Ford Motor Company’s Chief Executive Jim Farley offered fresh details on the automaker’s ambitious Universal EV Platform project at the Detroit Auto Show, likening the effort to America’s historic space exploration programs and confirming that working prototype electric vehicles are now operational.
Farley called the development of Ford’s future EV architecture one of the most demanding challenges of his career, comparing it to monumental efforts like NASA’s Apollo and Gemini missions. He said the project represents a uniquely high‑risk, high‑reward initiative aimed at closing the gap with global competitors, especially Chinese manufacturers that have gained ground in EV technology and cost.
The Universal EV Platform, first unveiled last year, is Ford’s strategic effort to build a modular, cost‑efficient electric vehicle architecture that can underpin multiple vehicle types. Production is expected to begin in 2027 with an electric pickup truck assembled in Kentucky, and Ford has indicated a target starting price of around $30,000. The company plans to use this platform to launch a range of vehicles, potentially including seven additional models such as a midsize crossover.
Farley reported significant progress on key development fronts. All major components have been designed and quoted, factories are being retooled to support new manufacturing methods, and megacasting equipment — essential for large structural parts — is already in place. Importantly, early prototypes are running with Ford’s own software and custom‑designed silicon chips, successfully performing basic functions like steering and braking. Farley called these milestones “the first time we’ve seen all the pieces working together as a system.”
The Universal EV Platform project was launched with an independent team in California, staffed with industry veterans from companies such as Tesla, Apple, and Rivian. Farley noted that this separation from Ford’s traditional management structure was intentional, designed to protect innovation and focus resources without distraction. The platform is also built around a reimagined assembly line approach tailored for next‑generation EV production.
Ford’s increased focus on EV innovation comes even as the company recently posted a historic $19.5 billion write‑down tied to its existing electric vehicle operations — the largest impairment in Detroit automotive history. That move signaled a pullback from loss‑making EV models and a renewed emphasis on profitable hybrid and gasoline‑powered vehicles. Farley has publicly acknowledged this shift, describing the need to pivot toward powertrains and platforms that better reflect current market demand.
Despite the financial setback, Farley emphasized that the lessons learned and technologies developed through that earlier phase of EV investment are now feeding into the Universal EV Platform. With prototypes running and factories being prepared for production, Ford appears determined to push forward with its long‑term EV ambitions while balancing a more diversified product strategy.
The coming years will test whether Ford’s bold EV platform strategy can deliver both technological breakthroughs and commercial success in a rapidly evolving automotive market.
