USA versus China: Ford’s revolutionary EV rollout takes key step towards Australian launch
Fords much-hyped (and total US$5b) Universal EV Platform and the affordable electric vehicles it will spawn has taken its first big step towards and Australian launch, with the brand trademarking six nameplates for our market.
The Universal EV Platform is joined by a less-complex manufacturing process, with both designed to lower the price of Ford’s new electric vehicles.
The move is widely seen as a response to the onslaught of (often very accessible) Chinese vehicles taking place around the globe.
At about the same time as the global announcement was being made, the brand was busy trademarking new model names in Australia and around the world, giving us our first clues as to what it has planned.
In Australia, the brand has secured FUZE, HIVE, MYTHIC, FATHOM and RANCHERO, as well as the name EVOS, which has already been applied to a Chinese-market Ford.
While most remain mysterious, we do at least have some idea of what’s planned for the Ranchero, which — given the trademark application lists ‘pickup trucks’ for its use — will likely be applied to the already-confirmed electric ute.
Ford has confirmed the first Universal EV model will be an affordable mid-size (so Ranger or HiLux-sized) electric pickup truck, with the brand targeting a US$30,000 starting price, and a four-door body style. It will be built in Ford’s Kentucky plant, and will go into full-scale production in 2027.
It will be one of as many as eight new EVs, with the brand teasing two- and three-row SUVs, passenger cars, a people mover and a commercial van in its presentation materials.
The other name we have some idea about is the Evos, which was applied to a crossover SUV built by Ford and its Chinese partner. That model was renamed the Mondeo Sport, suggesting this trademark will apply to a new model.
While trademarks are no guarantee of a vehicle’s launch, the timing of this string of applications does suggest it ties with the brand’s Universal EV announcement, but for confirmation we’ll have to watch this space.
