Ford CEO Jim Farley is building anticipation of the US carmaker’s upcoming mid-sized electric pickup, tipped to be similar in size to the best-selling Ranger.
In August, Ford announced a dedicated ‘skunkworks’ team in California is currently developing a new electric vehicle (EV) platform which aims to be cheaper to produce – and more affordable for buyers – than its current electric models.
That platform will debut on the mid-sized pickup in 2027, with Mr Farley already hyping up the electric model well before its launch.
“In 40 years in the industry, I’ve seen a lot of game changer products, but the midsize electric pickup designed by our California team has got to be one of the most exciting,” the Ford CEO told investors on the brand’s third-quarter earning call.
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Ranger PHEV
“It’s [an] incredible package and consumer technology for a segment we know well. It matches the cost structure of any Chinese auto manufacturer building in Mexico in the future.”
While we know the Ranger as a ute in Australia, it’s classified as a mid-sized pickup in the US, sitting between the full-sized F-150 and the compact Escape SUV-based Maverick.
Ford is soon bringing an electrified Ranger to Australian showrooms, with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the dual-cab due in early 2025, capable of driving for a claimed 45km on battery power.
If Ford’s upcoming electric pickup is indeed Ranger-sized – and comes to Australia – it’ll be one of the few battery-powered vehicles in the segment.
The LDV eT60 is currently the only option for Australian buyers, but Isuzu has confirmed it’ll introduce its D-Max EV here.
The LDV eT60 is priced at $92,990 before on-road costs, with a single 130kW/310Nm electric motor and 330km of driving range (WLTP tested).
There’s also an increasing number of plug-in hybrid utes coming to Australia, such as the aforementioned Ranger PHEV, the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T.
