Ford has announced that its first vehicle built on a new low-cost electric vehicle (EV) platform will be a mid-size pickup truck, set to launch in 2027. This news is part of a broader update to Ford’s electrification plans. The company has decided to cancel its plans for an all-electric three-row SUV, choosing instead to power these future vehicles with hybrid engines.
Additionally, the launch of Ford’s next-generation full-size electric pickup, a follow-up to the F-150 Lightning and codenamed “T3,” has been delayed from 2025 to 2027. These changes could cost Ford up to $1.9 billion.
Ford’s revised plans come as other major automakers, like General Motors and Honda, are also scaling back their all-electric vehicle ambitions. General Motors, for example, has recently shifted its focus towards hybrid vehicles in the near term, and Volkswagen has expressed a similar strategy.
The decision by Ford to build a pickup truck on a low-cost electric vehicle platform could help the company stand out from Tesla, which is focusing more on developing a “robotaxi” and more basic versions of its Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan.
Ford’s low-cost EV platform is being developed by a specialized team created in 2022, led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke and based in Irvine, California. The team gained more expertise after Ford acquired EV charging startup Auto Motive Power in 2023 and brought in talent from companies like Rivian, Tesla, and Apple. The team of about 300 people is working on making this low-cost platform suitable for multiple types of vehicles, targeting both personal and commercial use.
Ford says the new pickup will offer customers more value, with better range, utility, and usability. The company is still deciding whether to apply the technology developed by this team across all its models or just a few specific vehicles.
Ford also explained that delaying the large electric pickup truck until 2027 will allow the use of cheaper battery technology and other cost-saving innovations. The switch to hybrid powertrains for its three-row SUVs is expected to offer better efficiency, performance, and reduced emissions compared to gas vehicles, while also providing longer range on road trips than pure electric vehicles.
Ford has seen strong sales of hybrids, with about 25% of F-150 sales being hybrids in 2023 and nearly 70% of Maverick pickups being hybrids in 2024.
