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. 

View full article

[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. 

[smk4565]

18 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

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.   

 

Stellantis is in trouble for sure since they have a lot of imports and their product line already isn't great.  And they can bring back the Hemi, but it makes 360 hp in 5.7 liter trim, there are 4 cylinders nearing that now.  And the 6.4 Hemi is 470 hp, it is less than the Hurricane high output and is thirstier.  The Durango is older than dirt, that just has dwindling sales.  V8 in the Charger won't really sell any better than the 6 and the new Charger is $52k base with destination charge, with options probably $55-60k, I don't see that selling well.  Hornet is gone for 2026, Pacifica is old, Alfa and Maserati are dated and undesirable and will be hit with tariffs to make it even worse.

Ford will survive on F150, Transit and commercial business.  They make money there.  Lincoln is losing Corsair, the Nautilus is from China so tariffs with shut that down.  Bronco Sport and Maverick from Mexico, tariffs are making those not so cheap anymore. I think a sales decline is looming for Ford.

The universal platform maybe saves the Mustang, because the Mustang sales are in the toilet, I don't see how they keep justifying a vehicle with low volume that doesn't have a platform share.

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

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

As it shouldn't.

2 terms.  No more.   Yup. Your constitution and your legislative, executive and judicial branches as defined by your constitution are all rock solid.  He hasnt, nor does he now and he wont in the future try to over power it in any way shape or form.  

Yup.  2 terms. Without any incident or issue. Wont cry any fowl. Wont cling unto power. Will not abuse his powers. Will not do anything but concede.

If you say so and hopefully the people defending the constitution in all facets of everybody will also uphold the constitution...

[smk4565]

2 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 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...  

 

 

Stellantis could have sales drop 60% and they won't axe a single brand.  Somehow these companies will get loans, investors or government bail out to stay alive.  I don't t think Stellantis or Ford would go bankrupt, unless it is like what GM did in 2009, and it would allow them to cut the company in half.  Ford would basically build only pick up trucks and commercial vans.  Stellanis would be Jeep, Ram and Peugeot with rebadged versions as Opel and Vauxhaull depending on country.

GM will be smaller too, they'll get driven out of China and South America mostly.

The Chinese onslaught is coming and these guys (and Trump's  government) are not ready.  BYD just showed  the Yangwang U9 Track Edition, it has 2,976 horsepower and costs the same as a Corvette ZR1.   Dodge can bring back the Hellcat all they want, it is 2,000 hp less than a Chinese car.  And China already makes an EV midsize pickup the size of a Ridgeline and it is $25,000.   Legacy auto better innovate fast.

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

Stellantis could have sales drop 60% and they won't axe a single brand.  Somehow these companies will get loans, investors or government bail out to stay alive.  I don't t think Stellantis or Ford would go bankrupt, unless it is like what GM did in 2009, and it would allow them to cut the company in half.  Ford would basically build only pick up trucks and commercial vans.  Stellanis would be Jeep, Ram and Peugeot with rebadged versions as Opel and Vauxhaull depending on country.

GM will be smaller too, they'll get driven out of China and South America mostly.

The Chinese onslaught is coming and these guys (and Trump's  government) are not ready.  BYD just showed  the Yangwang U9 Track Edition, it has 2,976 horsepower and costs the same as a Corvette ZR1.   Dodge can bring back the Hellcat all they want, it is 2,000 hp less than a Chinese car.  And China already makes an EV midsize pickup the size of a Ridgeline and it is $25,000.   Legacy auto better innovate fast.

 

As I sees it, Ford, even though in Europe, Ford is considered to be more or less a Euro company, will have a hard time selling its cars there. Trump has tried to hurt Europe with tariffs and Europeans will boycott Ford with that. Its not as if European car makers do not exist.  

GM is not even in the European car market.

China?  Forget about how the Chinese population favours their own car makers, GM and Ford as of now, 2025, are BEHIND in EV tech.  Im not sure about quality and reliability, but in tech, way behind.  GM and Ford will never sell EVs to be profitable in China.  Those days when GM made money hands over fists in China are loooooong gone.  Ford entered that market way to late. 

Stellantis is European.  

China has flooded the world with affordable EVs. People in South America, unless these people are drug lord cartel people, Hummer EVs are not bread and butter for GM.  In South America, Chinese EVs will rule the roost.  If they are not already. 

Which leaves Stellantis, Ford and GM strictly a North American market to sell to.  

Tariffs are making the bread and butter vehicles out of reach for the average American to buy, so I do not see Ford and GM selling tons of cars in our market either.  Many Americans are upside down on their car loans at least 4 cars in. Meaning, their car loans have been rolled unto their new car purchase 4 new cars ago... 

The economy will bust soon. How soon?  Will it be 2029 soon?   Yeah!  Quite possible!!! 

Remember, the world has largely agreed to go gasoline free for pedestrian vehicles by the earliest 2035. 2040?  GM has pleaded by 2035.  It does not matter if Trump rescinds this in the US.  THE WORLD has decided that in THEIR countries, a whole bunch of them, will cease the sale of new EVs by 2035. 2040?   Just around the corner...   

Like you said...Hellcat powered anything wont do shyte even in the US... 

Edited 9 hours ago by oldshurst442

[smk4565]

There is no need for an EV mandate or regulation saying no ICE after 2035 or 2040 or whatever date.  

What will happen is China will build a Rav4 like crossover that is more reliable than a Rav4, costs less to maintain, has a longer warranty, has more horsepower, smoother and quieter motor due to being EV and it will cost $10,000 less than a Rav4.   And at that point, no one will want a gas Rav4 and ICE dies for mass market cars.   Some sports cars and enthusiasts cars will have ICE engines, long haul trucks will probably be diesel.  There are use cases where gas or diesel make sense, but it might be 10-20% of the market.

[oldshurst442]

Just now, smk4565 said:

There is no need for an EV mandate or regulation saying no ICE after 2035 or 2040 or whatever date.  

What will happen is China will build a Rav4 like crossover that is more reliable than a Rav4, costs less to maintain, has a longer warranty, has more horsepower, smoother and quieter motor due to being EV and it will cost $10,000 less than a Rav4.   And at that point, no one will want a gas Rav4 and ICE dies for mass market cars.   Some sports cars and enthusiasts cars will have ICE engines, long haul trucks will probably be diesel.  There are use cases where gas or diesel make sense, but it might be 10-20% of the market.

 I agree. And I understand what you wrote about no mandate needed.  EVs will turn that tipping point in due time. Shortly. And like you said, Chinese EVs will be the ones to do it. 

I included that tidbit ONLY because most Americans STILL cant get off the oil addiction they have.  GM has mentioned that they are going along with the 2035 timeline.  But since Trump has alienated America from its allies, GM will try to delay 2035.  Like Dodge though, V8s and turbocharged lawn mower sized engines in CUVs will only get you so much.  The rest of the world is strumming along with the 2035-2040 timeline regardless what the Chinese automotive industry is doing.  I used 2035 as a visual as that is only 9 years away...    Dodge announcing the Durango only gets V8 offerings and is ditching the 6 cylinder offerings, and some Americans declare a win for the internal combustion engine...missing the real problems for the American automotive industry.  

Like you said, but with my angle, 2035 is a short 9 years away to stress a point.  What you said about no mandate needed as EVs will tip the point probably before 2035.  But in America, your folk lack critical thinking skills and do not realize what you said, thinking that  a Hellcat powered 15 year old SUV is a saviour for the internal combustion engine and everything else is misinformation.