Photo: Ford
Ford is pivoting its electric vehicle strategy with a new “Universal Electric Vehicle” (UEV) platform, designed to deliver a mid-size electric pickup starting at approximately $30,000. In a technical briefing this week, Ford executives revealed they are adopting several manufacturing and electrical innovations popularized by Tesla and its Cybertruck to reach this aggressive price point by 2027.
The upcoming truck will utilize “gigacasting,” a manufacturing process using large aluminum castings that Ford says will reduce the number of parts from 146 on the current Maverick to just two. Additionally, Ford is moving to a 48-volt zonal electrical architecture. This system, which debuted on the Cybertruck, significantly reduces the amount of wiring needed throughout the vehicle, cutting both weight and production costs, according to CNBC.
Rather than using massive, expensive battery packs to achieve range, Ford is focusing on extreme efficiency. The automaker has assembled a “skunkworks” team led by Tesla veteran Alan Clarke and engineers from the Formula 1 world. Their goals for the new pickup include:
The announcement did not go unnoticed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who took to X to address Ford’s adoption of 48-volt tech and gigacasting.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Musk posted on Wednesday, responding to news of Ford’s technical shift. “Glad to see others finally realizing that 48V and large castings are the only way to make EVs affordable.”
This exchange follows years of “friendly” rivalry between Ford CEO Jim Farley and Musk. While Farley has previously dismissed the Cybertruck as a “high-end product for Silicon Valley,” Ford’s new UEV platform suggests the company is taking Tesla’s underlying engineering very seriously to solve its own EV profitability challenges.
