With new markets flooded by China around the world, Ford CEO Jim Farley vows that his new midsize electric pickup truck will be a “game changer.” The leader of Ford slammed BYD, promising that the company's new electric van will match the cost of the Chinese automaker's building in Mexico.
In February, Farley revealed that Ford has a secret “skunkworks” team building a low-cost platform to power its next-generation models.
The team, led by Alan Clarke, who led engineering on Tesla's Model Y, is now filled with former employees of Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and Apple and continues to grow.
Ford confirmed this summer that the first EV based on the new platform will be a mid-size electric van. The company said the new model is designed for “customers who want more for their money,” such as a longer range and other useful features.
As it develops what it promises will be one of the world's most efficient EV platforms, Ford said the group is balancing costs “compared to the world's leading competitors.”
After releasing third-quarter earnings on Monday, Farley gave us more information about what to expect on the press call with investors.
Ford's electric take is to match BYD, other Chinese OEMs
According to a Ford official, the new electric van “will be compatible with the cost structure of the Chinese OEMs in Mexico.”
Farley's comments come after BYD launched its first electric van, the Shark PHEV, in Mexico in May.
The plug-in hybrid pickup will compete with top sellers in the region, including Ford's Ranger. With a length of 5,457 mm, a width of 1,971 mm, and a height of 1,925 mm, the BYD pickup is a direct challenger to the Ranger (5,370 mm length X 1,918 mm width X 1,884 mm height).
BYD's Shark achieves a 100 km (62 mi) NEDC all-electric range. The combined NEDC range is 822 km (522 mi). It starts at $53,400 (899,980 pesos). In comparison, the 2024 Ford Ranger XL (gas powered) starts at $38,300 (768,000 pesos).
The plug-in hybrid pickup was launched in Brazil last week, starting at $66,700 (BRZ 379,000), and in Cambodia this week at around $56,000.
Ford plans to launch a new mid-size electric van in the second half of 2027, two years later than expected. Will the delay cost it market share as Chinese automakers, such as BYD, close in on their territory?
The company will begin manufacturing LFP batteries in Michigan in 2026, which should help lower Ford's costs.
Farley said on the company's Q3 earnings call that the “Skunkworks” team in California was “overdelivered” on the platform. He explained that the team is making the car lighter, which will help reduce costs. It also speeds up the development process.
After flying the Xiaomi SU7 from Shanghai to Chicago, Farley has been driving the new Chinese EV for months. You have The Fully Charged Podcast this week, Farley called the EV “great” and said he “doesn't want to give it up.” At X, Ford's chief executive said he was trying to “outrun everything the competition does,” adding, “You have to drive the wheel to understand and beat the competition.”
FTC: We use auto affiliate links to earn income. More.
