Ford Embraces Silicon Valley Approach, Introducing Affordable Mid-Sized Truck and Shared Platform
Ford Unveils Game-Changing Universal EV Platform
Ford Motor Company has unveiled a groundbreaking electric vehicle (EV) platform and production system, marking one of the automaker's most ambitious efforts since the days of Henry Ford. The new platform, designed to reduce complexity, lower costs, and improve efficiency, is set to revolutionise the EV industry.
The Universal EV Platform is poised to transform the automotive landscape with its innovative strategies. By using 20% fewer parts and 25% fewer fasteners than typical vehicles, the platform streamlines assembly and reduces component complexity. This reduction in parts leads to a 15% reduction in assembly time compared with current Ford models.
Another key feature is the shorter and lighter wiring harness. Compared to Ford’s first-generation EVs, the new wiring harness is over 4,000 feet (1.3 km) shorter and 10 kg lighter, cutting weight and lowering material and manufacturing costs.
The battery pack is integrated as a structural subassembly within the chassis, lowering the center of gravity for better handling, freeing interior space, and improving cabin quietness. This integration reduces parts and enhances efficiency compared to separate battery modules. The platform uses lithium iron phosphate prismatic batteries (LFPs), which are cobalt- and nickel-free, making them more sustainable and cost-effective.
Ford's new "Universal EV Production System" enables up to 40% faster assembly times, 40% fewer workstations, and improved ergonomics. The system includes parallel assembly and better supplier integration to lower total costs. This new production system will be employed at the Louisville Assembly Plant, where an electric pickup truck is scheduled to debut in 2027.
The investment in the Louisville Assembly Plant, totalling nearly $2 billion, secures 2,200 hourly jobs. The expansion of the plant will add 52,000 square feet and incorporate a digital infrastructure. The new EV platform will be adaptable for multiple vehicle types beyond the midsize truck.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority supports the investment in the Louisville Assembly Plant, which is expected to create or secure nearly 4,000 jobs. Gov. Andy Beshear has called the investment "one of the largest investments on record in Kentucky".
Ford's goal is to create a family of electric, software-defined vehicles that can be updated and improved over time. The assembly process for the new EV platform will use an "assembly tree" approach, replacing the traditional linear assembly line. The platform supports over-the-air updates and relies on software-controlled modules rather than complex direct wiring, reducing the number of electronic control units (ECUs) and simplifying electrical systems.
The two projects (Louisville Assembly Plant and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, which will produce the LFP batteries for the electric pickup truck) represent roughly $5 billion in spending. Ford's bet on a clean-sheet design aims to make EVs more affordable and efficient to produce and operate, marking a strategic improvement over traditional EV designs and Ford’s earlier models. The first model of the EV platform is a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck, offering more passenger room than a Toyota RAV4 and high performance, with 0-60 mph times competitive with the Mustang EcoBoost.
- The Universal EV Platform, unveiled by Ford Motor Company, aims to revolutionize the EV industry and automotive landscape with its innovative strategies.
- The investment in the Louisville Assembly Plant, where Ford's new EV production system will be employed, secures 2,200 hourly jobs and creates a family of electric vehicles intended for ongoing updates and improvements.
- The new "Universal EV Production System" promises up to 40% faster assembly times, 40% fewer workstations, and improved ergonomics, lowering costs and increasing efficiency.
- Ford's ambitious project includes the adoption of lithium iron phosphate prismatic batteries (LFPs) for a more sustainable, cost-effective, and integrated battery pack system within the chassis.
- The automaker's goal in developing this game-changing EV platform is to make electric vehicles more affordable through simplified manufacturing and operational processes, marking a strategic shift in the automotive and finance industries.
