Ford’s secret EV unit emerges from shadows, still bullish on new pickup amid market slowdown
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- Ford unveiled a $30,000 midsize electric pickup slated for next year, built on its clean‑sheet UEV platform aimed at breakeven by 2029.
- Alan Clarke — a former Tesla veteran and head of Ford’s secret “skunk works” — was promoted to VP of Advanced Development Projects after Doug Field’s departure.
- Doug Field exited Ford’s EV leadership in April, a move that coincided with $19.5 billion in EV restructuring charges.
- China’s rapid EV expansion is cited by Ford as a catalyst for accelerating its UEV development.
- Tesla expanded its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston, underscoring heightened competition in the US EV market.
Why it matters: Ford gains a competitive edge with a $30,000 midsize pickup, while Chinese EVs pressure US margins; the 2029 breakeven goal forces faster cost reductions, squeezing supplier profits and accelerating US EV adoption.
