Ford in the USA has announced major new manufacturing investments together with a new universal EV platform, in a move that its directors says draws parallels to the introduction of the  Ford Model T, 120 years ago. 

The Ford plant at Louisville, Kentucky, will see the implementation of an innovative manufacturing process to bring the new platform to life. This platform will be the foundation for a new generation of electric vehicles, underpinning trucks, cars, and everything in between.

Ford says the key is that vehicles assembled on this platform will be affordable for the average family, highly efficient, customisable, and fun to drive. They will also be packed with innovative features and new software experiences that set them apart. 

Doug Field, Ford chief EV, digital and design officer says that Ford will be pioneering a new way to assemble vehicles, the Ford Universal EV Production System. This he says transforms the traditional assembly line into a tree with three main branches. The front and rear of the vehicle will be assembled on separate lines. The third branch is the vehicle’s structural battery, seats, consoles, and carpeting.

Ford says a Louisville-assembled midsize electric truck on this Universal EV Platform will debut in 2027. It will have a target starting price of $30,000, roughly the same as the Model T when adjusted for inflation.

To make this happen Ford is investing $5 billion at the Louisville Assembly Plant and BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, which Ford hopes will enable it to compete on the EV front.  

As yet there are no details or names for the new vehicles.