Ford Motor Co said its upcoming low-cost electric vehicle platform will underpin a wide range of future models and play a central role in reshaping how the company designs and manufactures EVs, as it works to improve profitability and scale.
The platform, internally referred to as the Universal EV or CE1 architecture, is expected to debut with a mid-size electric pickup in 2027. It will later support multiple vehicle types, including crossovers, vans and other body styles, Ford executives said.
“This is one of our major bets,” Ford Chief Financial Officer Sherry House said during the 2025 Barclays Global Auto and Mobility Tech Conference. “This is our Gen 2 platform. It represents more than just the first vehicle coming out. It’s a foundation that allows us to add multiple top hats over time.”
House said the new architecture is designed to reduce complexity and cost across Ford’s electric vehicle portfolio. By integrating design, manufacturing and supply-chain planning earlier in the development process, the automaker expects to improve efficiency and lower production expenses.
“By bringing our designers, manufacturing teams and supply chain together from the start, we’re building vehicles more efficiently, more effectively, and at lower cost,” she said.
Ford has previously confirmed that the first model built on the platform will be a mid-size electric pickup, with production slated to begin at its Louisville Assembly Plant in 2027. The company has also indicated that the architecture could underpin several additional vehicles, including a compact crossover, a midsize crossover, a larger three-row crossover, and both passenger and cargo vans.
The automaker has said the platform is intended to support up to eight different body styles, allowing it to scale production across multiple segments while reducing engineering and manufacturing complexity.
Beyond flexibility, Ford expects the new platform to significantly lower costs. According to House, the architecture is designed to reduce manufacturing steps by about 40% and cut parts count by roughly 20%, while also improving production speed by approximately 15%.
The initiative forms part of Ford’s broader effort to make electric vehicles more affordable and competitive as it faces intensifying competition from both established automakers and newer entrants in the EV market.
Source: Ford Authority