Ford today announced another primary revision of its long-term product plan for electrified cars. This implies more delays for some products announced in the past, the total cancellation of others and new products, adding the first release of their EV skunkworks project. Ford will also write down about $2 billion for unused EV production assets. The goal, according to Ford vice president and chief financial officer John Lawler, is to “be agile” and “not launch any electric cars unless they succeed in the first 12 months. “
The previously announced three-row SUVs, which were originally scheduled to launch until the end of 2024 as full-battery electric models, were canceled entirely. These Explorer/Aviator cars were originally scheduled to be built at Ford’s Oakville assembly plant. Recently, Ford announced plans to use this plant to increase production of its Super Duty pickups, adding unspecified electrified variants.
While nothing has been announced yet, Ford’s announcement today indicates that all-electric versions of those larger cars remain a challenge and will almost be extended diversity electric (ER-) cars. EV) similar in configuration to the upcoming Ram 1500 Ramcharger from Stellantis. This would likely be a very suitable option for some of the larger variants of the Super Duty, such as the bucket trucks used by application companies. These can simply use a diversity extender to drive the truck to a job site and then the battery to force the truck to stay on site without idling for hours.
Lawlor pointed to the festival in development in the area of electric SUVs as one of the reasons for the cancellation of Ford vehicles. Kia already has the EVnine and Hyundai will soon launch the Ioniq nine, while Toyota will introduce a 3-row BEV in 2025. Ford, on the other hand, will launch new 3-row SUVs with hybrid technologies, Lawlor declined to specify whether they would be rechargeable. -In hybrids. Ford has just unveiled updated versions of the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator for the 2025 style year and ditched existing hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants for the main editions. Now only the Police Explorer is available as a hybrid.
The other electric vehicle program announced in the past, a next-generation full-size pickup truck called Project T3, faces an 18-month delay. This vehicle was to be built at Ford’s new plant in BlueOval City, near Memphis, Tennessee. starting in 2025 and then backdated to 2026, but will not begin production until the second part of 2027.
Recently, Ford has been in the news a lot about the Skunkworks task it unveiled more than two years ago to expand a much less expensive EV platform. This task aims to produce smaller cars, such as a car and a smaller crossover. These products may still arrive. At some point, but starting today, the first product will be a mid-size electric pickup truck. Instead of following the style of the F-150 Lightning and putting batteries in the new midsize Ranger pickup truck that has just been introduced, this new purpose-built platform will be used. Production of this truck will also not start until 2027. No production site has been announced, but it may be built at Ford’s underutilized Rouge electric vehicle center in Dearborn, where Lightning is recently produced.
The other new BEV product announced today through Ford is an all-new advertising van that will be built at the Avon Lake, Ohio, assembly plant. Ford already produces the e-Transit at its Kansas City plant, but the new pickup will be built on a new platform committed to electric vehicles. Lawlor declined to provide details on the length of the vehicle, but given that the e-Transit exists and there is no indication that the new van will be a direct upgrade, it may only be an intermediate version. or even a compact pickup truck to upgrade the discontinued pickup (in the North). United States) Transit Connect. Some recent reports recommend that Ford is considering a smaller electric pickup truck. Production of the new advertising van is expected to begin in 2026, making it Ford’s first. New electric vehicle since the launch of its existing products in 2021-2022.
Finally, Ford also continues to replace its battery production plans to align with plans for the new vehicles. Ford has built 4 battery plants, 3 of which are in partnership with SK ON. The joint venture’s plants are expected to produce nickel-manganese. Cobalt Spoon Cells (NMC), with two plants in Kentucky and the third in Tennessee. One of the Kentucky plants has been delayed, while the other will begin supplying cells for Lightning and e-Transit production in mid-2025. You’ve been using LG cells coming from Poland lately, so this update will make you eligible for IRA tax credits. The Lightning uses cells from the SK ON plant in Georgia.
The joint venture’s other plant in Tennessee is adjacent to the assembly plant that will build the T3 truck. However, when the mobile plant goes online in late 2025, it will begin supplying the Ohio pickup truck assembly plant.
Ford’s fourth mobile plant in Marshall, Michigan, will produce lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) mobiles in 2026. Ford has not said which cars will use mobiles from this plant, but it is replacing the existing source of CATL LFP batteries Chinese manufacturing. . The popular Mach-E diversity will indeed be a precedent for Ford. Most likely, these phones will also be used in the Lightning, the medium truck, the e-Transit and the new minivan.
The Mach-E also uses the same LG cells from Poland as the e-Transit and Ford is working with LG to source those from its plant in Holland, Michigan, which is recently expanding. This transition is expected to happen someday in 2025 and make Mach-E eligible for IRA tax credits again.
As part of the product roadmap overhaul, Ford is also significantly amortizing electric vehicle production appliances. It will need $400 million for the production apparatus already received. This is probably the appliance that was intended to be used in 3-row electric SUVs. Ford will also cover up to $1. 5 billion in similar prices to production devices already underway for other programs. This most likely includes much of the appliances at Kentucky’s current battery plant.
Overall, Ford obviously continues to struggle to find a path to successful EV production, as most old and new automakers do. Obviously, focusing on the high-end segment hasn’t worked, as there are enough customers in this segment. For now, Ford is turning its attention to its strong advertising visitor base, where electric cars can deliver significant savings in operating costs as they look to achieve a viable product line for customers.
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