Ford News: Ford Unveils its new Universal Vehicle Platform

[Drew Dowdell]

Today, Ford took the wraps off its breakthrough Universal Vehicle Platform, a new EV platform intended to bring a new level of affordability to electric vehicles.  Ford is investing $5 billion in its Louisville, KY assembly plant and the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan to bring this new platform to life. As part of this project, the Louisville plant will expand by 52,000 square feet and secure 2,200 jobs.

The first UVP product will be a 4-door electric pickup with a targeted base price of $30,000 and going on sale in 2027. Ford says it will have more passenger space than a Toyota RAV-4 and be faster than an Ecoboost Mustang while having a frunk and truck bed.

Ford is taking the inspiration for the Universal Vehicle Platform from the Model-T built over 100 years ago.  The idea is that Ford will have one platform that supports multiple body styles. While the first vehicle is a mid-size truck, the platform is destined to support sedans, crossovers, and sports cars. The platform reduces parts by 20%, uses 25% fewer fasteners, and 4,000 fewer feet of wiring than Ford's first-gen electric SUV, the Ford Mach-E.

With this new innovation, Ford is again innovating the production line as it did with the Model-T. Instead of using a single line, Ford will move to a production tree, three parallel lines move sub-assemblies down simultaneously and then joined together mid-way through. Ford is using large, single-piece aluminum castings to allow the frond and rear of the vehicle to be assembled separately. Ford predicts that this new process will speed vehicle assembly by up to 40%. Some of that savings will be redirected to quality control for a net speed increase of 15%.

The big bet Ford is making is on new prismatic LFP batteries, built in the United States.  These new batteries are cobalt-free and nickle-free, greatly increasing the sustainability of the batteries' construction.  The battery pack is structural to the vehicle, giving a lower center of gravity and greater interior space. 

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[Drew Dowdell]

There's so much to digest with this:
1. This is a new way of assembling vehicles. The new production line is now a production tree with three branches that converge into one.
2. Ford has cut a lot of weight out of the platform. 4,000 fewer feet of wiring harness, 25% less fastener. Lower weight will mean more range with less battery.
3. LFP cells that are built in the US without cobalt or nickle.
4. Faster production, while overall production time will drop 15%, the assembly process will drop 40%. Ford will use some of that savings to in-source some component production.
5. 52,000 sq/ft expansion of Louisville facility.
6. Ford claims lower total cost to own than buying a 3-year old Model-Y. (I'd like to read the fine print on this one)
7. The way the components are assembled is now significantly more ergonomic, less twisting and bending for assembly workers. There was an audible gasp from someone in the crowd of assembly workers at the press event when the presenter said "You will never need to put a dash cluster through a door opening ever again".
8. The platform will allow many kinds of body styles including crossovers, sedans, and sport cars. The debut vehicle will arrive in 2027 as a mid-size truck.

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

There's so much to digest with this:
1. This is a new way of assembling vehicles. The new production line is now a production tree with three branches that converge into one.
2. Ford has cut a lot of weight out of the platform. 4,000 fewer feet of wiring harness, 25% less fastener. Lower weight will mean more range with less battery.
3. LFP cells that are built in the US without cobalt or nickle.
4. Faster production, while overall production time will drop 15%, the assembly process will drop 40%. Ford will use some of that savings to in-source some component production.
5. 52,000 sq/ft expansion of Louisville facility.
6. Ford claims lower total cost to own than buying a 3-year old Model-Y. (I'd like to read the fine print on this one)
7. The way the components are assembled is now significantly more ergonomic, less twisting and bending for assembly workers. There was an audible gasp from someone in the crowd of assembly workers at the press event when the presenter said "You will never need to put a dash cluster through a door opening ever again".
8. The platform will allow many kinds of body styles including crossovers, sedans, and sport cars. The debut vehicle will arrive in 2027 as a mid-size truck.

I find this exciting as Ford needs something that works and is more reliable than their ICE product line with so many recalls.

I wish they had expanded on the architecture. No info on if it is 400V or 800V or can handle both. Lots of details still to come I guess. If they keep is slow go in charging, I do not see it doing as well. Tesla is still ove 400V tech and one would have thought they would have upgraded the Y when they did their refresh for faster charging. Kia is fast to charge to 80% than Tesla.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Drew Dowdell]

2 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

I find this exciting as Ford needs something that works and is more reliable than their ICE product line with so many recalls.

I wish they had expanded on the architecture. No info on if it is 400V or 800V or can handle both. Lots of details still to come I guess. If they keep is slow go in charging, I do not see it doing as well. Tesla is still ove 400V tech and one would have thought they would have upgraded the Y when they did their refresh for faster charging. Kia is fast to charge to 80% than Tesla.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

They said during the press conference that it was going to be ultra-high speed charging. Whether that matches them to Hyundai/Kia or beyond, I don't know.... but LFP batteries are those batteries in China that can do 1000kw charging.

[oldshurst442]

Its about time?! 

[smk4565]

They didn't even show a vehicle though, just said that in 2 years we'll have a pickup around $30,000.  Which probably means $30,990 plus a $1995 destination charge and you are at $33k before any options which will quickly push it to $40k.  They already have the Maverick in this same space.

I don't see this as a "Model T" moment.  It would have to be $5k cheaper than the Maverick to get people to really start buying EV's en masse.  And where do they go with this, the Chinese already make midsize EV pickups for $25,000, so you can't see it overseas because the Chinese will win on price.  

The Model T had years where it sold over a million units.  If Ford wants their new age Model T, then the vehicle has to be so good at such a price that you can't pass it up for a Rav4 or CRV.  This will be like the Equinox EV that was going to be $30k, but ended up more like $35k base and $40k for most of the ones at dealers and when the tax credit goes away sales will dry up.

