Ford’s partnership agreement with Volkswagen has produced several new models over the past few years, including both ICE and all-electric vehicles with shared components. That includes, of course, the European Ford Explorer EV – which just entered mass production in June – as well as the Ford Capri EV, both of which ride on VW’s MEB platform. On top of developing new models jointly, it seems as if the latest Ford EV program has taken quite a few learnings from Volkswagen as well, however.
“We believe that many of our competitors will turn to their Chinese, either independent companies or partners to basically use their platform globally. We learned a lot, not just from China, but from MEB,” Ford CEO Jim Farley stated during the company’s Q2 earnings call with investors. “We’ve been scaling MEB. We know the cost of Volkswagen. They’re one of the leaders in scale. And what we found in that trip and subsequent trips to China is that we have a very competitive battery with CATL, but many of the Chinese players in the lower-cost have very affordable batteries, but they don’t have the most efficient design outside of the battery on the other EV components.”
Though Ford recently scrapped its admittedly “ambitious” plan to go all-electric across its European passenger vehicle lineup by 2030, the company remains committed to developing EVs, regardless, as well as exploring partnerships with other automakers aside from VW. At the moment, however, its focus remains on the Ford EV skunkworks team developing a low-cost platform for future models.
That new platform is intended to compete directly with Ford’s cheap Chinese rivals, and in fact, was inspired by a trip that Farley took to that country a few years ago. The first product expected to surface from that effort is a crossover, slated to launch in late 2026 with a $30k price tag, followed by a compact pickup and potentially a dedicated rideshare vehicle.
We’ll have more on the low-cost Ford EV program soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
With the current state of the ID.4 I am not sure VW is who you want to learn from. Their lack to marry software with hardware has done nothing but bring them pain.
The 2024 ID4 it’s more efficient, has more power and has a much better infotainment system. Their recent partnership with Rivian is expected to take the number of controllers in their EVs from dozens to a few, greatly improving system speed, scalability and OTA efficiency. I have the ’24 ID4, and it’s one of the most solid vehicles I’ve ever owned. I’m looking forward to the next generation.
Farley is an idiot. Bill Ford had better act quick and get that Biden loving clown out of his position.
I’m not going to engage your attempt to make this about the president, beyond saying that you seem to be well qualified to judge idiocy by virtue of your personal commitment to it.
As for EVs, what are you talking about? EV sales continue to grow, albeit slower than expected due to the massive PR campaign against them instigated, in large part, by “He who shall not be named” and the modern day analogs of hostlers and buggy whip makers. Billions of dollars have been devoted to research that promises smaller, more efficient motors and batteries with more than double current energy capacity, much faster charging, a useful life of over 300k miles.
Charging infrastructure (despite Elon’s flaky behavior) is becoming standardized and is also enjoying huge investments that are expanding the number and speed of charging stations. Research is also promising (and delivering) induction charging, hot swappable batteries (already being done with semis in China), vehicle-to-vehicle charging, home energy backup and innovations inconceivable a decade ago.
With increased popularity of residential solar, 90 percent of charging is done at home at nearly zero cost. In fact, you will rarely find an opponent to EVs who has actually owned one (despite what some may say on social media). The convenience, low, infrequent maintenance, quick, quiet acceleration and overall economy makes EVs the microwave ovens of personal transportation. Once you have one, you don’t want to live without it.
Speaking of which, those of us old enough remember how expensive microwave ovens were when they first came out. How big and noisy and unreliable they were. Ditto calculators, computers, telephones, televisions, radios… darn near every kind of device imaginable… even airplanes and automobiles!
EV technology and charging infrastructure are currently about where automotives and fuel distribution were in the 1930s. If history is any indication, the next decade will show revolutionary improvements and, in 20 years EVs will have capabilities being beyond our wildest dreams.
And, guess what? One of the largest growth areas for electrification is heavy equipment. Turns out the high torque, long idle times between usages and low maintenance requirements make EVs much better than diesel for loaders, backhoes and other heavy equipment.
Finally, ICEV drivers also benefit from EVs. Recent data shows recent increases in EV ownership have led to lower prices at the gas pump! This benefit also means critical areas such as the military, commercial transportation, airlines, fishing and shipping will benefit from widespread adoption of EVs for personal transportation. Everybody – literally everybody – benefits!
So, don’t buy the propaganda. EVs are popular with lots of folks, and getting more so every day. And, whether you want one or not, it’s a good thing for you.
I aree with you, Gee, all the way. I have personally seen the advancements of many modern electrical and electronic devices and aplliances since the mid 1950s. As an EE, I am fully aware how electronics has improved our lives, even in automobiles.
I stll remember how difficult it was to start an engine with a convential distributor and coil using a point gap mechanism to generate the spark. Part of the timely maintenance was to check and sometimes file the points and replace the capacitor. I did one example of updating this system when I replaced it with an optican sensor and a slotted disk in my Dad’s 1973 Chevy Malibu. Now, every car has an electronic ignition dystem, with a ECU to control and monitor the system and keep emissions down. I bet no one here can go back to those times of the 1960s and keep their vehicle rinning as good as tgey do now with the help of ekectronics.
The best news is that the fully electric vehicle eliminates all that and reduces our monthy vehicle maintenence to just checking the air in tires (Michelin’s UPTIS will eliminate that!) and the fluid levels.
LOSING $30,000 on every Electric F150, 30% loss in Stock Value in last 30 days. Now going to make a new Citicar, maybe some passenger cars. Where did we go wrong?