DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday said a new, dedicated EV architecture would underpin battery-electric versions of the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator crossovers, as well as “rugged SUVs” that will go into production within the decade.
The new vehicles are part of Ford’s strategy to boost its EV offerings to 40 percent of sales globally by 2030 and were detailed at the company’s Capital Markets Day for investors.
Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, said the company would offer two new EV architectures: a rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive platform, as well as a platform dedicated to full-size pickups.
The rwd/awd platform “will underpin a range of emotive vehicles slated for production between now and 2030,” Thai-Tang said.
That includes EV versions of the Explorer and Aviator, which CEO Jim Farley also noted in a presentation. Thai-Tang also said the platform will underpin “rugged SUVs,” showing a silhouette of a vehicle that looked similar to Ford’s upcoming Bronco.
An electric Bronco and Explorer would fit within the company’s strategy of electrifying its “most iconic products” such as the F-150 and Mustang.
The Explorer, Ford’s No. 2-selling nameplate, has been the most popular large crossover in the U.S. every year since 2011 except for one — 2019, when the Toyota Highlander beat it.
It was not immediately clear when Ford would start production of the EVs or where they would be built.
