Ford Ranchero EV is go! Ford F-150 Lightning delayed until 2028 but Blue Oval is working on much smaller more affordable car-based ute
Ford has delayed its all-new replacement for the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford e-Transit until 2028 to fast-track the arrival of a family of smaller more affordable EVs, that will include a smaller Range-sized ute that could revive the Ranchero nameplate.
According to Reuters, Ford has already contacted suppliers involved with the full-size ute’s development to tell them that production would be pushed back from 2027 to 2028.
The next-generation Ford e-Transit is also a victim of the rethink and will now arrive in 2028 – two years after it was originally planned.
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Confirming the postponement of both vehicles, Ford released a statement that said:
“F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today’s customer needs”, with Ford adding that it “will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.”
By pushing back the arrival of both the F-150-sized EV ute and the all-electric delivery van, Ford said it will switch all its resources to develop a range of low-cost EVs.
The ultimate aim is to ensure it will have a range of affordable EVs that will finally be able to fight off new low-cost rivals from China.
Key to unlocking its new family of electric cars is a ‘streamlined platform’ that Ford has created that is thought to make its electric cars far cheaper to build.
Explaining the car giant’s strategy rethink, Ford CEO Jim Farley said: “The pure EV market in the U.S. seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town.”
Currently, Ford is experiencing another bleak year when it comes to its EV division, with Farley warning analysts that he expected to post losses of up to $US5.5 billion ($8.5b).
In a bid to stem haemorrhaging losses, last year Ford scrapped plans for its full-size three-row SUV flagship over a perceived lack of demand.
Ford says it will now lay out its future plans for its upcoming EVs on August 11 (August 12 Australian time) and among the budget EVs will be a compact ute.
Building the excitement for the new plan, just days before it was unveiled, Ford trademarked the ‘Ranchero’ nameplate on August 5.
Made over two decades from 1957 until 1979, the Ford Ranchero was originally a US car-based ute in a similar vein to the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes.
Expect the Ford Ranchero EV will be based on a car-like monocoque that will sacrifice payload for a more sophisticated drive and ride.
Its arrival will also provide electric accompaniment for the Ford Maverick ute that’s sold well in the North American market.
In Australia, Ford has swung its focus more toward PHEV of late, highglighted by the launch of the Ranger plug-in. An updated Mustang Mach-E EV arrives before the end of 2025.
