Ford’s cheap car tsunami: Blue Oval to introduce five electrified models under $55,000 to boost its EV footprint as it takes on BYD, Chery and Leapmotor

The Blue Oval will introduce five models priced under US$40,000 (under $55,000) by 2030 as it builds up its affordable options. 

These models will offer the brand some competitive alternatives to ever-expanding lineups from Chinese rivals.

The first model will be an all-electric ute in 2027, potentially called Ranchero, built on its new Universal EV platform and part of a push into affordable EVs for the brand.

It is expected the ute will have a price tag of about US$30,000, which is circa-$46,000.

The Universal platform differs from the Global Electrified 1 platform used by the Ford Mach-E SUV. 

Electric ute options remain scarce and pricey in the market, with Toyota’s coming HiLux EV the most notable example so far.

Ford recently ended production on its F-150 Lightning full-size pick-up EV due to slow demand.

President of Ford Blue and Model e Andrew Frick said the five models would employ a variety in the power set-ups, wearing new names and focusing on affordability.

“It will be across our lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and it will be multi-energy,” Frick told Automotive News.  

“That’ll start to fill in the product side, but we have work to do to help affordability in the near term more tactically.

“I would say there’s probably 10 actions that we’ll do to help affordability.”

Frick’s comments also outline that SUVs will form part of the five incoming models under the budget plan. 

Nothing further has been confirmed on that front yet, but it is unclear if Australia will see these budget models, given they will be built in America and likely be left-hand drive.

These electrified models could assist Ford in Australia, offering valuable credit towards its Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) situation, with most of its current models being internal combustion powered.

The Blue Oval only has a plug-in hybrid version of its best-selling Ranger ute as well as the Mustang Mach-E SUV and Transit Custom EVs.

Ford’s last SUV model on sale in Australia was the Escape, which never took off in Australia. 

It is anticipated Australia will get a China-built variant of the Ford Bronco SUV to fill this space, which uses a range-extender hybrid set-up.