Ford developing cheapest electric motors in world for 2027 midsize EV pickup (both AWD and RWD models)

https://www.motortrend.com/news/for...cheapest-ev-motors-for-its-30k-electric-truck

Ford Plans to Build the World’s Cheapest EV Motors for Its $30K Electric Truck Platform



January 8, 2026

Ford is designing what it claims will be the cheapest electric motors in the world to power its next-generation electric pickup that will go on sale in 2027. Doug Field, Ford’s head of EVs, told MotorTrend that the Ford-built motors will cost less than any motor his team could find, including those made in China where immense economies of scale, cheap labor, and highly automated manufacturing have given carmakers an advantage that Western companies have struggled to match. The low-cost motors are one of several engineering efforts Ford has undertaken to unlock a $30,000 starting price for its so-called Universal EV.

Field also clarified public comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley that implied the electric pickup will only be offered with rear-wheel drive. While it will be sold in a single four-door crew cab body style, Field told MT that the truck will be offered with both rear-wheel drive and a two-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain at launch. Rear-drive models will use a permanent-magnet motor, while dual-motor trucks will add an induction motor at the front axle, just like the Tesla Model 3, which was developed under Field’s leadership. The Ford exec also told MotorTrend that the midsize electric pickup will be available with more than one battery pack, allowing buyers to choose between a lower price or longer range.

The key to the low-cost motors isn’t new materials or a technological breakthrough but the result of hiring the most talented engineers Ford could find, Field told MotorTrend. The Universal EV program is being developed by a team of roughly 500 employees, most of whom work out of a secretive office in Long Beach, California, geographically and organizationally removed from Ford’s Michigan operations. Field stressed the importance of identifying and attracting 20x contributors—individuals who produce 20 times more than an average employee—with many engineers hired from California tech companies such as Tesla, Rivian, and Apple, among others.

According to Field, these low-cost motors could only be developed outside of the larger Ford organization. The Detroit automakers have historically excelled at minimizing the cost of mature technologies like internal-combustion engines largely through supplier negotiations. EV motors, though, haven’t yet fully matured and so Field sees a limited window of time when a lean, nimble team unencumbered by organizational red tape can carve out an advantage over the competition.

I hope by cheap, they don't mean low quality that won't last.

G19Tony said:

I hope by cheap, they don't mean low quality that won't last.

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I really don't get why they chose to say cheap vs least expensive or lower cost

G19Tony said:

I hope by cheap, they don't mean low quality that won't last.

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My concern as well.

Well that's likely going to be the theme of the Slate and Ranchero trucks. You only get so much quality for $30k in today's world. You'll have to go into this purchase realistically. These likely will not be vehicles you can drive for 10 years.

WXman said:

Well that's likely going to be the theme of the Slate and Ranchero trucks. You only get so much quality for $30k in today's world. You'll have to go into this purchase realistically. These likely will not be vehicles you can drive for 10 years.

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That's a very interesting opinion. I'm not sure I follow the reasoning, though.

Look at the Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic. Often the cheapest cars on the (US) market, with legendary reliability and longevity.

The Slate is centered around ease of repairability and right to repair, with all their service content set to be published free for all who need it. I'm not sure how that translates to "not [a] vehicle you can drive for 10 years"

LFP Electric golf carts could be driven for 10 years, relatively speaking.

These are both American vehicles built for American consumers. The brands here could never get away with building 3rd world cheap.

I am comfortable with the battery. IT is liscensed technology from China, which has had a while to get the bugs out of the process for manufacture and reliability. They bought Tesla and Apple leaders for the platform, hardware and software, same thought process on quality and reliability. These folks have their reputation on the line.
My question revolves around the motors. Anyone familiar with technology Ford has adopted for these two diffferent types of motors? This is not my wheelhouse. any references or technical information sources would be apprecited.

dorbi said:

That's a very interesting opinion. I'm not sure I follow the reasoning, though.

Look at the Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic. Often the cheapest cars on the (US) market, with legendary reliability and longevity.

The Slate is centered around ease of repairability and right to repair, with all their service content set to be published free for all who need it. I'm not sure how that translates to "not [a] vehicle you can drive for 10 years"

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Apples to oranges. Both of those are legacy ICE vehicles that have been manufactured for decades.

Slate is a start-up with zero manufacturing experience, hoping to cash in by offering a vehicle they can sell for under $30k to a higher number of buyers, which means they've got far less invested in building each one. Do you really think that vehicle is going to be quality and last long term? Absolutely not. And the IIHS safety testing on it is going to be eye opening. Quantity over quality. I personally would never put my family into a Slate and drive onto public roads.

