Ford admits its $30K midsize EV pickup is actually ‘small’
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- Ford publicly reclassified its upcoming electric pickup as "small" rather than "midsize" — the first time it used "all-new, affordable small electric pickup" language, a shift first reported by Ford Authority.
- The truck will be the first vehicle built on Ford's new Universal EV (UEV) Platform, with a target on-sale date of 2027 and a starting price around $30,000.
- The relabeling followed TheDrive spy photos showing the pickup beside a full-size Ford Expedition, making it look "like a toy truck" next to the larger SUV.
- Ford is upgrading its Louisville Assembly plant to produce the four-door pickup, the same facility change tied to the phase-out of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair.
- The UEV platform cuts complexity with LFP batteries and megacasting — using two main structural castings compared to 146 in the Maverick — to lower costs.
- Ford has filed a trademark for "Ranchero," hinting it could revive the classic nameplate for the EV, though no official name has been announced.
- The flat-battery design promises more interior passenger space than a Toyota RAV4, and Ford is targeting a range of at least 300 miles.
Why it matters: Ford's relabeling from 'midsize' to 'small' is a rare public admission that earlier marketing oversold the truck's footprint, corrected only after independent spy photos made the size gap undeniable. At $30,000, the pickup would be among the most affordable EVs in the US — alongside the Chevy Bolt and Nissan LEAF — while its 300-mile range target directly addresses the range complaint that has limited budget electrics.
