Ford’s New ‘Skunkworks’ EV Platform Holds The Key To Affordable EVs
Key Takeaways
- Ford’s low-cost EV platform could be the key to reviving the Fiesta and Focus nameplates for the electric era.
- Ford aims to enter affordable vehicle segments after exiting a few years ago, wants to prevent “cheap and cheerful” image.
- The new platform will take the fight to Tesla and Chinese EV makers in terms of cost.
- Future Ford EVs will feature unconventional styling to differentiate from rivals.
Earlier this year, Ford announced that it has a skunkworks department working on a low-cost electric vehicle platform, designed to take on Tesla and Chinese EV makers in 2026. Marin Gjaja, Chief Operating Officer at the Ford Model E division, told Autocar that the new platform will initially underpin American EVs positioned under the Mustang Mach-E, the European Explorer EV, and the newly-introduced Capri, before finding its way to cars across the Atlantic.
“We are spending a decent amount of time at the corporate level talking about affordability. We know we need to do it and it’s a muscle we need to build up over time,” said Gjara. He added that Ford doesn’t “have much” in more affordable vehicle segments. Since the Fiesta was killed off, the smallest car Ford offers in most global markets is the funky Puma crossover. In the UK, it has a starting price of £25,800 ($33,150) which isn’t cheap.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Horsepower
- 264 hp | 290 hp | 325 hp | 365 hp | 480 hp
- Torque
- 387 lb-ft | 500 lb-ft | 600 lb-ft
- Drivetrain
- RWD | AWD
- 0-60 MPH
- 5.5 – 4.5 seconds estimated
- Electric Range
- Standard Range: 230 – 250 miles | Extended Range: 280 – 320 miles
Returning To Affordable Cars And Making A Profit
However, Ford will have to make some changes when it reenters the affordable segment, with Gjara noting it is imperative that Ford is affordable, differentiated, and makes money: “For too long we stayed in the affordable segment, either at break-even or losing money.” But that’s not easy when Chinese manufacturers are producing world-class EVs and selling them at low prices.
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For Ford, that’s the problem. If the automaker wants people to eventually upgrade to an Explorer (EV or otherwise), the Blue Oval needs something affordable to hook entry-level buyers in. “That’s what we’re doing in the US with an affordable platform, and there’s no reason why the platform wouldn’t be able to create products for Europe as well,” commented Gjaja.
An Electric Puma For The USA?
Ford has not mentioned which cars will be underpinned by the new low-cost platform but, based on this and earlier comments by Jim Farley, it will be smaller than anything offered locally. That means we’re likely looking at a crossover that will be positioned under the Escape and Mustang Mach-E, and it could be Puma-sized. Given that the current Puma was introduced in 2019 – and the platform will be ready by 2027 – the new architecture could underpin the new Puma and be sold in Europe and the USA.
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American consumers are not fond of small cars, which is why the Fiesta and Focus were killed off some time ago. But if Ford can get pricing right, there’s a chance consumers would buy Fiesta and/or Focus-sized electric cars. This would certainly do well in Europe, where small cars are king.
“Our sense is the uptake on electric vehicles will be more smaller vehicles over time. That’s where you will see the most acceleration because that’s the group that’s going to be most sensitive to fuel costs – because the more affordable the vehicle, typically, the more the driver is focused on cost. And they don’t have as much emotion associated with the size of the vehicle or how luxurious it is.”
– Marin Gjaja, Ford Model E Chief Operating Officer
Future Ford EVs Won’t Look Boring
One thing is for sure: future Ford EVs will not have conventional styling. That means traditionalists hoping for a Fiesta revival will be sorely disappointed and can expect something more radical and unusual. The new Capri is an example of this ethos. Holding the reigns of the new skunkworks program is Alan Clark, a former Tesla engineer who worked on the development of the Model 3, among other things. “He came to Ford a couple of years ago and is trying to build the most efficient platform of any EV on the planet. That’s the goal.”
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While unconfirmed, Gjaja said the new platform will likely use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries as they are durable and affordable: “You’re taking $20-$30 per kilowatt hour out of the battery; BYD has been able to get more. With a 100 kWh battery, that’s a lot [of cost out]. But if you’re someone who charges a lot, the battery is far more durable and can take probably five times the duty cycles. These batteries are basically indestructible.” We’ll see how accurate these predictions are come 2026.
“We’re trying to take the Ford brand to a different place. I think we were seen as cheap, cheerful, reliable transportation – a discount relation to some of the more premium brands. Now we’re actually introducing products that carry more of a premium. Puma was the first big step in that direction, where you felt like you had an execution that really could command a price premium. Our hope is that this [Explorer] will do the same. But that’s much easier said than done; we need to go and build that and deliver on that promise to customers. Then we will be able to see if we can get the price realization from our customer set that justifies a vehicle like this.”
– Marin Gjaja, COO, Ford Model E division
Source:
Autocar
