Ford is making a massive $5 billion commitment to American EV production, launching a new electric pickup, rethinking its manufacturing process, and securing thousands of U.S. jobs. The plan revolves around the Ford Universal EV Platform and the Ford Universal EV Production System, both designed to reduce complexity, speed up assembly, and keep prices within reach.
I have always had a soft spot for Ford. Over the years, I have owned a Taurus, Thunderbird, Focus, Crown Victoria, Escape, and an F-150. So when Ford announces something this significant, you’d better believe I pay attention.
The first vehicle from the new platform will be a midsize four-door electric pickup. It will be built at the Louisville Assembly Plant, with production starting in 2027. Ford is aiming for a starting price of about $30,000. The company says it will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, offer more passenger room than a Toyota RAV4, and include both a frunk and a locking truck bed.
Power will come from cobalt- and nickel-free prismatic LFP batteries made at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. These batteries are structural, serving as the vehicle’s floor, which lowers the center of gravity, improves handling, increases cabin space, and helps reduce costs. Ford has also redesigned the wiring harness to be more than 4,000 feet shorter and 10 kilograms lighter than what it used in its first-generation electric SUV.
“This had to be a strong, sustainable, and profitable business,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “From Day 1, 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 U.S.”
Ford’s new “assembly tree” production system replaces the traditional conveyor line. Large aluminum unicastings and three parallel sub-assembly lines will allow major sections of the vehicle to be built at the same time and then joined together. The company says this could make assembly up to 40 percent faster while improving worker ergonomics and overall quality.
Bryce Currie, Ford vice president of Americas Manufacturing, explained, “We put our employees at the center and re-created the factory from scratch. We expect ergonomic breakthroughs and complexity reduction, through elimination of parts, connectors and wire, will flow through to significant quality and cost wins.”
Louisville Assembly Plant will receive a $2 billion upgrade, adding 52,000 square feet and advanced digital infrastructure. The Michigan battery plant accounts for another $3 billion in investment. Combined, Ford expects these projects to create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
“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,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Ford and Kentucky have been a tremendous team for more than 100 years, and that partnership has never been stronger than it is today.”
With this strategy, Ford is betting that American manufacturing, lower costs, and competitive pricing will allow it to take on today’s used electric models while still delivering the kind of driving experience that has kept people like me loyal to the brand for decades.
