Ford to launch cheaper EVs with new platform and strategy

The Blue Oval brand wants to make itself much more competitive to the likes of Tesla by building a more affordable electric platform

More budget-friendly electric vehicles could be coming out of Ford HQ very soon, as the company begins to restructure its strategy and lineup.

According to Automotive News, Ford’s chief executive officer Jim Farley has confirmed that the company is now developing small, more affordable EVs.

“All of our EV teams are ruthlessly focused on cost and efficiency in our EV products, because the ultimate competition is going to be the affordable Tesla and the Chinese OEMs,” Farley said.

2022 Ford Focus rear 3/4 studio static blue — The Ford Focus could live again in Australia as an EV

Ford used skunkworks startup to build new EV platform

Autocar has reported that a team of engineers has been working secretly on a new platform at Ford for the last two years.

Described by Farley as a ‘skunkworks’ startup team separate entirely from Ford and its current EV platform partner Volkswagen, the affordable EV project has been able to design a flexible platform for lower cost electric vehicles.

The current Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV

Unlike the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s GE1 platform, which is heavily derived from the Ford Focus’ C2 platform, the new mystery Ford platform will very likely be built from the ground up for EVs only.

With this new platform, we could see electric reimaginings of the iconic Fiesta and Focus nameplates, and even the Ford Mondeo.

Ford’s Australian EV range could get much cheaper

Ford Australia has this week announced that it will axe its ICE-powered Puma small SUV, replacing it with an electric one later in 2024 or early in 2025.

The Ford Puma will be EV only in Australia in the future

Although pricing is yet to be determined, the Puma EV could very possibly undercut the Ford Mustang Mach-E on price.

Currently, Ford’s local arm sells the Mustang Mach-E midsize SUV priced from $72,990 before on-road costs. It tops out at a significant $104,990 before on-road costs in flagship GT spec.

And that’s after the brand cut $7000 from the Mach-E’s initial starting price before first deliveries had begun.

2022 Ford Focus concept image — A Ford Focus concept image

The Mustang-branded Mach-E is still an expensive option when compared to the Tesla Model Y which starts from $65,400 before on-road costs.

Ford Australia’s range is set to expand further, however, with the Mach-E soon to be joined in Australia by the E-Transit and E-Transit Custom vans, as well as a still-secret and unconfirmed new model.