Ford Plans $2 Billion EV Pickup Overhaul in Louisville for 2027 Launch

Ford Motor Company is making a major push into the affordable electric vehicle market with a new midsize, four-door electric pickup truck scheduled for launch in 2027, priced around $30,000. The vehicle will be assembled at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant, which is undergoing a $2 billion overhaul to implement a new manufacturing approach called the 'assembly tree,' replacing the traditional assembly line for greater efficiency and flexibility. This new Universal EV Platform (UEVP) emphasizes radical simplification, flexibility, and efficiency, supporting a wide range of vehicle types including pickups, hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans, and features an all-new software architecture. Ford CEO Jim Farley highlighted that this strategy reflects a break from traditional manufacturing, empowering a small specialized team to innovate the production process and vehicle design. Additionally, Ford is exploring Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology as a complement to battery-electric vehicles, considering it better suited for large trucks and SUVs. The company is also targeting cost reductions through the use of lighter materials, fewer parts, and lithium iron phosphate batteries to stay competitive against rising Chinese EV manufacturers in the North American market.