Then you’ve got the Ranchero, which has the advantage of being built by a company who’s made vehicles for over a century, coming in at a price point that’s unreal for an EV. How can Ford sell a new pickup with a battery pack and two electric motors for $35k and make money? By cutting corners everywhere they can…which partly comes from this new manufacturing process they’ve switched to and the other part will surely come from using lower quality parts.

It’s not rocket science. If two identical looking things on the shelf are significantly different in price, there’s a reason one is cheap.

WXman said:

Apples to oranges. Both of those are legacy ICE vehicles that have been manufactured for decades.

Slate is a start-up with zero manufacturing experience, hoping to cash in by offering a vehicle they can sell for under $30k to a higher number of buyers, which means they've got far less invested in building each one. Do you really think that vehicle is going to be quality and last long term? Absolutely not. And the IIHS safety testing on it is going to be eye opening. Quantity over quality. I personally would never put my family into a Slate and drive onto public roads.

Then you’ve got the Ranchero, which has the advantage of being built by a company who’s made vehicles for over a century, coming in at a price point that’s unreal for an EV. How can Ford sell a new pickup with a battery pack and two electric motors for $35k and make money? By cutting corners everywhere they can…which partly comes from this new manufacturing process they’ve switched to and the other part will surely come from using lower quality parts.

It’s not rocket science. If two identical looking things on the shelf are significantly different in price, there’s a reason one is cheap.

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There's a lot of assumptions in this comment. We don't know the price the dual motor variant will start at. Its likely the dual motor pickup will require the longer range battery (not using the LFP pack for energy density AND peak discharge rates required for two motors). Meaning it'll probably start closer to $40K. And at that price, dual motor EVs are not uncommon. Model 3 (~$45K), Equinox EV ($40K), Ioniq 5 ($41K), etc.

The comparison is the base UEV pickup to a Corolla. Single motor, cheap battery, etc. That seems pretty doable at the suggested price, no? I thought it pretty obvious I wasn't comparing a Corolla to the dual motor performance trim of the UEV pickup. As you said, apples to oranges.

Ford has a vested interest in not making a poor quality vehicle. They want this platform to be a base for several additional models over the next few years. The number of recalls by Ford, at least since Covid Concerns me. I looked at the Mach E and found there were basic engineering flaws in their drive train design. Toyota has a long history of quality in engineering, fit, and finish. The Prius has been around for quite a while, and their batteries have held up well. The Maverick was introduced in 22, and it had a number of recalls during that first year of production. Since then, it seems to have a pretty good record. I am personnaly trying to to decide whether to by the first year or wait and see what the performance is. These forums providealot of feedback.

It's also important to realize the engineers and managers in the UEV division aren't new hires just out of engineering school. This isn't their first rodeo in the EV space. And they have the corporate resources and buying power of Ford at their disposal.

That said, Ford itself has warned multiple times that it's a high-ambition, high-risk endeavor. I think us muggles have to just sit back and hope they execute. Their plates are full for sure.

I agree with your assessment. We will see if Ford shares the risk with a solid warranty.

In all fairness, I have 3 Ford vehicles that all 3 are sources of those troubling recall statistics.

But in reality? The vast majority of them are so insignificant that they haven't even been an inconvenience.

I finally started considering the recalls as Ford being incredibly vigilant and honest about things that MIGHT be something I should look into.

An example: a recall for the possibility of a wiring harness chafing because it might have improperly been attached to one of the harness stand-offs at the rear axle. The recall even included pictures of what it should look like.

I simply climbed under the truck and confirmed that my harness did in fact have the proper clearance.

Again, honestly I was impressed that the manufacturer had a mechanism to inform the customer post sale of something that MIGHT have been done improperly during assembly and they were willing to address it if I brought them the vehicle.

Admittedly not all recalls are as minor, but most have proved to be.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I became more concerned when I saw the recall on the Mach E which was related to bad engineering on a drive train as well as the rapid charge destroying the battery life. Those are engineering related. An entrepenuer that I worked for once told me his policy in introducing a new product in his market was not to be first or last. First had to handle the problems, last was left only with price. The current approach by this CEO about hiring an experienced engineering team and isolating them from the ICE team was creative thinking. Those engineers already were involved in the first generation of products. I became more concerned with the new motors. If those are based on established products no problem, if they are are new is a potential weak link In the poduct.
i bought my Renegade during the first year production run. I researched the drive train and found it based on established ICE and transmission. The potential weak link was the programing, and it took a while for Jeep and Fiat to get it right. The Tiger Shark engine and swedish transmission have been fine for 145,000 miles over 12 years with routine maintenance. most issues were quality or software related.