[oldshurst442]

4 hours ago, smk4565 said:

They didn't even show a vehicle though, just said that in 2 years we'll have a pickup around $30,000.  Which probably means $30,990 plus a $1995 destination charge and you are at $33k before any options which will quickly push it to $40k.  They already have the Maverick in this same space.

I don't see this as a "Model T" moment.  It would have to be $5k cheaper than the Maverick to get people to really start buying EV's en masse.  And where do they go with this, the Chinese already make midsize EV pickups for $25,000, so you can't see it overseas because the Chinese will win on price.  

The Model T had years where it sold over a million units.  If Ford wants their new age Model T, then the vehicle has to be so good at such a price that you can't pass it up for a Rav4 or CRV.  This will be like the Equinox EV that was going to be $30k, but ended up more like $35k base and $40k for most of the ones at dealers and when the tax credit goes away sales will dry up.

The point is that going forward, Ford EVs:

1. This is a new way of assembling vehicles. The new production line is now a production tree with three branches that converge into one.
2. Ford has cut a lot of weight out of the platform. 4,000 fewer feet of wiring harness, 25% less fastener. Lower weight will mean more range with less battery.
3. LFP cells that are built in the US without cobalt or nickle.
4. Faster production, while overall production time will drop 15%, the assembly process will drop 40%. Ford will use some of that savings to in-source some component production.
5. 52,000 sq/ft expansion of Louisville facility.
6. Ford claims lower total cost to own than buying a 3-year old Model-Y. (I'd like to read the fine print on this one)
7. The way the components are assembled is now significantly more ergonomic, less twisting and bending for assembly workers. There was an audible gasp from someone in the crowd of assembly workers at the press event when the presenter said "You will never need to put a dash cluster through a door opening ever again".
8. The platform will allow many kinds of body styles including crossovers, sedans, and sport cars. The debut vehicle will arrive in 2027 as a mid-size truck.

 

Something that Tesla did with #1, #2 , and  #4 on that list a decade ago.  Something that GM is doing with #8 on that list with the Ultium platform as it was once called.  

Something that Ford should have done from the very beginning when they came out with the Mach-E.  Tesla and SandY Monroe were tooting that for the Model 3.  I guess FoMoCo had to get the Mach-E out as fast as possible then though.  

Dont get me wrong, I fully agree with your post 100%. 

I was about to say better late than never, but I think with this Presidential administration, Ford will probably not survive Trump's presidency.  Nor Stellantis in the US.  And Im very iffy if GM survives too if the current tariff situation on Canadian steel and aluminium stays on.  Sad to say.   

 

 

 

[ccap41]

16 hours ago, smk4565 said:

They didn't even show a vehicle though, just said that in 2 years we'll have a pickup around $30,000.  Which probably means $30,990 plus a $1995 destination charge and you are at $33k before any options which will quickly push it to $40k.  They already have the Maverick in this same space.

The mid-size claim is larger than a compact Maverick though. We will see what actually come out, but a larger vehicle for Maverick money is enticing.

 

16 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I don't see this as a "Model T" moment.

Did you miss the whole "a whole new way to assemble a vehicle" part? That literally was what made the Model T so well known, a new way to assemble a vehicle.

12 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

Ford will probably not survive Trump's presidency.  Nor Stellantis in the US.  And Im very iffy if GM survives too if the current tariff situation on Canadian steel and aluminium stays on.  Sad to say. 

You genuinely believe all three will be bankrupt by 2029? 

[oldshurst442]

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

You genuinely believe all three will be bankrupt by 2029? 

 And you really believe that he will relinquish his office in 2028?

But you did ask me a question.

GM profit down 35% in Q2 of 2025. Net profit so far in Q2 is 1.9 billion from 47 billion revenue.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/07/gm-q2-2025-earnings-revenue-income-profit/#:~:text=GM Q2 2025 earnings are,1.8 percent drop in revenue.

 

And tariffs havent really been activated fully. And Trump keeps on redacting and modifying because his admin actually does know the damage being done.  But GM is really hurtin' not even a full year into Trump's presidency JUST as the Ultium EV collection has been taking off for GM.  GM needs ALL their profits to engineer Ultium 2.0 and to better combat a possible Chinese onslaught in North America and of course all over the world.  There are Chinese EVs in the Mexican market. Not yet in Canada as our politicians are keeping hope alive as to still salvage a partnership with the US.  But that hope is diminishing.  Canada has gone elsewhere for economic partnerships and the last bastion of a US/Canada partnership IS in the automotive industry.  And the ONLY reason why Canada hasnt jumped ship in that industry just yet is because we do not fully trust China.  But its truly sad to be putting  not trusting the US in the same breath as not trusting China...

So yeah...GM is on shaky ground for 2029.  Bankrupt in 2029?  Not quite but not far off if current trends are keeping the line. 

The Trump regime has become an autocracy. Not a dictatorship. There is a difference. One that the civilians have allowed and not by force. I wonder what WILL happen in 2028?  You think the constitution will be honoured?   In many areas it hasnt...  

 

 

[ccap41]

Just now, oldshurst442 said:

And you really believe that he will relinquish his office in 2028?

Trump? No, I do not think he will serve a 3rd term. That is absurd. That better not happen.

[oldshurst442]

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

Trump? No, I do not think he will serve a 3rd term. That is absurd. That better not happen.

 Will it happen or wont it happen?

Only Trump, his kids and his administration truly know the answer to that future.  

 

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

 Will it happen or wont it happen?

Only Trump, his kids and his administration truly know the answer to that future.  

 

I firmly believe that will not happen, as it shouldn't.