Ford Plans $30K US-Built Electric Pickup with New Assembly System

Ford announced a $5 billion investment to modernize its Louisville Assembly Plant with a new universal EV platform designed to produce affordable electric vehicles, starting with a $30,000 midsize electric pickup truck set to debut in 2027. This new manufacturing approach abandons the traditional single conveyor assembly line in favor of a three-part assembly system, enabling faster production with 20% fewer parts and more in-house components. The universal EV platform supports multiple future models, with the pickup offering more interior space than a Toyota RAV4, a front trunk, and a truck bed, and is expected to be built up to 40% faster than current vehicles. Ford's platform uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are cheaper and longer-lasting, and the company is leveraging technology licensed from China's CATL to produce these batteries in its new Michigan factory. CEO Jim Farley described this initiative as Ford's "Model T moment," emphasizing the goal of making electric vehicles more accessible and competitive against Chinese manufacturers. The new truck also boasts features like the ability to power a home for six days during outages and is expected to spawn a variety of body styles beyond pickup trucks in the future.