'In our careers, as automobile people, we're lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two, projects that really change the face of our industry. And I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here,' he said, according to news agency AP. The revamped plant will first roll out a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck in 2027 for both US and global markets. Ford says the model will seat five adults, accelerate from 0–60 mph as quickly as a Mustang EcoBoost, and use lower-cost batteries made at a $3 billion Michigan factory. Farley described it as a 'Model T moment' for Ford's EVs, signalling the most radical manufacturing change since Henry Ford's original assembly line. The Louisville site will adopt a new 'assembly tree' layout, with three subassembly lines feeding into the final build. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remarkable Pictures from the Moments That Made History Undo Ford says this will cut parts by 20%, use 25% fewer fasteners, reduce workstations by 40%, and speed up assembly by 15%. Ford aims to produce EVs that are both affordable, with a targeted starting price of about $30,000 and profitable. As per the company, this plant will help in securing 2,200 hourly jobs. Governor Andy Beshear hailed the move and said, 'This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky's position at the centre of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Ford's future'. Combined with the Michigan battery plant, Ford's $5 billion investment is expected to secure or create nearly 4,000 jobs. Farley was quoted by AP as saying that the company chose to build in Kentucky rather than overseas to 'take the fight to our competition,' including Chinese manufacturers. 'We're not in a race to build the most electric cars. We're in a race to have a sustainable electric business that's profitable, that customers love,' he said, adding that the new truck would outclass anything available from China. However, he acknowledged risks. 'There are no guarantees… The automotive industry has a graveyard littered with affordable vehicles launched in our country with all good intentions… And at Ford, we set out to break that cycle.' Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform
Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's 'reinventing vehicle assembly' and that this is a 'Model T moment'. Much as Ford calls the Model T the 'Universal Car', its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new 'midsize' (so, Ford Ranger -size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. 'It's too early to share specifics on export markets today,' said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is 'roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation'. For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. 'It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions,' said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and 'everything in between'. 'Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive,' said Mr Farley. 'And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. 'Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. 'Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available.' Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style 'skunkworks' engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an 'assembly tree'. Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a 'typical vehicle', Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the 'assembly tree' and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also 'dramatically improves ergonomics for employees', with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. '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,' said Mr Farley. 'So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. 'We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US' Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform
Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's 'reinventing vehicle assembly' and that this is a 'Model T moment'. Much as Ford calls the Model T the 'Universal Car', its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new 'midsize' (so, Ford Ranger-size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. 'It's too early to share specifics on export markets today,' said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is 'roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation'. For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. 'It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions,' said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and 'everything in between'. 'Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive,' said Mr Farley. 'And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. 'Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available.' Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style 'skunkworks' engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an 'assembly tree'. Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a 'typical vehicle', Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. Supplied Credit: CarExpert In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the 'assembly tree' and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also 'dramatically improves ergonomics for employees', with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. '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,' said Mr Farley. 'So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. 'We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US' Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled. MORE: Explore the Ford showroom
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform
Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's "reinventing vehicle assembly" and that this is a "Model T moment". Much as Ford calls the Model T the "Universal Car", its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new "midsize" (so, Ford Ranger-size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. "It's too early to share specifics on export markets today," said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is "roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation". For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. "It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions," said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and "everything in between". "Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive," said Mr Farley. "And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. "Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. "Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available." Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style "skunkworks" engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an "assembly tree". Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a "typical vehicle", Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the "assembly tree" and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also "dramatically improves ergonomics for employees", with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. "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," said Mr Farley. "So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. "We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US" Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled. MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's "reinventing vehicle assembly" and that this is a "Model T moment". Much as Ford calls the Model T the "Universal Car", its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new "midsize" (so, Ford Ranger-size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. "It's too early to share specifics on export markets today," said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is "roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation". For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. "It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions," said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and "everything in between". "Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive," said Mr Farley. "And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. "Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. "Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available." Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style "skunkworks" engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an "assembly tree". Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a "typical vehicle", Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the "assembly tree" and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also "dramatically improves ergonomics for employees", with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. "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," said Mr Farley. "So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. "We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US" Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled. MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's "reinventing vehicle assembly" and that this is a "Model T moment". Much as Ford calls the Model T the "Universal Car", its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new "midsize" (so, Ford Ranger-size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. "It's too early to share specifics on export markets today," said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is "roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation". For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. "It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions," said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and "everything in between". "Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive," said Mr Farley. "And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. "Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. "Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available." Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style "skunkworks" engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an "assembly tree". Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a "typical vehicle", Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the "assembly tree" and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also "dramatically improves ergonomics for employees", with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. "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," said Mr Farley. "So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. "We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US" Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled. MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford is making bold claims about its new electric vehicle (EV) platform, which will debut underneath an all-new dual-cab electric ute for global consumption, with the American automaker saying it's "reinventing vehicle assembly" and that this is a "Model T moment". Much as Ford calls the Model T the "Universal Car", its new platform is being called the Ford Universal EV Platform. The first model to emerge on this platform will be a new "midsize" (so, Ford Ranger-size) electric pickup which will debut in 2027, and which will be built in the US for both that market and as-yet unspecified export markets. Whether that will include Australia has yet to be confirmed. "It's too early to share specifics on export markets today," said Ford Australia in a statement today. Ford is targeting a base price of around US$30,000 (A$46,000) for the new ute in the US, which it says is "roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation". For context, the Escape starts in the US at US$29,515 (~A$45,000), while the related Maverick unibody dual-cab starts at US$28,145 (~A$43,000) and the body-on-frame Ranger at US$33,350 (~A$51,000). CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Ford hasn't revealed what this ute will look like or what it will be called – though it recently trademarked the Ranchero name, which was previously seen on Ford pickups – but official images and statements confirm it will come in a dual-cab configuration with room for five adults. "It will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, and it will have more passenger volume than a 2025 Toyota RAV4 – along with a truck bed, smart cargo and frunk solutions," said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley at the launch. Specifically, Ford says it has a targeted 0-60mph (0-96km/h) acceleration time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost, which does the sprint in a claimed 4.9 seconds, while featuring more downforce. Ford says you'll be able to lock your surfboards and other gear in the tub, with no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required. Additional specifications, as well as its reveal date, base price, battery range and capacity and charge times, will be announced at a later date, but Ford promises it new electric ute will offer a long driving range, DC fast-charging and the ability to charge a home for six days. Fords based on this platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic battery-packs assembled in the US, which will serve as a structural sub-assembly and the vehicle's floor to ensure a low centre of gravity, a quiet cabin, and a spacious interior. The automaker has released a GIF that shows the various vehicle types set to use the new platform, which appears to include not only a dual-cab ute, but also a van, people mover, and both two- and three-row SUVs of different sizes. Ford says the platform supports utes, cars and "everything in between". "Vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family — but also highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive," said Mr Farley. "And they won't be stripped down to the bare essentials. "Instead, these vehicles will be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart — and make people want to drive them. "Better yet, they'll improve over time with over-the-air updates that continue to add new capabilities where available." Vehicles on this platform will be produced at an overhauled plant in Louisville, Kentucky, but they were engineered by a startup-style "skunkworks" engineering team in California. Along with the Ford Universal EV Platform comes what the Blue Oval is calling the Ford Universal EV Production System. Ford says in the interests of efficiency it's replacing its traditional assembly line into an "assembly tree". Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assemblies run down their own lines simultaneously before joining up. Compared to a "typical vehicle", Ford says the platform reduces parts by 20 per cent with 25 per cent fewer fasteners required. In the new ute, the wiring harness will be 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Ford will use large, single-piece aluminium unicastings to replace dozens of smaller parts, which it says enables the front and rear of the vehicle to assembled separately. The front and rear of the vehicle will come down separate branches of the "assembly tree" and meet up with a third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting. And voila, a Ford EV is born. Ford says its new production system also "dramatically improves ergonomics for employees", with less twisting, reaching and bending required. It claims assembly of the new electric ute could be up to 40 per cent faster than that of the Louisville plant's existing vehicles, the mid-size Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers which will be axed to make room for the new EVs. Above: BlueOval Battery Park Michigan The Louisville plant is receiving a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, while a further