An all-new Ford midsize electric pickup truck is coming in 2027. The next electric Project T3 pickup truck is also coming in 2027. There will be a new electric van in 2026. There will be a Ford Super Duty Hybrid, and much more! Let’s dig into this!
Ford just dropped some heavy future truck roadmap news on all of us. It will take some time to parse it and understand it. I usually do not quote a manufacturer press release in my news article, but I have this post full of quotes because each of these quotes carries a lot of weight. Pickup trucks and commercial vehicles are a core of Ford’s business, and they are rethinking it all now.
The Next Affordable EV Pickup Truck
What! An affordable new pickup truck that is electric? Yes, this is precisely what Ford is talking about here. They have been quietly working on a next-generation affordable EV platform and methodology as a “Skunk Works” project. This announcement is the result of all this work. This secret work has to do with the battery materials, battery production, vertical integration, vehicle production, vehicle shipping, user technology, and much more.
The first fruit of this work will be an EV midsize pickup truck that will launch in 2027. Ford does not give any specifics but we are thinking of a EV that will be similar in size to the current Ford Ranger or a Rivian R1T with a price and capability similar to the current Ranger (plus some).
Here is what Ford says… “The first affordable vehicle off this new platform will be a mid-sized electric pickup launching in 2027 that is expected to cater to customers who want more for their money – more range, more utility, and more usability.“
The Next-Gen Ford F-150 is Project T3?
What is this “Project T3” and what do we know about it? Ford initially talked about this T3 in March of 2023 (a long time ago). Initial statements about the T3 suggested that it will be at least shown in 2025. However, this new announcement puts a pause of Project T3 development. By all accounts, this T3 pickup truck will be the successor to the current Ford F-150 Lightning. Ford does not spell this out for us. What happens to gasoline-powered F-150 trucks after 2027? We don’t know yet. My guess is that gasoline and/or hybrid F-150s will remain in production for many years past 2027.
Here is what Ford says… “Ford is retiming the launch of its groundbreaking electric truck code-named ‘Project T3‘ to the second half of 2027. Taking all the learnings from F-150 Lightning customers, the truck will offer features and experiences never seen on any Ford truck, including upgraded bi-directional charging capability and advanced aerodynamics. The truck will be assembled at BlueOval City’s Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. Retiming the launch allows the company to utilize lower-cost battery technology and take advantage of other cost breakthroughs while the market continues to develop.“
First Thing is an EV Van in 2026
Let’s rewind. Before the new EV midsize pickup arrives in 2027, before the Project T3 arrives in late 2027, there will be an all-new all-electric commercial van in 2026.
Ford is already leading the all-electric commercial van market in the United States with the current E-Transit van lineup. However, they are talking about another commercial van here. It appears to be yet unnamed, but it may also be related to the EV midsize pickup truck that Ford eluded to earlier.
Here is what Ford says… “The rollout of Ford’s next generation of electric vehicles begins with a commercial van that will be assembled at Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant starting in 2026.“
A Super Duty Hybrid?
What about all that talk of a Ford Super Duty hybrid? Well, Ford has all but confirmed it here. The next-generation of the Super Duty truck will offer a variety of powertrains. Ford mentions the F-150 Hybrid and the Maverick Hybrid in the same sentence. How do you read this statement? See below.
Here is what Ford says… “The next-generation F-Series Super Duty pickup will have a range of propulsion options, building on Ford’s hybrid truck sales leadership with the F-150 and Maverick.“
An Expedition Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid?
Just about a month ago, Ford made a statement that it plans to delay its electric three-row SUV production to 2027. This latest statement says the all-electric three-row SUV is canceled in favor of hybrid technologies.
When the refreshed new 2025 Lincoln Navigator made its world debut this month, we wondered why it doesn’t use the current gas/electric Powerboost Hybrid powertrain that is already successful in the F-150. Now Ford says that they are focused on several new three-row SUVs with hybrid technologies. These new hybrid technologies may be more advanced and more capable than the current F-150 Powerboost hybrids.
What does this mean? When are these three-row SUVs coming to market? We do not know for sure, but I am guessing that Ford is talking primarily about the next Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator here. This discussion may also include the next-generation Ford Explorer Hybrid.
Here is what Ford says… “Ford will develop a new family of electrified three-row SUVs which will include hybrid technologies that can offer breakthrough efficiency, performance benefits and emissions reductions versus pure gas vehicles and extend the range of the vehicle on road trips relative to pure electric vehicles.“
It Will Cost Ford…
Changing a long-term vehicle production strategy is not free. Some factories and facilities have to change as well. As such, Ford says that there will be significant costs to adjust their strategy in this way and to move forward.
“As a result of this decision, the company will take a special non-cash charge of about $400 million for the write-down of certain product-specific manufacturing assets for the previously planned all-electric three-row SUVs, which Ford will no longer produce. These actions may also result in additional expenses and cash expenditures of up to $1.5 billion and the company will reflect those in the quarter in which they are incurred, as a special item.“
Bunch of Future Talk, But How… ?
Ford listed a few specifics at the end.
- Ford is working with LG to move the Mustang Mach-E battery production from Europe to Michigan in 2025.
- Ford’s BlueOval SK joint venture will begin F-150 Lightning and E-Transit battery production in mid-2025 in Kentucky.
- Ford’s BlueOval SK venture will begin more future EV battery production in Tennessee in late 2025.
- Ford’s Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production will begin in 2026 at BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility.
We will have to wait and see how this plays out. One thing is for sure – out pickup truck and SUV future will NOT be boring.
