Ford is engineering the world’s cheapest electric motor to launch a sub‑$30,000 pickup by 2027, aiming to outpace Chinese rivals. Learn more now.
Ford Motor Company is taking a bold step toward mass‑market electrification by developing what it claims to be the world’s cheapest electric motor. The initiative is tied to a new compact electric pickup slated for a 2027 debut, with a target price of around $30,000 (approximately 800 million VND).
Driving Down Costs to Match Chinese EV Leaders
While electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining global traction, price remains a major barrier for everyday consumers. Chinese manufacturers have leveraged massive production volumes and low‑cost labor to offer affordable EVs, putting pressure on legacy automakers. Ford’s answer is a full‑scale cost‑reduction program that goes beyond material savings and focuses on how the product is developed.
A Dedicated “Fast‑Track” Engineering Team
In Long Beach, California, Ford has assembled a lean, high‑skill group of roughly 500 engineers separate from its main Michigan operations. Their mission: design an electric motor that can be produced for less than any off‑the‑shelf unit the company could buy. According to Ford, this agile, bureaucracy‑light structure is essential while EV power‑train technology is still maturing.
What the New Pickup Will Look Like
The upcoming model will be offered in a single body style—a four‑door cabin with two drivetrain options:
- Rear‑wheel drive (RWD): powered by a permanent‑magnet motor placed on the rear axle.
- All‑wheel drive (AWD): adds an induction motor on the front axle, mirroring the approach Tesla uses on the Model 3 AWD variants.
Buyers will also choose from multiple battery‑pack configurations, allowing them to balance the lowest entry price against longer driving range.
Engineering the Platform for Affordability
Ford’s Universal EV platform has been re‑engineered to shave roughly 25 % off the number of fasteners used in conventional EVs. Wiring harnesses are dramatically simplified and lighter, larger cast‑ings replace many discrete parts, and the battery is integrated into a flat floor‑and‑roof structure that also serves as part of the vehicle’s chassis. These changes enable a roughly 15 % faster roll‑out from the Louisville, Kentucky factory and cut the number of manual operations on the line by about 40 %.
Target Market and Competitive Landscape
The $30,000 price point is intended to open the EV market to mainstream shoppers who have been hesitant about current electric vehicle costs. By delivering a low‑cost pickup, Ford hopes to take on Chinese players that have already optimized their supply chains for cheap EV production.
Long‑Term Strategy and Open Questions
The “cheapest‑ever” motor is part of Ford’s broader Universal EV strategy, which aims to make electric vehicles economically viable for a wider audience. However, Ford acknowledges that slashing costs raises concerns about performance, durability, and overall driving experience. These factors will only be fully validated once the $30,000 pickup hits production lines and ends up on public roads.
Stay tuned as Ford moves from concept to reality, potentially reshaping the global EV market with a truly affordable electric pickup.