The truck will be built on the company’s new Universal EV platform, designed to simplify manufacturing and cut costs. It will allow the vehicle to be produced using 20 percent fewer parts, a 400-volt electrical system and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries that double as structural components. Ford officials say this approach will lower weight, improve handling and enhance packaging efficiency.
In place of the traditional linear assembly line, Ford will introduce an “assembly tree” process in which three major sub-assemblies are built in parallel before being joined later in production. According to the OEM, the change will streamline manufacturing and reduce complexity.
The unnamed truck will be similar in overall footprint to the compact Maverick but will offer more cabin space. It will feature a traditional pickup bed, a front trunk and acceleration comparable to the Mustang EcoBoost. The company also revealed the vehicle will be able to power a home for several days in the event of an outage.
Ford is investing roughly US$2 billion to retool its Louisville facility for EV production, a move expected to create 2,200 jobs.
During the announcement, which took place at the factory, Ford’s chief executive officer Jim Farley (pictured) described the project as a “Model T moment,” positioning it as a turning point in making affordable American-built EVs available to the mass market.
The midsize pickup will be the first model to launch on the Universal EV platform, which Ford plans to extend to future electric vehicles
