Ford is developing a $30,000 midsize electric pickup built on a new universal EV platform, with an eye toward affordability and a launch planned for next year as part of a broader shift in Ford’s EV strategy.

The UEV project is centered at Ford’s Electric Vehicle Development Center in Long Beach, California, spanning two adjacent buildings dedicated to design/prototyping and testing/validation.

Ford is applying megacasting to simplify parts, reduce assembly steps, and lower production costs across UEV-based vehicles.

The facility is designed for speed and efficiency, with cross-functional, near-usership teams enabling rapid decisions and iterative changes.

In-house vertical integration minimizes contractor delegation, reducing the need for external bid processes.

On-site manufacturing support includes iterative upholstery and carpet patterning guided by software to cut waste, with close collaboration between designers and manufacturing experts.

The manufacturing approach emphasizes fewer parts and steps, large-scale castings to replace multiple components, and compatibility with existing infrastructure to avoid costly overhauls.

The Skunk Works-style inspection system pushes testing responsibility to subcontractors and vendors, using in-house high-end test equipment and mock-ups to validate hardware and software before production.

The High Voltage and Thermal Lab focuses on battery systems, cooling, and power electronics, including in-house inverter and E-box, to enable compact, integrated architecture and thorough cell and cooling-loop testing.

Facilities such as a Visualization Studio, Trim Shop, and Fab/Prototyping area with five-axis milling and multiple 3D printing methods accelerate moving from concept to physical parts in about two weeks.

Prototype testing includes extreme climate, humidity, elevation, UV exposure, and road-load dynamometer testing to simulate real-world conditions and assess range and performance.

Long Beach is designed to attract top talent by fostering a collaborative, innovative culture with a controllable environment for rapid part modifications and validation.