US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) is being invested at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. Ford is touting 3900 jobs as being secured across both sites. "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," said Mr Farley. "So, this had to be a strong, sustainable and profitable business. From day one, we knew there was no incremental path to success. "We empowered a tiny skunkworks team three time zones away from Detroit. We tore up the moving assembly line concept and designed a better one. And we found a path to be the first automaker to make prismatic LFP batteries in the US" Ford's efforts in the EV space thus far have had mixed success. Above (clockwise from top left): Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, E-Transit, Puma Gen-E While a much stronger seller in the US than in Australia, where it languishes on the sales charts, the Mustang Mach-E has failed to topple the Tesla Model Y even in Ford's homeland. The F-150 Lightning played to Ford's strengths, taking its best-selling vehicle and re-engineering it for an electric powertrain. Alas, strong early demand has tapered off. Ford scrapped a previously planned large three-row SUV in August 2024, and delayed a new electric pickup to 2027 while also confirming it would look at more hybrid models and its first extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This month, it delayed the proposed F-150 Lightning replacement to 2028, along with a new electric van. Ford already has electric versions of its Transit and Transit Custom, which along with the Mustang Mach-E are the only EVs it sells in Australia. It has a wider EV lineup in Europe, with the Capri and Explorer crossover SUVs – both using Volkswagen's MEB architecture – plus the Puma Gen-E which was set to launch in Australia before these plans were cancelled. MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from:
NBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC News
Ford hits the pedal on EV production with $2 billion overhaul of Kentucky plant
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. will invest nearly $2 billion retooling a Kentucky factory to produce electric vehicles that it says will be more affordable, more profitable to build and will outcompete rival models. The automaker's top executive unveiled the new EV strategy at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant which, after producing gas-powered vehicles for 70 years, will be converted to manufacture electric vehicles. 'In our careers, as automobile people we're lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two, projects that really change the face of our industry,' CEO Jim Farley told plant workers in Kentucky on Monday. 'And I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here.' The Big Detroit automakers have continued to transition from internal combustion engines to EV technology even as President Donald Trump's administration unwinds incentives for automakers to go electric. Trump's massive tax and spending law targets EV incentives, including the imminent removal of a credit that saves buyers up to $7,500 on a new electric car. Yet Farley and other top executives in the auto industry say that electric vehicles are the future and there is no going back. The first EV to be produced by the revamped Louisville production process will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck in 2027 for domestic and international markets, the company said Monday. The new electric trucks will feature plenty of interior space to fit five adults and pack enough power to have a targeted 0-60 time as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost but with more downforce, Ford said The electric trucks will be powered by lower-cost batteries made at a Ford factory in Michigan. The Detroit automaker previously announced a $3 billion investment to build the battery factory. The automaker sees this as a 'Model T moment' for its EV business — a reference to revolutionary changes on the production line led by the company's founder, Henry Ford, when it began churning out vehicles from a factory more than a century ago. Farley said the changes will upend how electric vehicles are made in the U.S. 'It represents the most radical change on how we design and how we build vehicles at Ford since the Model T,' Farley said. The company said it will use a universal platform and production system for its EVs, essentially the underpinning of a vehicle that can be applied across a wide range of models. The Louisville factory — one of two Ford assembly plants in Kentucky's largest city — will be revamped to cut production costs and make assembly time faster as it's prepared to churn out electric vehicles. The result will be 'an affordable electric vehicle that we expect to be profitable,' Farley said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement. 'This is an example of us rejuvenating our U.S. plants with the most modern manufacturing techniques.' The new platform enables a lineup of affordable vehicles to be produced at scale, Ford said. It will reduce parts by 20% versus a typical vehicle, with 25% fewer fasteners, 40% fewer workstations dock-to-dock in the plant and a 15% faster assembly time, Ford said. The traditional assembly line will be transformed into an 'assembly tree' at the Louisville plant, the company said. Instead of one long conveyor, three subassembly lines will operate simultaneously and then join together, it said. Other specifications for the midsize electric truck — including its reveal date, starting price, EPA-estimated battery range, battery sizes and charge times — will be announced later, the company said. Farley revealed that the truck will have a targeted starting price of about $30,000. Ford said its investment in the Louisville plant will secure 2,200 hourly jobs. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday that the automaker's plans for the Louisville plant will strengthen a more than century-old partnership between Ford and the Bluegrass State. 'This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky's position at the center of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Ford's future,' Beshear said. Ford said its combined investment of about $5 billion at the Kentucky assembly plant and Michigan battery plant is expected to create or secure nearly 4,000 direct jobs between the two plants while strengthening the domestic supply chain with dozens of new U.S.-based suppliers. Ford previously forecast weaker earnings growth for this year and further losses in its electric vehicles business as it works to control costs. Model e, Ford's electric vehicle business, posted a full-year loss of $5.08 billion for 2024 as revenue fell 35% to $3.9 billion. Ford's new EV strategy comes as Chinese automakers are quickly expanding across the globe, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles. 'We're not in a race to build the most electric cars,' Farley told the AP when asked about competition from China. 'We're in a race to have a sustainable electric business that's profitable, that customers love. 'And this new vehicle built in Louisville, Kentucky, is going to be a much better solution to anything that anyone can buy from China,' he added. Ford could have opted to launch its EV project overseas to reap lower-cost labor and currency advantages but instead is 'taking the fight to our competition' from the plant in Kentucky, Farley said at Monday's event. But the Ford CEO cautioned that 'there are no guarantees' with project. 'We're doing so many new things I can't tell you with 100% certainty that this will all go just right,' he said. 'It is a bet. There is risk. The automotive industry has a graveyard littered with affordable vehicles that were launched in our country with all good intentions. And they fizzled out with idle plants, laid off workers and red ink. And at Ford ... we set out to break that cycle.'
